GOVT103 mt2

Public opinion

the collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals about politucal and social classes

Measuring public opinion

scientific polls use mathematical laws of probability to ensure accuracy

Political ideology

different aspects of how society ought to be structured, and which practices are best at getting there.

Duverger’s law

single-member district elections generally lead to stable two-party system

Political socialization

the process by which citizens acquire their political beliefs and values.

Costs of voting

voter registration, scheduling, noncompetitive races

Benefits of voting

self-satisfaction, involvement, policy benefits,

Voter turnout

the participation rate of people who cast a ballot

Voter ID laws

voters are required to present proof of their identities before casting a ballot

Party labels

can convey info about a party’s ideology aka positional information. can influence voter’s decision and legislative action.

Partisanship

refers to a strong and sometimes blind adherence to a particular political party, faction, cause, or person. A negative view of opposing parties

Party polarization

refers to growing ideological distance and political divergence between major political parties. (republicans vs. democrats)

Two-party system

a political system in which only two major parties compete for all elective offices. Third party usually have few, if any chances of winning elective offices.

Primary Election

An election held before the general election in which voters decide which of a party’s candidates will be the party’s nominee for the general election

Ranked choice voting

allows people to vote for multiple candidates in order of preference

Pluralism

A theory describing a political system in which all significant social interests freely compete with one another for influence over the government’s policy decisions.

Lobbying

Activities through which individuals, interest groups, and other institutions seek to influence public policy by persuading government officials to support their groups’ position.

Selective incentives

Private goods or benefits that induce rational actors to participate in a collective effort to provide a collective good.