Political Attitudes and Values Review
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Support for an affirmative action policy that considers an applicant's race in university admissions is an example of political__________, while a belief in equality of opportunity is an example of a political __________.

attitude; value

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support...

school prayer

If a public opinion survey reports finding that a particular candidate is supported by 60 percent of voters and that there is a 95 percent chance that support for this candidate is somewhere between 63.1 percent and 56.9 percent, the 3.1 percent variation from 60 percent is called...

margin of error

In recent years, response rates for random digit dial surveys have been...

<p>declining steadily and now average less than 15 percent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Liberalism and conservatism are examples of...

<p>political ideologies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order for a survey to accurately generalize the population, the survey must...

<p>select respondents randomly and everyone in the target population must have an equal chance of being selected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called a...

<p>sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In classical political theory, a liberal was closest to what we would today refer to as a...

<p>libertarian (for the test's sake)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of...

<p>the person's family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following news sources reaches the MOST Americans?

<p>television.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The fact that journalists referred to the Obama administration's health care initiative as 'reform' instead of 'health care rationing' is an example of...

<p>framing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that...

<p>the government could not block the release of the papers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a number of newspapers published stories exposing an elected official's acceptance of monetary bribes from a corporation in exchange for passing a particular law, it would be an example of the media serving in their role as...

<p>a watchdog.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Social media usage tends to...

<p>exaggerate partisan polarization among the mass public because people pick their own friend networks and can avoid disagreeable ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes where younger and older Americans get their news?

<p>Social media tends to be a secondary news source after television for most Americans, but a primary news source for the young.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The frequent reporting on the federal investigation of Robert Mueller regarding whether anyone close to Trump participated in Russia's 2016 election interference is an example of the media's commitment to...

<p>adversarial journalism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Individuals with home high-speed internet access and the technology and literacy skills to use it are called...

<p>digital citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

____________ is the power the media has to shape what issues Americans think about and _________ is the power the media has to influence how Americans think about those issues.

<p>Agenda-setting; framing</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to win the presidency, a candidate must win...

<p>at least 270 votes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be an example of a ballot initiative?

<p>A vote on whether recreational marijuana usage should be legalized in the state of California.</p> Signup and view all the answers

National elections are held in the United States on the first Tuesday of November ______________ year(s).

<p>every other</p> Signup and view all the answers

Political parties hold primary elections or caucuses in order to...

<p>select a single candidate to represent the party in the general election.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about age and political participation is true?

<p>Young people are far less likely to participate in politics than older people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of a political party?

<p>Winning elections</p> Signup and view all the answers

Throughout its history, American politics has been dominated by...

<p>two major political parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the current Republican Party is most accurate?

<p>The Republican Party is divided between pro-business conservatives, who favor global free trade, and far-right conservatives, who are opposed to U.S. involvement in the global economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the earliest activities party workers engage in once the general election campaign begins is...

<p>ensuring that citizens are registered to vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'poor' and the homeless are two examples of...

<p>potential interest groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A __________ is the best example of an informational benefit provided by many interest groups.

<p>newsletter</p> Signup and view all the answers

In an Iron Triangle, the congressional committee...

<p>supports the agency's budget requests and the programs the interest group favors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The free rider phenomenon is...

<p>more problematic in very large groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do interest groups use litigation as a strategy of influence?

<p>They file amicus curiae briefs, finance lawsuits, and bring suit directly on behalf of the group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lobbying is...

<p>an attempt by an individual or group to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of Congress or a state legislature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people...

<p>with higher incomes, more education, and management or professional occupations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets is an example of a...

<p>material benefit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

An Iron Triangle is made up of an alliance between...

<p>a legislative committee, an interest group, and an executive agency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders have become more conservative is important because...

<p>partisans in the public tend to rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to...

<p>the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The average American...

<p>exhibits little knowledge of political institutions, processes, leaders, or policy debates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The percentage of Americans who indicate they trust the government 'just about always or most of the time' has...

<p>fallen from over 70 percent in 1960 to just 15 in 2017.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The difference between a political value and a political attitude is that values are...

<p>basic principles, while attitudes are specific preferences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sets of terms best describes America's fundamental political values?

<p>liberty, equality of opportunity, and democracy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main differences between people who have gone to college and people who have not?

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

Journalists exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as...

<p>having a great deal of dramatic or entertainment value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following stories would an American news outlet that relies primarily on advertising revenue be LEAST likely to cover?

<p>an economics professor providing testimony to a congressional committee on the effect of tariffs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media's relationship to objectivity?

<p>Journalists are trained to be objective in their reporting, so their personal biases rarely matter and their coverage of events almost always succeeds in objectively presenting both sides of a story.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Low-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses' or the government's improper activities are usually called...

<p>&quot;whistle-blowers&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

"Public Broadcasting" refers to any television, radio, and digital media that...

<p>receive funding from the public through license fees, subsidies, or tax dollars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A widely circulated story during the 2016 presidential election stating that the Pope had endorsed Donald Trump for president was a good example of...

<p>fake news</p> Signup and view all the answers

A citizen can currently give no more than _________ per candidate for federal office per election in a given two-year election cycle.

<p>$2700</p> Signup and view all the answers

From the end of the Civil War to the 1890's, the ________ Party was the party of the North, while the _________ party was the party of the South.

<p>Republican; Democratic</p> Signup and view all the answers

"Me Too" Republicanism refers to...

<p>the tendency of Republican politicians during the New Deal to support popular programs such as Social Security rather than advocate alternative policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the MOST important factor in predicting whether an individual votes?

<p>education level</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a proportional representation electoral system,...

<p>seats in the legislature are allocated to political parties based on their share of the total vote cast in the election.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Super PACs were made possible in part by the...

<p>Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.</p> Signup and view all the answers

___________ occurs when one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

<p>Divided government</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be an example of a referendum?

<p>A vote on whether to overturn a law passed by the New York state legislature and signed by the governor of New York that imposes higher taxes on wealthy residents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Supreme Court ruled that the government could not restrict independent expenditures by corporations or unions to political campaigns in...

<p>Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010).</p> Signup and view all the answers

AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) began...

<p>in 1958 as an effort to find affordable health insurance for retired teachers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the MOST important and beneficial resource that lobbyists provide government officials?

<p>information</p> Signup and view all the answers

Between 1972 and 2016, the number of PACs in the United States...

<p>increased from 480 to over 7,000.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The solidary benefits of interest groups include...

<p>friendship and consciousness-raising.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Individuals and organizations can give an unlimited amount of money to...

<p>Super PACs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 illustrates...

<p>the impact that an interest group can have through a litigation strategy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Zollar, what groups of people are the easiest to sway politically?

<p>Middle ground</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do we have a two-party system?

<p>&quot;Winner-take-all&quot; or &quot;Single-member districts&quot; lead to two dominant parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Mr. P disagree with the textbooks theory of political socialization?

<p>Personalities and social constructs both influence political socialization. Not just from one's environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Mr. P explain the fact that Collin County will endorse democrats more?

<p>Because they provide more public spending.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Mr. P's reason for the NFL's endorsement of both parties?

<p>to bet on both horses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Majority of republicans believe the medical and recreational use of marijuana should be...

<p>legal</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these groups would be considered as 'doves'?

<p>Liberals</p> Signup and view all the answers

To have success in gaining members and influencing policy, what type of people must an interest group have?

<p>people or organizations that are willing to finance the interest group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best matches super PACs?

<p>may raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions, and individuals—but cannot coordinate with parties or candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Green Party generally support?

<p>Anti-war, ecosocialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are media monopolies?

<p>Ownership and control of the media by a few large corporations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What core value of America do libertarians value most?

<p>Liberty</p> Signup and view all the answers

People with what level of political knowledge are the easiest to convince?

<p>Middle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might Collin College donate most often to democrats?

<p>Dems will provide more funding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A political ideology is best defined as...

<p>a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In international affairs, conservatism has come to mean...

<p>support for military intervention and the maintenance of American military.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Liberalism and conservatism are examples of...

<p>political ideologies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The process by which political values are formed is known as...

<p>Political socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

All the following are important roles for the media in American democracy EXCEPT...

<p>enabling privately owned companies to advertise their products to the public.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The traditional news media aims to provide objective reporting on current events by...

<p>excluding the personal views of reporters or editors from their coverage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a media outlet that receives funding from the government?

<p>NPR</p> Signup and view all the answers

Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from...

<p>Advertising</p> Signup and view all the answers

Despite its widespread availability, ________ typically report(s) on the narrowest range of topics.

<p>television</p> Signup and view all the answers

If public concern and interest in data security issues increased after a number of television and newspaper stories about those issues were highly reported and caused mass hysteria, what would that be called?

