Media, Public Opinion, and Political Participation

Traditional vocabulary flashcards covering major terms on media, public opinion, participation, campaigns, parties, and interest groups discussed in the lecture notes.

Media (in a democracy)

Collective term for TV, newspapers, radio, and the Internet that informs the public, fosters debate, and acts as a watchdog on government.

First Amendment protection

Constitutional safeguard that guarantees a free press, underscoring media’s essential role in democracy.

Watchdog journalism

Media function of monitoring government and politicians to expose wrongdoing or corruption.

Media ownership (for-profit model)

U.S. media outlets are largely driven by advertising revenue, incentivizing sensational or conflict-focused coverage.

Media monopoly

Situation where a few large corporations (e.g., Comcast, Disney, Fox) own most TV stations and newspapers, limiting diverse viewpoints.

Advertiser influence

Pressure on media content to avoid topics or framing that might alienate sponsors.

Print media

Traditional newspapers and magazines; now consumed by less than 20% of adults for news.

Broadcast media

Television and radio platforms that still attract the single largest audience share.

Digital media

Online news sources accessed via websites, apps, and social platforms; primary news source for ~60% of adults.

Podcast / talk radio

Audio formats experiencing growth, especially among conservative audiences.

Digital citizen

Person who uses the Internet daily for work, news, and civic engagement.

Digital divide

Gap in Internet access along income, age, or education lines, limiting equal civic participation.

Universal broadband

Policy proposal to ensure all citizens have high-speed Internet for full democratic participation.

Social media platforms

Online networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit) that enable user interaction and political messaging.

Targeted political advertising

Use of social-media data analytics to direct campaign messages to specific voter segments.

Citizen journalism

News reporting by ordinary individuals using smartphones and social media; offers rapid coverage but risks misinformation.

Filter bubble

Online environment where algorithms and user choices expose individuals only to confirming viewpoints.

Fake news

Deliberately false or misleading online content that spreads quickly and distorts public understanding.

Algorithmic amplification

Social-media practice of boosting sensational or polarizing content to maximize engagement.

Agenda setting

Media power to determine which issues the public perceives as important.

Framing

Media technique of shaping interpretation by choosing specific words, images, or angles (e.g., “Crooked Hillary”).

Priming

Media influence on the standards people use to judge leaders or issues (e.g., emphasizing COVID performance in 2020).

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Agency regulating broadcast TV and radio content but not cable or online media.

Equal-Time Rule

FCC rule requiring broadcasters to provide equivalent airtime to political candidates.

Right of Rebuttal

FCC rule granting individuals the chance to respond if personally attacked on air.

Public opinion

Collective attitudes of citizens about politics, policies, leaders, and institutions.

Political socialization

Process by which people acquire political beliefs, chiefly influenced by family, school, peers, media, and life events.

Scientific polling

Method of measuring public opinion using random sampling, neutral wording, and calculation of margin of error.

Margin of error

Statistic indicating the range within which poll results likely fall for the entire population.

Liberalism

Ideology favoring government intervention in the economy, individual rights, and social equality.

Conservatism

Ideology supporting free markets, limited government, and traditional social values.

Libertarianism

Ideology advocating minimal government in both economic and personal affairs.

Populism

Political approach that pits “the people” against elites, often blending left- or right-wing appeals.

Partisanship

Psychological attachment to a political party, often shaping interpretation of events more strongly than ideology.

Political polarization

Growing ideological distance and hostility between Democrats and Republicans, reducing cross-party compromise.

Conventional participation

Legally sanctioned activities such as voting, volunteering, donating, and contacting officials.

Unconventional participation

Protests, boycotts, civil disobedience, and other non-traditional political actions.

Digital participation

Online activism including social-media advocacy, e-petitions, and digital fundraising.

Incumbency advantage

Electoral edge enjoyed by current officeholders due to recognition and fundraising networks.

Plurality rule

Electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.

Electoral College

U.S. mechanism that allocates presidential electors by state, sometimes producing outcomes divergent from the national popular vote.

Primary election

State-level contest (open or closed) that selects a party’s nominee for the general election.

Ballot initiative

Process allowing citizens to propose laws or constitutional amendments for a direct vote.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

1971 law establishing basic campaign finance rules and disclosure requirements.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

2002 law (McCain-Feingold) that limited soft money and electioneering communications.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Organization that raises and donates limited funds directly to candidates or parties under federal caps.

Super PAC

Committee that may raise unlimited funds for independent expenditures but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Interest group

Organization seeking to influence public policy through lobbying, litigation, and campaign contributions.

Iron triangle

Mutually beneficial relationship among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that can skew policy.

Two-party system

U.S. political structure dominated by Democrats and Republicans, reinforced by plurality voting and ballot laws.

Party polarization

Intensified ideological alignment within parties, reducing bipartisan cooperation.