Political+Participation

Public Opinion: Refers to the population's beliefs on political issues.
Demographics:
- Focus on the observation of changes in population over time.
- Key demographic groups:
  - Hispanics
  - Millennials
  - Blue-collar workers
  - Women
  - LGBTQ+
Census:
- Conducted every 10 years to count the American population.
- Significance: Plays a critical role in the functioning of the electoral college.

Political Socialization:
- The process through which individuals develop their political beliefs, influenced by:
  - Family
  - School
  - Peers and race/ethnic heritage
  - Media
  - Other social environments
Political Ideology:
- Defined as a coherent set of values and beliefs that shape one's view of public policy.
- Major political ideologies include:
  - Conservatives
  - Liberals
  - Moderates

Valence Issues:
- Issues that are generally viewed similarly across various ideologies.
- Examples: Health care, education.
Wedge Issues:
- Controversial topics that divide public opinion.
- Examples: Abortion, gun control.
High Saliency:
- The importance of a policy to a specific person or group.
- Examples: Taxes for high-income individuals, social welfare programs.

Republicans (Conservative):
- Support for increased military spending
- Advocacy for American influence abroad
- Preference for low taxes and reduced government spending
- Strict sentencing policies
- Less economic regulation by the government
- Pro-life stance
- Opposition to affirmative action
- Support for prayers in public schools
Democrats (Liberal):
- Support for reduced military spending
- Less American influence overseas
- Taxing the wealthy to aid the poor
- Focus on rehabilitation and addressing underlying causes of crime
- Government regulation for public interest
- Pro-choice stance
- Support for affirmative action
- Opposition to prayers in public schools

Reflect on two issues that resonate with you and write about your thoughts on them, using the provided notecard.

Characteristics: Break away from the two major parties.
Types of Third Parties:
- Single Issue: E.g., Green Party
- Political Ideological: E.g., Libertarian Party, Constitution Party

Purpose: Aim to influence public policy and meet their specific agenda.
Types of Interest Groups:
- Single Issue: E.g., NRA
- Broad Interest: E.g., NAACP
Lobbyists:
- Individuals who apply pressure to influence government decisions.

Political Action Committees (PACs):
- Organizations that collect political donations to influence elections.
- Contributions usually directed to candidates (often incumbents).
- Limit of $5,000 per election.
Super PACs:
- Do not contribute directly to candidates or political parties.
- Can raise unlimited funds and run independent ads indirectly mentioning candidates.

Write your perspective on whether voting is a right or a privilege and justify your position in your notebook.

Felon Rights:
- Discuss the implications of felony disenfranchisement.
Voter ID Laws:
- Vary by state, aimed at preventing voter fraud (Conservative view) versus seen as unjust barriers (Liberal view).
- Impact on low socio-economic individuals; what forms of ID are necessary (license? passport?)?

Definition: The percentage of eligible voters participating in elections.
Factors Affecting Voting:
- Registration issues
- Work commitments
- Transportation availability
- Long wait times
- ID requirements (varies by state)

Early Voting:
- Availability varies by state; aimed at increasing voter access.
Absentee Ballot:
- Allows voting via mail, primarily for those incapacitated or overseas.
Drive-Thru Voting:
- Example from Harris County in 2020.

Demographic Voting Patterns:
- Group voting tendencies according to:
  - Gender
  - Age
  - Minorities
  - Religion
Who Votes?:
- Typically older adults, educated individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, gender differences, marital status, and government employees.

Candidate Campaigns:
- Incumbents tend to receive more support; more funding leads to better exposure.
- House members generally have a higher re-election probability than Senate members.
Campaign Commercials:
- Comparison between Candidate A and Candidate B.

Types of Primaries: Open and Closed Primaries.
Caucuses:
- Community meetings where local party members discuss candidates.
National Convention:
- Event where party delegates officially nominate candidates for president.

Function:
- Composed of 538 votes, representing the Senate, House, and Washington D.C.
- Winning Threshold: First candidate to reach 270 electoral votes.
Methods of Allocation:
- Winner-take-all versus Congressional District Method.
- Faithless Elector: An elector who does not vote for the candidate they pledged to.

Influence on Voting Behavior:
- How media shapes public opinions and policy decisions.
Key Terms:
- Narrowcasting: Targeting specific audiences with particular messages.
- Consumer Driven: Media content shaped by consumer preferences.
- Selective Exposure: Choosing media that aligns with one's own beliefs.
- Agenda-setting: Media influences what issues are considered important.
- Trial Balloon: Testing public reaction to potential policy changes or ideas.