Study Guide: Public Opinion, Ideology, and the Judicial System

Reliability: Consistency of polling results over time.
Validity: Accuracy of a poll in measuring the intended concept.
Public Opinion: Collective attitudes on political/social issues.
Polls & Sampling Theory: Using a sample to measure the views of a larger population.
Sample: Subset representing a larger population.
Population: The entire group whose opinions are of interest.
Sampling Frame: Source from which a sample is drawn.
Random Sampling: Equal chance of selection for each member.
Measurement Error: Errors from question wording or survey conduct.
Sources of Error: Sampling error, measurement error, question wording, nonresponse.
Sampling Error: Difference between sample results and actual population opinion.
Political Socialization: Development of political beliefs and values.

Agents of Socialization: Influences on political attitudes (family, school, peers, media, religion).
Ideology: Consistent beliefs about government roles and policies.
Marxist Conception of Ideology: Dominant ideologies shaped by the ruling class to maintain power.
Economic Liberals: Support government intervention in the economy.
Economic Conservatives: Prefer minimal government interference in the economy.
Social Liberals: Support personal freedoms and progressive social values.
Social Conservatives: Favor traditional values and government enforcement of moral standards.
Libertarians: Minimal government intervention in both economic and personal matters.
Regional Differences: Northeast (liberal) vs. South (conservative); Red (Republican/conservative) vs. Blue (Democratic/liberal) states.
Gender and Voting: Women (Democratic) vs. Men (Republican).
Age and Voting: Younger (liberal/Democratic) vs. Older (conservative/Republican).
Crosscutting: Mixed political views due to beliefs or social group memberships.

Original Jurisdiction: Power to hear a case first.
Appellate Jurisdiction: Power to review lower court decisions.
Judicial Review & Marbury v. Madison (1803): Courts can strike down unconstitutional laws/actions.
Writ of Certiorari: Request for Supreme Court to hear a case.
Opinion of the Court: Official decision and reasoning.
Majority Opinion: Agreed to by more than half the court.
Plurality Opinion: Guiding decision when no majority exists.
Dissenting Opinion: Disagreement with the majority opinion.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Right to legal counsel in state courts per the 14th Amendment.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Federal supremacy and implied powers.
Federal Courts:
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court
- Special U.S. Courts
State Courts (Usual Model): Trial courts, appellate courts, state supreme court.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003): Struck down sodomy laws, violated privacy.
Judicial Appointments: Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate.
Senatorial Courtesy: President consults home-state senators.