US Government Unit 2: Linkage Institutions
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a term for a system where the winner of an election receives all of the votes, even if they didn't win by a majority?

  • First-past-the-post system
  • Winner-take-all system (correct)
  • Proportional representation
  • Plurality system

Which of the following is the name of a legal case that allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns?

  • Citizens United v. FEC (correct)
  • Bush v. Gore
  • Roe v. Wade
  • Brown v. Board of Education

Which of the following is NOT a role of the mass media in politics?

  • Gatekeeping
  • Lobbying (correct)
  • Scorekeeping
  • Agenda setting

What is the name of the process where political parties officially choose their candidates for an upcoming election?

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

What is the name given to the practice of voting for all the candidates of a single political party?

<p>Straight ticket voting (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key element of political culture?

<p>Economic status (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'political socialization' refers to the process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a type of survey that is designed to influence public opinion rather than measure it?

<p>Push polls (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the theory that suggests that elected officials feel obligated to carry out the wishes of their constituents based on the results of an election?

<p>Mandate theory of elections</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the method used to select a smaller group of individuals to represent the larger population in a survey?

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

What is the term for the difference between the results of a survey and the actual opinions of the entire population?

<p>Sampling error</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a hallmark of a scientific poll?

<p>Use of leading questions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A public opinion poll that measures the likelihood of voters supporting a particular candidate is an example of which type of poll?

<p>Tracking polls (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a major function of political parties?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of forming a political party platform that outlines the party's core beliefs and policy positions?

<p>Party convention</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the practice where voters cast ballots for all of the candidates of a single party, regardless of their individual merits?

<p>Straight ticket voting</p> Signup and view all the answers

The concept of 'political dealignment' refers to a weakening of affiliation with a political party among the electorate.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A political action committee (PAC) is a type of organization that is created specifically to raise money for the campaigns of political candidates or parties.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following types of elections do voters choose their party's nominee for a general election?

<p>Primary elections (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A referendum is a type of election where voters decide whether or not to overturn a decision made by the government.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the political strategy where a candidate focuses on highlighting the perceived shortcomings of their opponent rather than promoting their own accomplishments?

<p>Negative campaigning (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'frontloading' refers to the tendency of states to schedule their primary elections earlier in the election calendar.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a major role of interest groups in the political process?

<p>Running candidates for office (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'iron triangle' refers to a close relationship between interest groups, government agencies, and Congressional committees.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Grassroots lobbying is a type of lobbying that relies on the mobilization of ordinary citizens to influence political decisions.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common criticism of the Electoral College?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an unconventional form of political participation?

<p>Attending a political protest (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the right to vote, also known as suffrage?

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

Which of the following Constitutional Amendments granted the right to vote to 18-year-olds?

<p>Twenty-Sixth Amendment (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A 'trial balloon' is a strategy used by politicians to gauge public reaction to a potential policy or idea before formally proposing it.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'sound bite' refers to a brief, memorable quote or sound clip that is used in news media reporting to capture a politician's message.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'watchdog role' refers to the media's responsibility to investigate government misconduct and expose wrongdoing.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'spin' refers to the practice of manipulating or interpreting information in a way that favors a particular perspective.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following refers to the tendency of news outlets to focus on the perceived competitive aspect of a political campaign, often emphasizing the horse-race aspect of the election?

<p>Scorekeeper role (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Conservative

A person who generally believes that a society should be governed by principles and values that have historically proven themselves through time.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Exit polls

Polls taken as voters leave polling places to gather information on their voting decisions.

Liberal

Open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.

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Libertarian

Person who advocates for maximizing individual liberty and autonomy. Often skeptical of government intervention.

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Margin of error

Statistic expressing the amount of accuracy expected from a poll based upon the size of the sample and its randomness.

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Moderate

A person who holds a relatively neutral or centrist viewpoint within a political spectrum.

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Political ideology

Set of beliefs about how society should function and how government should address issues.

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Public opinion

The collective beliefs, attitudes, and opinions held by the public on a topic or issue.

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Political Culture

Shared beliefs, values, and attitudes about government and politics in a society.

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Political socialization

Process by which individuals develop their political values and beliefs.

