Government Chapter 5 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues, events, and people called?

public opinions

How is a political ideology best defined?

a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the government

What are liberalism and conservatism examples of?

political ideologies

What is the complex set of beliefs and values that form a general philosophy about the government called?

political ideology Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a political value and a political attitude?

values are liberal while attitudes are conservative Signup and view all the answers

Based on recent polling data, what percentage of Americans disagreed with the statement 'any group should be allowed to hold a rally for a cause'?

55 percent Signup and view all the answers

Which terms describe America's fundamental political values?

liberty, equality, and democracy Signup and view all the answers

What is freedom from government control commonly referred to as?

liberty Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which underlying political values are formed called?

political socialization Signup and view all the answers

What influences people's political party preferences primarily?

their families Signup and view all the answers

How do perceptions of racism differ between blacks and whites?

Blacks are more likely than whites to believe racism is very common in the United States today. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term gender gap refer to?

differences in voting behavior between men and women Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'spiral of silence' describe?

people who silence or modify their opinions in order to conform to their peer group's beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What did James Madison identify as the greatest source of political conflict for the United States?

differences between the rich and poor Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference in political participation between those who have gone to college and those who have not?

There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education. Signup and view all the answers

What would a liberal most likely support?

an increase in the federal military budget Signup and view all the answers

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by whom?

Conservatives Signup and view all the answers

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support what?

school prayer Signup and view all the answers

What do people's underlying beliefs and ideologies tend to do?

automatically color their perceptions and opinions about politics Signup and view all the answers

What are two other important factors that help shape an individual's opinions on particular issues?

one's knowledge of political issues and the outside influences affecting that person's views. Signup and view all the answers

If a person supports a proposed piece of legislation because Barack Obama endorsed it, what does this indicate?

the person reached their decision through the use of an informational shortcut Signup and view all the answers

What have recent studies by political scientists shown about the average American's knowledge of political institutions?

the average American exhibits little knowledge about political institutions, processes, or leaders Signup and view all the answers

What is the ability of citizens to influence their government through an awareness of and interest in politics?

political efficacy Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the marketplace of ideas is true?

Very few ideas emerge and spread in the marketplace spontaneously. Signup and view all the answers

Which organizations are committed to developing and marketing conservative ideas and policies?

The Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institute, and American Enterprise Institute Signup and view all the answers

Each of the following is a liberal organization except?

the Chamber of Commerce Signup and view all the answers

What happens to political ideas that fail to be productive?

are not allowed to return to the marketplace of ideas Signup and view all the answers

Where did the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates take place?

outside, in the cornfields and town squares of Illinois Signup and view all the answers

What is the small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population called?

sample Signup and view all the answers

In public opinion surveys, what must a sample of the total population be?

representative Signup and view all the answers

What is the list called when pollsters are given people to be surveyed?

sampling frame Signup and view all the answers

In 1936, what were pollsters at the Literary Digest guilty of when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory?

selection bias Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents?

3 percent Signup and view all the answers

What can question formats cause in polling that affect the polls' validity?

errors Signup and view all the answers

What does the practice of push polling involve?

the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Public Opinion and Political Ideologies

Public opinions reflect the various attitudes citizens have toward political issues, events, and figures.
Political ideology consists of a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy regarding government, exemplified by liberalism and conservatism.
Political values are foundational beliefs—often liberal—while political attitudes can reflect more conservative perspectives.

Political Socialization and Influences

Political socialization is the process through which political values and beliefs are shaped.
Family plays a pivotal role in determining individuals' political party preferences.
Recent polling indicates that 55% of Americans disagree with the idea that any group should freely hold a rally for a cause.

Fundamental Political Values

America's core political values are liberty, equality, and democracy.
Most Americans equate liberty with freedom from government control.

Perceptions of Racism and Gender Gaps

There is a perception gap on racism, with Black individuals more likely to believe it is prevalent compared to White individuals.
The gender gap in voting behavior highlights differences in choices made by men and women.

Political Participation and Education

Higher levels of political participation are associated with individuals who have a college education.
Conservatives typically oppose legalized abortion, whereas liberals tend to support it.

Influence of Information and Awareness

An individual's political beliefs and ideologies significantly influence their political opinions.
Political efficacy refers to citizens' ability to influence their government through engagement and awareness of political matters.

Marketplace of Ideas

The marketplace of ideas requires organizational support for ideas to emerge and thrive; few ideas develop spontaneously.
Organizations such as The Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute focus on promoting conservative ideas.

Polling Techniques and Errors

A sample is a small group selected to represent the broader population in surveys, while a sampling frame refers to the list of people to be surveyed.
The typical margin of error in surveys with 1,500 respondents is around 3%.
Selection bias can occur if pollsters gather data from unrepresentative sources, as seen in the 1936 Literary Digest poll.

Polling Validity and Methods

Question formats can introduce validity issues in polling results; careful wording is crucial to reflect accurate public opinion.
Push polling involves asking leading questions designed to shape respondents' views subtly.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the key concepts of political opinions and ideologies with this Chapter 5 flashcard quiz. Explore definitions of important terms such as public opinion and various political ideologies, including liberalism and conservatism. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of political attitudes and beliefs.