Untitled Flashcards Set

Primary Elections – elections held by political parties to select their nominees for the general election

-              They can be open, closed, or semi-closed depending on voter eligibility

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.

-              Each state’s electors are based on its representation in Congress

Public Opinion Definition (V.O. Key) – “those opinions held by private persons which governments find it prudent to heed.”

-              Public opinion influences political decisions and policies

Factors that shape public opinion – political socialization, media influence, education, socioeconomic status, religion, race, and life experiences

Biases in Public Opinion – confirmation bias, media framing, partisan loyalty

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 that some voters give misleading polling answers to avoid appearing prejudiced, particularly in races involving candidates of different ethnics.

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, thus influencing public priorities

The Policymaking Process – Involves agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and possible revision

Definition of 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

Definition of Federalism – a system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments

Types of Federalism (Dual, Cooperative, and New)

-              Dual Federalism – clear separation of state and national responsibilities (layer cake)

-              Cooperative Federalism – Overlapping roles and collaboration between state and federal governments (marble cake)

-              New Federalism – A push for devolving power from federal to state governments, emphasizing state sovereignty

Pluralism (Dahl and Schatschneider) – a theory that democracy is best understood as the competition among diverse interest groups, though critics highlight unequal representation of groups.

Definition of Interest Groups – organized groups seeking to influence public policy

Motivations for joining interest groups – social connections, material benefits, purpose incentives

Examples of Interest Groups (NAACP, NRA, Citizens United, The Proud Boys, etc)

-              NAACP – advocates for civil rights

-              NRA – defends gun rights

-              Citizens United – Promotes campaign finance deregulation

-              The Proud Boys – Far right organization often involved in controversial activism

Social Movement Definition – 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 like leadership and funding

-              Shared ideologies and networks