Political Culture, Public Opinion, Participation, Elections & Parties in Texas

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture regarding political culture, public opinion, participation, and elections in Texas.

Political Socialization

The process of acquiring political attitudes through agents of socialization.

Five Agents of Political Socialization

Family, Education, Religion, Generational Cohort, Media.

Texas Creed

A combination of Individualism and Traditionalism in Texas's political culture.

Attitudes vs. Opinions

Attitudes are how you feel about things; opinions are how you think about things.

Texas Political Culture

A hybrid of individualistic and traditionalistic cultures, as classified by Daniel Elazar.

Individualistic Culture

In Texas, government is viewed as a marketplace where participation is transactional.

Traditionalistic Culture

In Texas, government is seen as a protector of social hierarchy, leading to expected participation by elites.

Public Opinion

The aggregate of individual viewpoints shaped by various factors such as media and interest groups.

Measurement Methods of Public Opinion

Includes scientific polls, focus groups, exit polls, and straw polls.

Push Polls

Polls designed to persuade, rather than measure public opinion.

The Third House

Refers to the lobbyist corps operating in the Texas Capitol.

Texas Campaign Finance System

No limits on individual or PAC contributions to state races.

Issue Salience

Public concern about an issue that rises when media coverage increases.

Gatekeeping

The process by which media tells audiences what to think about.

Priming

Repeated exposure that conditions audiences to prioritize certain issues.

Framing

How a story is told shapes the logical solutions that are considered.

Cost of Voting Index

A measure indicating the relative difficulty of voting, with Texas ranked 50th.

Voting Requirements in Texas

Must be 18+, U.S. citizen, Texas resident, not a felon on parole, and have an approved photo ID.

Causal Factors for Low Voter Turnout

Includes structural, cultural, demographic, and rational choice factors.

SB 1 (2021)

A Texas law that eliminated 24-hour voting, drive-through voting, and tightened mail ballot regulations.

Paradox of Voting

The concept that one vote rarely determines outcomes, leading to a cost-benefit calculation against participation.

Organized Interests

Entities that shape what public opinion influences policy outcomes.