AP GoPo Chapter 10,12,14

Basic beliefs that shape the way Americans behave and view the role of government in their lives

The equal chance for all people to realize their potential

An economic system based on competition among businesses with limited government involvement

Sharp differences in Americans’ overall ideas of the size and scope of government

The autonomy of individuals to manage the course of their own lives without government interference

An opinion formed on the spot, when it is needed (as distinct from a deeply held opinion that is stable over time)

A way of describing political beliefs in terms of a position on the spectrum running from liberal to moderate to conservative

A political system in which the powers of the government are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights

A way to measure public opinion by interviewing a relatively small sample of a large population

The level of public support for expanding the government’s role in society; whether the public wants government action on a specific issue

The process by which an individual’s political opinions are shaped by other people and the surrounding culture

The group of people whom a researcher or pollster wants to study, such as evangelicals, senior citizens, or Americans

Citizens’ views on politics and government actions

A subsection of a population chosen to participate in a survey through a selection process in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen. This kind of sampling improves the accuracy of public-opinion data

The authority of law to restrict people’s behavior equally for the common good

Within a population, the group of people surveyed in order to gauge the whole population’s opinion. Researchers use samples because it would be impossible to interview the entire population

The predicted difference between the average opinion expressed by survey respondents and the average opinion in the population, sometimes called the margin of error. Increasing the number of respondents lowers the sampling error

Any lobbying method initiated by an interest group that is designed to look like the spontaneous, independent participation of many individuals

Interest groups that have a headquarters, usually in Washington, D.C., as well as members and field offices throughout the country. In general, these groups’ lobbying decisions are made at headquarters by the group leaders

A method of eliminating nonparticipation or free riding by potential group members by requiring participation, as in many labor unions

A situation in which the members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and reaping benefits from those who do the work

Interest groups made up of several independent, local organizations that provide much of their funding and hold most of the power

Attempts by interest groups staff to influence policy by speaking with elected officials or bureaucrats

A tax-exempt group formed primarily to influence elections through voter mobilization efforts and issue ads that do not directly endorse or oppose a candidate. Unlike PACs, 527s are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps

Relying on others to contribute to a collective effort while failing to participate on one’s own behalf, yet still benefiting from the group’s successes

A lobbying strategy that relies on participation by group members, such as a protest or a letter-writing campaign

A direct vote by citizens on a policy change proposed by fellow citizens or organized groups outside government. Getting a question on the ballot typically requires collecting a set number of signatures from registered voters in support of the proposal. There is no mechanism for a national-level initiative

The tactics employed within Washington, D.C., by interest groups seeking to achieve their policy goals

An organization of people who share common political interests and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying

A government in which most policy decisions are determined by the influence of interest groups

Informal alliance elected officials, bureaucrats, and interest groups designed to let these groups and individuals dominate the policymaking process in a given area

Informal organization of interest groups and individuals who work together to lobby government for policy change. These collaborations are usually short-term efforts focused on specific proposals, issues, or regulations

Institutions such as political parties, interest groups, the media, and elections that are channels through which individuals can communicate their preferences to policy makers

Efforts to influence public policy through contact with public officials on behalf of an interest group

Interest groups that have a large number of dues-paying individuals as members

Benefits that are provided to individuals for joining a group, such as a coffee mug or a T-shirt, that are distinct from the collective benefits provided by the group

The tactics employed outside Washington, D.C., by interest groups seeking to achieve their policy goals

Interest groups whose members are businesses or other organizations rather than individuals

An interest group or a division of an interest group that can raise money to contribute to campaigns or to spend on ads in support of candidates.The amount a PAC can receive from each of its donors and the amount it can spend on federal campaigning are strictly limited

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working toward a desired policy goal, even if the goal is not achieved

A direct vote by citizens on a policy change proposed by a legislature or another government body. Referenda are common in state and local elections, but there is no mechanism for a national-level referendum

The movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms, and vice versa

The level of familiarity with an interest group’s goals in the general population

Benefits that can motivate participation in a group effort because they are available only to those who participate, such as member services offered by interest groups

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working with likeminded people, even if the group's efforts do not achieve the desired impact

A type of increasingly popular media coverage focused on political scandals and controversies, which causes a negative public opinion of political figures

Communications technologies, such as television and radio, that transmit information over airwaves

The idea that many Americans acquire political information unintentionally rather by seeking it out

An FCC regulation requiring broadcast media to provide equal air time on any non-news programming to all candidates running for an office

A government agency created in 1934 to regulate American radio stations and later expanded to regulate television, wireless communications technologies, and other broadcast media

The influence on public opinion that results from journalists’ and editors’ decisions about which of many potential news stories to report

The influence on public opinion caused by the way a story is presented or covered, including the details, explanations, and context offered in the report

Media coverage focused on facts and important issues surrounding a campaign

A description of the type of election coverage that focuses more on poll results and speculation about a likely winner than on substantive differences between the candidates

The tendency of people to see neutral media coverage of an event as biased against their point of view

The practice in which someone in government provides nonpublic information to a reporter, with the aim of generating press coverage favorable to the leaker’s aims

Institutions such as political parties, interest groups, the media, and elections that are channels through which individuals can communicate their preferences to policy makers

Sources that provide information to the average citizen, such as newspapers, television networks, radio stations, podcasts, and websites

Companies that control a large number of media sources across several types of media outlets

The influence of media coverage on average citizens’ opinions and actions

Describes comments a politician makes to the press on the condition that they can be reported only if they are not attributed to the politician

Media coverage that aims to entertain or shock, often through sensationalized reporting or by focusing on a candidate or politician's personality

A style of newspaper reporting popular in the late 1800s that featured sensationalized stories, bold headlines, and illustrations to increase readership