Questions and Answers
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...
Signup and view all the answers
Liberalism and conservatism are examples of...
Signup and view all the answers
In order for a survey to accurately generalize the population, the survey must...
Signup and view all the answers
The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called a...
Signup and view all the answers
In classical political theory, a liberal was closest to what we would today refer to as a...
Signup and view all the answers
A person's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following news sources reaches the MOST Americans?
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...
Signup and view all the answers
In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that...
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...
Signup and view all the answers
Social media usage tends to...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements best describes where younger and older Americans get their news?
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...
Signup and view all the answers
Individuals with home high-speed internet access and the technology and literacy skills to use it are called...
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.
Signup and view all the answers
In order to win the presidency, a candidate must win...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following would be an example of a ballot initiative?
Signup and view all the answers
National elections are held in the United States on the first Tuesday of November ______________ year(s).
Signup and view all the answers
Political parties hold primary elections or caucuses in order to...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about age and political participation is true?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ultimate goal of a political party?
Signup and view all the answers
Throughout its history, American politics has been dominated by...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about the current Republican Party is most accurate?
Signup and view all the answers
One of the earliest activities party workers engage in once the general election campaign begins is...
Signup and view all the answers
The 'poor' and the homeless are two examples of...
Signup and view all the answers
A __________ is the best example of an informational benefit provided by many interest groups.
Signup and view all the answers
In an Iron Triangle, the congressional committee...
Signup and view all the answers
The free rider phenomenon is...
Signup and view all the answers
How do interest groups use litigation as a strategy of influence?
Signup and view all the answers
Lobbying is...
Signup and view all the answers
Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people...
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...
Signup and view all the answers
An Iron Triangle is made up of an alliance between...
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...
Signup and view all the answers
The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to...
Signup and view all the answers
The average American...
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...
Signup and view all the answers
The difference between a political value and a political attitude is that values are...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following sets of terms best describes America's fundamental political values?
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?
Signup and view all the answers
Journalists exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as...
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?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media's relationship to objectivity?
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...
Signup and view all the answers
"Public Broadcasting" refers to any television, radio, and digital media that...
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...
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.
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.
Signup and view all the answers
"Me Too" Republicanism refers to...
Signup and view all the answers
What is the MOST important factor in predicting whether an individual votes?
Signup and view all the answers
In a proportional representation electoral system,...
Signup and view all the answers
Super PACs were made possible in part by the...
Signup and view all the answers
___________ occurs when one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress.
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following would be an example of a referendum?
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...
Signup and view all the answers
AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) began...
Signup and view all the answers
What is the MOST important and beneficial resource that lobbyists provide government officials?
Signup and view all the answers
Between 1972 and 2016, the number of PACs in the United States...
Signup and view all the answers
The solidary benefits of interest groups include...
Signup and view all the answers
Individuals and organizations can give an unlimited amount of money to...
Signup and view all the answers
The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 illustrates...
Signup and view all the answers
According to Zollar, what groups of people are the easiest to sway politically?
Signup and view all the answers
Why do we have a two-party system?
Signup and view all the answers
Why does Mr. P disagree with the textbooks theory of political socialization?
Signup and view all the answers
How did Mr. P explain the fact that Collin County will endorse democrats more?
Signup and view all the answers
What was Mr. P's reason for the NFL's endorsement of both parties?
Signup and view all the answers
Majority of republicans believe the medical and recreational use of marijuana should be...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these groups would be considered as 'doves'?
Signup and view all the answers
To have success in gaining members and influencing policy, what type of people must an interest group have?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best matches super PACs?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the Green Party generally support?
Signup and view all the answers
What are media monopolies?
Signup and view all the answers
What core value of America do libertarians value most?
Signup and view all the answers
People with what level of political knowledge are the easiest to convince?
Signup and view all the answers
Why might Collin College donate most often to democrats?
Signup and view all the answers
A political ideology is best defined as...
Signup and view all the answers
In international affairs, conservatism has come to mean...
Signup and view all the answers
Liberalism and conservatism are examples of...
Signup and view all the answers
The process by which political values are formed is known as...
Signup and view all the answers
All the following are important roles for the media in American democracy EXCEPT...
Signup and view all the answers
The traditional news media aims to provide objective reporting on current events by...
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is an example of a media outlet that receives funding from the government?
Signup and view all the answers
Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from...
Signup and view all the answers
Despite its widespread availability, ________ typically report(s) on the narrowest range of topics.
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?
Signup and view all the answers
The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that...
Signup and view all the answers
Interest groups are concerned with the ________ of government, while political parties are concerned with the ________.
Signup and view all the answers
Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people...
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...
Signup and view all the answers
"Selective benefits" are...
Signup and view all the answers
The practice of lobbying is protected by...
Signup and view all the answers
In an iron triangle, the congressional committee...
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes lobbying from other strategies of influence?
Signup and view all the answers
A political action committee (PAC) can contribute ________ to any candidate for federal office, provided it contributes...
Signup and view all the answers
In the 2017-2018 election cycle, individuals could contribute no more than ________ to any candidate for federal office.
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.