Political Participation and Citizenship Chapter 11

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of gatekeepers in the media?

To provide analysis on political issues

To represent corporate interests over journalistic integrity

To create political narratives for public consumption

To determine which stories gain coverage (correct)

Which consequence of corporate ownership is characterized by a focus on entertainment?

Framing

Commercial Bias

Dramatization of Content (correct)

Revolving Door

What is sound bite journalism primarily concerned with?

Creating narratives that misinform the audience

Using brief, impactful communication for easier public consumption (correct)

In-depth analysis of policy issues

Providing complex information to the public

What does the term 'revolving door' refer to in the context of politics and media?

The exchange of individuals between public office and the private sector Signup and view all the answers

Which practice involves simplifying complex political situations for the audience?

Reduction Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of a push poll?

It aims to persuade respondents while collecting data. Signup and view all the answers

Which party is generally associated with social equality and environmental issues?

Democratic Party Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'negative partisanship' refer to?

Voters acting against the opposing party rather than supporting their own. Signup and view all the answers

What does a critical election signify?

A significant change in the political landscape. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of primary allows any registered voter to participate regardless of party affiliation?

Open primary Signup and view all the answers

What does the responsible party model suggest about political parties?

They should present clear platforms and educate voters. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major challenge faced in modern polling?

Nonresponse bias affecting result accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

Which party era is typically associated with the New Deal Democrats?

Great Depression Era Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main components of political parties?

Party Organization, Party in Government, Party in the Electorate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of all interest groups?

To influence public policy and decision-makers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the free rider problem?

People benefiting without contributing to shared resources Signup and view all the answers

Which type of lobbying involves direct interactions with policymakers?

Direct lobbying Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by selective incentives in interest groups?

Tangible benefits offered to attract members Signup and view all the answers

Which function of elections helps resolve political disputes?

Containing Conflict Signup and view all the answers

What type of interest group typically advocates for the common good?

Public interest groups Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a role of interest groups?

Providing direct services to individuals Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes an ideal democratic citizen from an apolitical citizen?

Is engaged in civic activities and voting Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'political socialization'?

The acquisition of political beliefs influenced by various factors Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has been shown to increase the likelihood of an individual voting?

Higher income Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

To overcome legal barriers preventing African Americans from voting Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes voter participation in the U.S.?

It is generally lower than in many other democracies Signup and view all the answers

In terms of voter behavior, what distinguishes prospective voting from retrospective voting?

Prospective voting is based on future promises, while retrospective voting is based on past performance. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'spiral of silence' refer to?

Individuals suppress opinions due to perceived minority status Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of random samples in polling?

Every member of the population has an equal chance of selection Signup and view all the answers

Which type of issue in election campaigns is characterized by broad agreement among the public?

Valence Issues Signup and view all the answers

What is sample bias?

When the sample does not represent the overall population Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'swing voters' in the context of elections?

Voters who may change their party allegiance in different elections Signup and view all the answers

Which type of poll is referred to as a benchmark poll?

An initial poll measuring name recognition and public image Signup and view all the answers

What does media convergence refer to in the context of communication?

The integration of different media formats into a unified form Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes narrowcasting as a media strategy?

Targeting specific audiences rather than a general one Signup and view all the answers

What does weighting in polling refer to?

Altering survey results to reflect population characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'permanent campaign' refer to in political communication?

Ongoing efforts by politicians to maintain public support for their policies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 11: The Ideal Democratic Citizen and Voter Participation

Ideal citizens are informed about political issues, participate in civic activities, vote, and hold representatives accountable.
Apolitical citizens prioritize personal interests over public affairs, may vote but aren't engaged in other civic activities, and lack political knowledge.
Political socialization is the process through which individuals develop political beliefs and values, influenced by family, education, media, and social networks.
Voter participation in the U.S. is historically lower than in many other democracies.
Partisan sorting is the tendency for people to align themselves with a political party whose ideology aligns with theirs over time.
Political generations are cohorts of people who experience significant political events together, which shapes their political attitudes and behaviors.
Spiral of silence is a theory that suggests individuals are less likely to express unpopular opinions.
Public opinion polling involves methods for studying public opinion including:
- Population: The entire group being studied.
- Sample: A subset of the population.
- Sample bias: A skewed sample that does not reflect the population.
- Sampling error: The margin of error in survey results based on the sample.
- Random samples: All members have an equal chance of being included in the sample.
- Nonresponse bias: Bias caused by individuals not responding to surveys.
- Weighting: Adjusting results to make them more representative of the population.
- Robo-calling: Automated calls for polling or solicitations.

Chapter 12: Ideological Breakdown of Political Parties

Generally, Democrats lean left, supporting social equality and government intervention, while Republicans lean right, focusing on individual liberties and free markets.
Party activists are actively involved in promoting a party's candidates and policies.
A party platform outlines the goals a party supports.
Negative partisanship involves acting against the opposing party rather than supporting one's own.
The responsible party model suggests that parties should present clear platforms, hold their officials accountable, and educate voters.
Party eras are significant periods in U.S. political history dominated by a specific party.
Critical elections signal major shifts in the political landscape.
Realignments represent long-lasting shifts in party loyalties and electoral support.
Dealignment is a trend where voters become less associated with either major political party.

Chapter 13: Selective Incentives and Interest Groups

Selective incentives encourage membership or participation in interest groups.
These include material benefits (tangible items), solidary benefits (social connection), and expressive benefits (satisfaction from expressing political beliefs).
Interest groups aim to influence public policy in their favor.
Collective action problems make group efforts difficult as individuals may benefit without contributing.
Collective goods are benefits available to all members, regardless of individual contribution.
Free riders are individuals who benefit from a collective good without contributing.
Interest groups can have various roles.

Chapter 14: Functions of Elections and Voting Tendencies

Elections serve for selecting leaders, representing policy direction, civic engagement, informing public, and resolving conflicts.
Policy efficacy is the belief that government action can result in effective change.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate legal barriers to voting.
Voting tendencies vary based on age, gender, income, education, race and ethnicity, and social connectedness.
Prospective voting involves considering future policy promises.
Retrospective voting is based on past performance.

Chapter 15: Mass Media and Political Campaigns

Mass media encompasses various communication channels that reach large audiences and influence them.
News organizations report on current events and distribute this information through various media formats.
News aggregators collect information from various sources.
Narrowcasting targets specific audiences, unlike broadcasting.
Media convergence describes the combination of different media formats.
A permanent campaign describes consistent political efforts.
News management strategies aim to control news narratives and coverage.
Spin refers to the biased representation of actions/statements.
Gatekeepers are powerful figures that determine news coverage.
Corporate ownership in media can create commercial bias, reducing political coverage, and emphasizing sensationalism.
Conflicts of interest can influence journalistic integrity.
Corruption of journalistic standards, a revolving door phenomenon, and pundits affect objectivity.
Creation of political narratives in terms of persuasion, reduction, and horse-race journalism potentially distorts substantive issues.
Other methods like sound bites, agenda-setting, and framing are also used to shape public discourse and understanding.

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Description

Explore the concepts of ideal democratic citizens and voter participation in Chapter 11. This quiz delves into political socialization, partisan sorting, and the factors influencing voter engagement in the U.S. Discover how political generations and the spiral of silence shape our democratic processes.