Untitled Flashcards Set

Primary Elections

Elections held by political parties to select their nominees for the general election.

General Elections

Nationwide elections where voters choose among candidates for public office, held in November every two years in the U.S. for federal offices.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the constitution to formally elect the U.S. President and vice president.

Public Opinion (V.O. Key)

Opinions held by private persons which governments find it prudent to heed, influencing political decisions and policies.

Factors that shape public opinion

Political socialization, media influence, education, socioeconomic status, religion, race, and life experiences.

The Literary Digest Poll

A 1936 poll that wrongly predicted a presidential outcome due to sampling bias and a failure to reach diverse demographics.

The Bradley Effect

A theory suggesting some voters may give misleading polling answers to avoid appearing prejudiced, particularly in races with different ethnicities.

Priming

Media emphasizing certain issues to shape the criteria by which the public evaluates political leaders.

Framing

The way information is presented to influence perception and interpretation of an issue.

Agenda Setting (in the media)

The media’s role in determining which issues receive attention, influencing public priorities.

The Policymaking Process

Involves agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and possible revision.

Bureaucracy

A system of administration with structured hierarchy, rules, and processes, essential for policy implementation.

Bureaucratic Powers

Rule making, enforcement, adjudication, and discretionary authority in implementing laws.

The Federal Bureaucracy

Comprises departments, agencies, and commissions that execute federal laws and programs.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Types of Federalism

Includes Dual, Cooperative, and New Federalism.

Dual Federalism

Clear separation of state and national responsibilities.

Cooperative Federalism

Overlapping roles and collaboration between state and federal governments.

New Federalism

A push for devolving power from federal to state governments, emphasizing state sovereignty.

Pluralism (Dahl and Schatschneider)

A theory that democracy is better understood as the competition among diverse interest groups.

Interest Groups

Organized groups seeking to influence public policy.

Motivations for joining interest groups

Social connections, material benefits, and purpose incentives.

Social Movement

A collective, organized effort by a large group of people to promote or resist social change.

Conditions that give rise to social movements

Societal grievances, political opportunity structures, mobilization resources, and shared ideologies.