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Political Party

Group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

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Party Realignment

A significant shift in the parties' dominance and political support.

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Mass Media

Forms of communication, including newspapers, radio, television, and the internet, that reach large numbers of people.

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Media Bias

A demonstrable skew in the reporting to influence public opinion.

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Agenda Setting

The media's ability to influence what issues the public considers important.

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Sound Bite

Short, memorable statements used in the media to convey a message quickly.

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Study Notes

US Government Unit 2 Reading Guide: Linkage Institutions

  • Public Opinion (Chapter 10):

    • Concepts: Conservative, Demographics, Liberal, Exit polls, Libertarian, Margin of error, Moderate, Political ideology, Political culture, Polling universe, Political socialization, Public opinion, Push polls, Random sampling, Sample, Sampling error, Straw polls
    • Measurement: Scientific polls, public opinion, sample, random sample, bias, credibility
    • Political Ideologies: Liberals, moderates, conservatives, and libertarians differ in their beliefs about social and economic policy and policymaking
    • Role of Government: Core beliefs and values influence political attitudes and socialization; political culture influences public policy formation, goals, and implementation over time.
  • Political Parties (Chapter 11):

    • Concepts: Critical elections, Delegate, Partisan/political polarization, Minor/third parties, National party platform, Party convention, Party dealignment, Party realignment, Political party, Proportional representation, Winner-take-all system
    • Structure and Organization: Parties' structure, roles of parties, parties' involvement in the electorate and in government, coalitions of parties in America, partisan polarization today, Characteristics and history of the US two-party system(e.g., Party Development (1798-1800), Democratic Domination (1800-1860), Republican Domination (1860-1932), Return of the Democrats-New Deal Era (1932–1968), Divided Government (1968–Present), Role of minor parties and barriers to minor party success
    • Policymaking Process: Role of political parties in the policymaking process
  • Campaigns, Elections & Voting (Chapter 12):

    • Concepts: Citizens United v. FEC, Caucus, Closed primary, Dark money, Electoral College, Electorate, Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), Federal Election Commission (FEC), Frontloading, General election, Incumbency, Independent expenditures, Initiative petition/ballot initiative, Mandate theory of elections, Midterm election, Nomination, Off-year election, Open primary, Party-line voting, Plurality, Precinct, Primary election, Political Action Committees (PAC), Political participation, Primary election, Retrospective voting/judgment, Recall election, Referendum, Suffrage (franchise), Super PAC, Swing states
    • Types of Elections: Primary elections, caucuses, general elections (Presidential, mid-term, off-year), referendums, ballot initiatives
    • Campaign Organizations and Strategies: Campaign organizations and strategies affect election process, major laws/Supreme Court cases impacting campaign finance
    • Electoral College: Role, effects, and criticisms
    • Forms of Participation: Conventional and unconventional political participation; influence of various actors
  • Interest Groups (Chapter 14):

    • Concepts: Ticket splitting/split-ticket voting, Voter behavior, Voter mobilization, Voter registration, Voter turnout, Free rider problem, Lobbying, Public-interest group, Trade association, Electioneering, Grassroots lobbying, Interest group, Revolving door, Selective benefits, Single-issue groups
    • Interest Group Influence: Activities, influence on elections and policymaking, iron triangles, issue networks, inequality of resources, free-rider problem, PACs roles in elections and policymaking
  • News Media (Chapter 13):

    • Concepts: Agenda setting (gatekeeper role), Equal Time Rule, Mass media, Narrowcasting, Press conference, Leak, Media bias, Scorekeeper role, Sound bite, Spin, Trial balloon, Watchdog role
    • Role in US Politics: Informing the public, shaping public opinion, linking citizens to the government (watchdog, gatekeeper, and scorekeeper roles)
    • Media and Communication Outlets: Diversity of choices and their influence on political institutions and behavior, influence of government and politics on the media
    • Public Opinion Measurement: Scientific polls, public opinion, sample, random sample, bias, credibility

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Description

Explore the key concepts of public opinion and political parties in the context of the U.S. government. This quiz focuses on understanding political ideologies and the role of government in shaping public policy. Test your knowledge on polling mechanisms, party platforms, and the influence of demographics on political attitudes.

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