<p>agenda-setting power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that...

<p>interest groups should be free to compete for governmental influence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Interest groups are concerned with the ________ of government, while political parties are concerned with the ________.

<p>policies; personnel</p> Signup and view all the answers

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people...

<p>with higher incomes, more education, and management or professional occupations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person who enjoys the benefits of a group's collective efforts but does not contribute to those efforts is called a...

<p>free rider</p> Signup and view all the answers

"Selective benefits" are...

<p>incentives that interest groups make available only to those people who are...</p> Signup and view all the answers

The practice of lobbying is protected by...

<p>the First Amendment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In an iron triangle, the congressional committee...

<p>supports the agency's budgetary requests and the programs the interest group supports.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes lobbying from other strategies of influence?

<p>Lobbyists try to exert pressure directly on government officials themselves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A political action committee (PAC) can contribute ________ to any candidate for federal office, provided it contributes...

<p>$5,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the 2017-2018 election cycle, individuals could contribute no more than ________ to any candidate for federal office.

<p>$2,700</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Political Concepts and Terminology

  • Support for affirmative action policies reflects a political attitude, while belief in equality of opportunity exemplifies a political value.
  • Conservative ideology often includes support for school prayer, contrasting with liberal perspectives.
  • Margin of error in public opinion surveys denotes the variance in candidate support that may affect overall results.
  • Random digit dial surveys are seeing diminishing response rates, dropping below 15%.

Political Ideologies and Socialization

  • Liberalism and conservatism represent distinct political ideologies that shape perspectives.
  • Effective surveys necessitate random selection of respondents to generalize accurately about a population.
  • Political party preferences largely derive from familial influences, demonstrating the importance of early socialization.
  • Political values include liberty, equality of opportunity, and democracy, guiding American political culture.

News Media and Political Participation

  • Television remains the most widely accessed news source in the U.S., with social media being a primary source for younger demographics.
  • Framing in journalism determines how issues are presented, influencing public perception and debate.
  • The media functions as a watchdog by exposing corruption, reflected in coverage of scandals such as the Pentagon Papers.
  • Adversarial journalism emphasizes the media's role in scrutinizing governmental actions, illustrated by investigation stories like the Robert Mueller probe.

Elections and Political Parties

  • In presidential elections, candidates must secure at least 270 electoral votes to win.
  • Primary elections and caucuses help political parties select representatives for general elections.
  • A two-party system in the U.S. prevails due to "winner-take-all" electoral districts.
  • The Republican Party is currently characterized by a split between pro-business and far-right factions.

Interest Groups and Lobbying

  • Interest groups represent specific interests and utilize litigation strategies, such as filing amicus curiae briefs, to influence policy.
  • The free rider phenomenon complicates group dynamics, especially in large organizations.
  • Material benefits, such as discounts on tickets, incentivize membership in interest groups.
  • Lobbying, protected by the First Amendment, involves direct pressure on policymakers to advocate specific legislation.

Trust in Government and Political Knowledge

  • Trust in government has significantly declined, dropping from over 70% in 1960 to approximately 15% in 2017.
  • Political knowledge is generally low among average Americans, affecting engagement and participation.
  • Education level is a strong predictor of voter turnout, with those holding college degrees participating more actively in politics.

Legislative Provisions and Contributions

  • Citizens can contribute a maximum of $2,700 per candidate in federal elections within a two-year cycle.
  • Super PACs can amass unlimited funding from individuals and organizations, although they cannot directly coordinate with candidates.
  • The impact of interest groups is evident in events like the legalization of same-sex marriage through litigation efforts.

Media Influence and Public Awareness

  • The concept of agenda-setting refers to the media's ability to focus public attention on particular issues, shaping what becomes important.
  • Pluralism advocates that diverse interest groups should operate freely to influence government policy.
  • Selective benefits in interest groups provide incentives to members, differentiating them from non-contributors.

Overall Observations

  • Political socialization describes how individuals form their beliefs, affected by a range of influences beyond just environment.
  • AARP emerged in 1958 to address healthcare needs for retired individuals, illustrating how interest groups can evolve to advocate for specific demographics.
  • Successful political parties and interest groups often rely on educated and financially supportive members to achieve their goals.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts related to political attitudes and values, focusing on aspects such as affirmative action and opinions on school prayer. Review political ideologies and public opinion to prepare for Exam 2. Test your understanding with flashcards designed to reinforce important terms and definitions.

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