American Government Units 6-10 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

The process by which individuals acquire their political opinions is called?

Popular culture

Social communication

Political socialization (correct)

Political assimilation

Socio-economic change

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention in?

Only with regard to affirmative action

Neither the social nor the economic spheres

The social sphere, but not the economic sphere

Both the economic and social spheres (correct)

The economic but not the social sphere

A person who favors government intervention in both social and economic affairs is a(n)?

Libertarian

Social conservative

Liberal

Economic conservative

Populist (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent?

Peers Signup and view all the answers

Sources of polling error can include?

All these answers are correct Signup and view all the answers

Party identification refers to?

An emotional attachment to a political party Signup and view all the answers

Change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of?

Major upheaval Signup and view all the answers

The policy of affirmative action arose when?

It became apparent that disadvantaged Americans would not attain equal employment opportunities through lawsuits that benefited single individuals only Signup and view all the answers

In general, public opinion?

Sets limits on government action Signup and view all the answers

A general belief about the role and purpose of government is called?

An ideology Signup and view all the answers

Conventional forms of political participation include all of the following EXCEPT?

Violent protests Signup and view all the answers

Compared with U.S. citizens of higher incomes, those of lower incomes are?

Much less likely to vote in elections Signup and view all the answers

Robert Putnam argues in 'Bowling Alone' that?

America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital Signup and view all the answers

When the nation was founded, who was eligible to vote?

Only white males who owned property Signup and view all the answers

In the United States, the primary responsibility for registration of the individual voter rests with the?

Individual Signup and view all the answers

Voter turnout is LOWEST in which age group?

Young adults Signup and view all the answers

States with the most restrictive voter registration laws also have?

Turnout rates well below the national average Signup and view all the answers

The frequency of elections in the United States reduces voter turnout by?

Increasing the personal effort needed to participate in all elections Signup and view all the answers

Eighteen, nineteen, and twenty-year-old Americans were granted the right to vote by the passage of the __________ Amendment.

Twenty-Sixth Signup and view all the answers

Regular voters tend to be characterized by a?

Strong sense of civic duty Signup and view all the answers

Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to?

Win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections Signup and view all the answers

The most recent party realignment had a realigning election in?

The most recent party realignment had no single realigning election Signup and view all the answers

The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of?

Political parties Signup and view all the answers

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 addressed?

Housing Signup and view all the answers

The winner-take-all system is also known as the ________ system.

Plurality Signup and view all the answers

The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is?

The existence of single-member election districts Signup and view all the answers

All of the following are characteristic of a party realignment EXCEPT?

A very close electoral result Signup and view all the answers

Political parties serve to?

All these answers are correct Signup and view all the answers

The MOST obvious sign of the party realignment of recent decades has been the strong tendency of?

The South to vote Republican Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties?

The direct primary Signup and view all the answers

Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because?

They have greater access to financial resources Signup and view all the answers

Some groups pursue collective goods. A collective good is one that?

Cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared Signup and view all the answers

An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of?

A single-issue group Signup and view all the answers

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is?

All of these answers are correct Signup and view all the answers

The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose?

Economic activity Signup and view all the answers

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that?

The interest group system is unrepresentative because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others Signup and view all the answers

PACs tend to contribute the most money to?

Incumbents Signup and view all the answers

Another name for an interest group is?

Pressure group Signup and view all the answers

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that?

Their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals Signup and view all the answers

The term iron triangle refers to?

A small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Political Socialization and Opinions

Political socialization is the process of acquiring political opinions.
Libertarians advocate against government intervention in both economic and social spheres.
Populists favor significant government intervention across social and economic activities.

Socializing Agents and Polling

Peers are not regarded as primary socializing agents, unlike family, school, and church.
Sources of polling error include unrepresentative samples, question wording, order, and lack of respondent knowledge.

Party Identification and Change

Party identification is defined as an emotional attachment to a political party.
Changes in party identification are rare, often stemming from major upheaval.
The policy of affirmative action emerged from the recognition that legal measures alone were insufficient for equal opportunities.

Public Opinion and Political Ideologies

Public opinion sets limits on governmental actions rather than directly determining them.
Ideology represents a general belief regarding the role and purpose of government.

Political Participation

Conventional political participation includes voting, campaigning, and lobbying, while violent protests are not conventional.
Voter turnout is significantly lower among younger age groups compared to older citizens.
Individuals are primarily responsible for their voter registration in the U.S.

Election Dynamics and Systems

States with strict voter registration laws tend to have lower turnout rates.
Frequent elections can decrease turnout due to the increased effort required from voters.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment granted voting rights to 18- to 20-year-olds.

Characteristics of Voters

Regular voters often exhibit a strong sense of civic duty.
Proportional representation systems enable smaller parties to secure legislative seats without needing a majority of votes.

Party Realignment and Political Parties

The most recent party realignment did not have a distinct realigning election.
Political parties have historically played a critical role in democratic governance.
The South's recent trend to vote Republican indicates significant political shifts.

Interest Groups and Their Influence

Economic interest groups typically have an advantage due to better financial resources compared to noneconomic groups.
A collective good is one that cannot be selectively granted or denied; it must be available for all.
Citizens' interest groups differ from economic groups as their members do not receive direct economic benefits from their goals.

Power Dynamics and PACs

PACs most commonly contribute funds to incumbents to leverage established influence.
The term "iron triangle" describes a stable relationship between bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists focusing on specific interests.

General Notes on Political Dynamics

Interest groups proliferate in the U.S. due to federalism, free association, and a wide range of societal interests.
Pluralism theory has a flaw: it often overlooks the disproportionate influence of well-organized groups over underrepresented interests.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts from American Government units 6-10 with these flashcards. Topics include political socialization and libertarian viewpoints. Perfect for students preparing for exams or anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of political ideologies.