gov LAST test EVER

agenda setting

The process by which the media identifies the issues the public should be concerned about; the media's ability to influence the importance of an issue, and thereby add it to the public agenda, by covering it more frequently

consensus

General agreement among the citizenry on an issue

divisive opinion

public opinion that is polarized between two quite different positions

gender gap

The difference between the percentage of women who vote for a particular candidate and the percentage of men who vote for the candidate.

generational effect

a long-lasting effect of the events of a particular time on the political opinions of those who came of political age at that time

life cycle effect

People change as they grow older because of age-specific experiences and thus people are likely to hold age-specific attitudes.

managed news

information generated and distributed by the government in such a way as to give government interests priority over candor

media

the means of communication, such as radio, television, news outlets, internet, social media that reach people widely

nonopinion

The lack of an opinion on an issue or policy among the majority

opinion leader

One who is able to influence the opinions of others because of position, expertise, or personality.

opinion poll

A method of systematically questioning a small, selected sample of respondents who are deemed representative of the total population.

peer group

A group consisting of members sharing common social characteristics. These groups play an important part in the socialization process, helping to shape attitudes and beliefs.

political socialization

The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. Families and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process.

political trust

The degree to which individuals express trust in the government and political institutions, usually measured through a specific series of survey questions.

public opinion

the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population

sampling error

the difference between a sample's results and the true result if the entire population had been interviewed

socieoeconomic status

The value assigned to a person due to occupation or income. An upper-class person, for example, has high socioeconomic status.

Which is true about quota sampling?

it is a less accurate technique

In addition to informing that public about current issues and events, the media serves as a

political forum for leaders and the public

What is the general impact of public opinion on govenment action?

it sets broad limits on governmental action

The most important principle in sampling, or poll taking is

randomness

the transfer of political attitudes and beliefs

is more likely to occur from parents to children

boycott

A form of pressure or protest—an organized refusal to purchase a particular product or deal with a particular business.

climate control

The use of public relations techniques to create favorable public opinion toward an interest group, industry, or corporation.

Direct Technique

An interest group activity that involves interaction with government officials to further the group's goals.

free rider problem

The difficulty interest groups face in recruiting members when the benefits they achieve can be gained without joining the group.

incentive

a reason or motive for supporting or participating in the activities of a group based on the desire to associate with others and to share with others a particular interest or hobby; interest groups offer incentives to their members

indirect techique

A strategy employed by interest groups that uses third parties to influence government officials.

interest group

An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.

labor movement

Generally, the economic and political expression of working-class interests; politically, the organization of working-class interests.

latent interest

Public-policy interests that are not recognized or addressed by a group at a particular time.

lobbyist

An organization or individual who attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.

material incentive

a reason or motive having to do with economic benefits or opportunities

public interest

The best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.

purposive incentive

A reason for supporting or participating in the activities of a group that is based on agreement with the goals of the group. For example, someone with a strong interest in human rights might have a purposive incentive to join Amnesty International

service sector

The sector of the economy that provides services--such as health care, banking, and education--contrast to the sector that produces goods.

social movement

A movement that represents the demands of a large segment of the public for political, economic, or social change. Interest groups are often spawned by mass social movements

solidary incentive

A reason or motive having to do with the desire to associate with others and to share with others a particular interest or hobby.

hyperpluralism

the ability of interest groups to mandate policy or defeat policies needed by the nation may work against the public good

origin of the term lobbying

comes from the activities of private citizens regularly congregating in the lobbies of legislative chambers before a session to petition legislators

pluralism

views the political struggle as putting different groups against each other to reach a compromise vital to the public interest

collective good

refers to any public benefit that, if available to any member of the community, cannot be denied to any other member, whether or not he or she participated in the effort to gain the good

major types of interest groups

represent main sectors of economy

umbrella group

represent certain types of businesses or companies that deal in a particular type of product

multiple cracks

interest groups can file briefs at the Supreme Court or challenge regulations issued by federal agencies; interest groups's ease of access to government

shotgun approach

interest group tries to mobilize large numbers of constituents to email, tweet, write, or phone their legislators or the president

Citizens United v FEC

allows corporations, unions, groups such as Citizens United, and others to spend money in campaign advertising without limit as long as it is not coordinated with a campaign; a corporation is the same as the individual; before 2009, unions and corporations could only influence their members to donate; The restriction against using direct campaign language was lifted as well

rifle techique

more powerful version of shotgun approach, but rather only uses important constituents

The federal govenment has worked to regulate campaign finance

for more than a century

Interests groups are important subjects of study in American politics because

they provide a venue for citizens to participate in government

Tue or False: Participation in the labor movement (unionizing) in the total workforce has been increasing since 1948.

false

Whig Party

A major party in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836. The Whig party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of regional interests.

convention delegates

Delegates are individuals chosen to represent their states at their party conventions prior to a presidential election

Dealignment

A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment.

democratic party

One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson; this party was formed from the followers of Andrew Jackson

divided government

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls the chambers of Congress, or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.

electoral college

A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.

era of good feelings

The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and had, in effect, no political opposition. aka era of personal politics

faction

a subgroup or bloc within a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position

national committee

A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions.

national convention

The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice presidential candidates, to write a platform, to choose a national committee, and to conduct party business.

party identification

Linking oneself to a particular political party.

party-in-government

all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party

party-in-the-electorate

Those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another.

party organization

The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.

party platform

A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.

patronage

Rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.

plurality

A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater than the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority.

political party

A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.

realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.

Republican Party

One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.

safe seat

A district that returns the legislator with 55 percent of the vote or more.

splinter party

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.

state central committee

The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention.

straight-ticket voting

voting exclusively for the candidates of one party

swing voters

Voters who frequently swing their support from one party to another.

third party

A political party other than the two major political parties (Republican and Democratic).

ticket splitting

voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices. For example, a voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate.

tipping

A phenomenon that occurs when a group that is becoming more numerous over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country.

two-party system

A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.

unit rule

A rule by which all of a state's electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate receiving a plurality of the popular vote in that state.

functions of a political party

1. Recruiting candidates to run for public office under their party label

2. Organizing and running elections

3. Presenting alternative policies to the electorate

4. Accepting responsibility for operating the government

5. Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power

what are the three major components to a party

party-in-the-electorate, party organization, and party-in-government

candidate centered

candidates may choose to run, raise their own funds, build their own organizations, and win elections largely on their own, without significant help from a political party

progressivism

a spirit of political reform; a belief that honest, impartial government could effectively regulate the economy

demography is destiny

political parties are built by appealing to groups of people and knitting together a coalition based on shared interests

why has the two party system endured

-Historical foundations of the system

-Political socialization and practical considerations

-The winner-take-all electoral system

-State and federal laws favoring the two-party system.

electors

delegates who are committed to the various presidential candidates

how do third parties come into existence?

1. They may be founded from scratch by individuals or groups who are committed to a particular interest, issue, or ideology

2. They can split off from one of the major parties when a group becomes dissatisfied with the major party's policies

3. They can be organized around a particular charismatic leader and serve as that person's vehicle for contesting elections

spoiler effect

third parties can determine the outcome of a particular election by pulling votes from one of the major party candidates

free silver

a policy of coining enough new money to create inflation