US Government Chapter 6: Politics and Public Opinion
20 Questions
100 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT an agent of political socialization?

  • Family
  • School
  • A U.S. senator (correct)
  • Community

    • How are most attitudes formed?

    In childhood, based on early childhood experiences.

    _____________ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader or viewer know upfront there is a political bias or position.

    Overt

    Where do your beliefs originate?

    <p>Guardians/Parents, School, Community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which agents of socialization have the strongest impact on an individual?

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

    The Bradley effect occurs when people ______________.

    <p>Say they will vote for a candidate but then vote against him/her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT part of a scientific poll design?

    <p>A leading question (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you think of the poll that states Clinton will receive 43% of the vote with an 8% margin of error?

    <p>It is a non-representative poll and the margin of error is too high.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do pollsters view random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election?

    <p>If a pollster interviews only a certain type of person, the sample will be biased and the poll will be inaccurate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How have changes in technology made polling more difficult?

    <p>There are too many ways to make a poll and counting them is challenging, and lower-class areas have worse polling results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are social politics controversial?

    <p>They require the government to balance the rights and liberties of different groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most?

    <p>Domestic events.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which institution has the highest average public approval ratings?

    <p>The Supreme Court.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?

    <p>When the issues balance two controversial concerns, such as a limited budget and personal financial needs, or religious liberty and equality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do polls affect presidential elections?

    <p>Polls tell voters the issues that the candidates support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Presidential approval ratings ________ over a president's term of office.

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

    Which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?

    <p>U.S. Supreme Court.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why would House of Representatives members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?

    <p>Representatives run for election every two years and must constantly raise campaign money. They abide by public opinion because they do not have time to explain their actions or mend fences before each election.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the media use public opinion polls during election season?

    <p>To see which way the voters are going to vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might one branch's approval ratings be higher than another's?

    <p>Because some branches only have a few people, so it is easier to target them instead of a large branch.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Political Socialization

    • Political socialization agents include family, school, and community; an U.S. senator is not an agent.
    • Most attitudes are formed during childhood from early experiences.
    • Family has the strongest impact among socialization agents.

    Media and Political Bias

    • Overt political content informs readers/viewers of its bias or position upfront.

    Polling and Public Opinion

    • The Bradley effect describes a phenomenon where individuals indicate support for a candidate but vote against them.
    • Scientific poll design must avoid leading questions to maintain accuracy.
    • High margins of error, such as 8%, may indicate a non-representative poll.
    • Random sampling of diverse populations is crucial to avoid bias in polling results.
    • Technological changes complicate polling due to various methods and lower response rates in certain demographics.

    Social Politics and Public Sentiment

    • Social politics can be controversial as they demand a balance of rights and liberties among different groups.
    • Domestic events primarily influence congressional approval ratings.
    • The Supreme Court typically enjoys the highest average public approval ratings.

    Polarization and Issues

    • Polarization in public opinion is heightened when economic and social issues present conflicting interests.

    Polls and Elections

    • Polls help inform voters about candidate-supporting issues, influencing voter behavior in elections.
    • Presidential approval ratings generally decline over a president’s term.
    • The U.S. Supreme Court is the least influenced by public opinion polls.

    Political Accountability

    • House of Representatives members are more responsive to public opinion than the president due to frequent elections and campaign fundraising demands.
    • Media uses public opinion polls during election season to gauge voter preferences.

    Approval Ratings Variability

    • Approval ratings may vary between government branches; smaller organizations may find it easier to manage public perception compared to larger ones.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the key concepts from Chapter 6 of U.S. Government, focusing on the agents of political socialization and how attitudes are formed. Explore important terminology and definitions that shape public opinion and political bias in the media.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser