Unit Test Review PDF

1. Goal of political parties: Political parties aim to gain control of government by winning elections, implementing their policies, and influencing public policy. 2. Interest groups: Organizations that seek to influence public policy and decision-making to benefit their members or causes they supp...

1. Goal of political parties: Political parties aim to gain control of government by winning elections, implementing their policies, and influencing public policy. 2. Interest groups: Organizations that seek to influence public policy and decision-making to benefit their members or causes they support. 3. Public interest groups: Advocate for issues that benefit the general public. 4. Private interest groups: Advocate for the interests of their specific members. 5. Free riders: People who benefit from resources or services without paying for them. 6. Public opinion polls: Surveys used to measure the public's views on various topics. They aim to be accurate by using representative sampling and scientific methods. Factors that can influence the design and outcome are sample size, method of contact, and wording of questions. 7. Pollsters: Individuals or organizations that conduct public opinion polls. 8. Margin of error: The range within which the true value lies, given a certain level of confidence. 9. Sampling error: The error caused by observing a sample instead of the whole population. The error that occurs when a sample does not perfectly represent the population from which it is drawn. 10. Random sampling: A method where every individual has an equal chance of being selected. 11. Stratified sampling: A method that divides the population into subgroups and samples from each. Divides the population into subgroups before sampling 12. Political socialization: The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values, often influenced by family, education, and media. 13. Liberal political ideology: Generally supports social equality, government intervention in the economy, and progressive social policies. 14. Conservative political ideology: Generally supports limited government, free-market economy, and traditional social values. 15. Stump speech: A standard speech used by a politician during a campaign. 16. Opinion poll: A survey of public opinion from a particular sample. 17. Referendum: A direct vote by the electorate on a specific proposal. 18. Initiative: A process that allows citizens to propose legislation and submit it to the electorate for a vote. 19. Population of cases/universe of cases: The entire group of individuals or instances being studied. 20. Citizens United: A landmark Supreme Court case that allowed unlimited corporate spending in elections. 21. Super PACs: Super Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates. Political action committees established to make independent expenditures. 21. PACs: PACs who raise and spend money to influence elections. 22. Voter registration: The process by which eligible citizens sign up to vote. 23. Voter suppression: Efforts to prevent or discourage certain groups of people from voting. 24. Media bias: The perceived or real partiality of journalists and news producers within the mass media. 25. Presidential mandate: The authority granted by a large electoral victory, often interpreted as broad support for the winner's policies. 26. Role of states in conducting elections: States are responsible for organizing and overseeing elections. 27. Grassroots campaigning/Grassroots appeal: Political campaigning that involves direct engagement with ordinary voters, often through community-based activities. The ability to attract support from ordinary people. 28. Role of interest groups and parties in a democracy: To represent diverse interests and provide a mechanism for political participation. 29. Disturbance theory: The theory that interest groups form in response to changes in the political environment. 30. Pluralist theory of interest group formation: Interest groups form naturally as a reflection of the diversity of interests in society. 31. Organization/structure of political parties: The formal arrangement of a party's leadership, committees, and membership. Typically includes a national committee, state committees, and local organizations. 32. Nomination of candidates: The process by which political parties select their candidates for election, crucial for shaping the choices available to voters. 33. Media bias: The perceived or actual partiality of the media in reporting news. 34. Role of media: Provides information, shapes public opinion, and holds the government accountable. Reliable sources are typically those with rigorous fact-checking and editorial standards. 35. Daily news cycle: The 24-hour period during which news is produced and consumed. 36. Ignorant public argument: A debate or discussion where participants lack sufficient knowledge or understanding of the topic. 2. Trends in voter preferences/choice: Patterns or tendencies in how voters decide which candidates or policies to support over time. 3. SMD system: Single-Member District system, where one representative is elected from each electoral district. 4. PR system: Proportional Representation system, where seats in the legislature are allocated based on the proportion of votes each party receives. 5. Frontloading: The practice of scheduling primary elections early in the election cycle to gain more influence in the candidate selection process. 6. Evolution of presidential campaigning strategies: Changes in how presidential campaigns are conducted, from personal appearances (front porch, whistle stop) to using media like radio (FDR's fireside chats), television (Nixon-Kennedy debates), and digital platforms. 7. ERA / 28th Amendment debate: The ongoing discussion about the Equal Rights Amendment, proposed to ensure equal rights regardless of sex. 8. Popular vote vs. electoral college vote: The difference between the total number of votes cast by citizens (popular vote) and the votes cast by the Electoral College, which ultimately decide the presidency. 9. Term limits: Legal restrictions on the number of terms an elected official can serve in a particular office. 10. Initiative: A process that allows citizens to propose and vote on legislation directly. 11. Referendum: A direct vote by the electorate on a specific proposal or issue. 12. FEC: Federal Election Commission, the agency that enforces campaign finance laws in federal elections. An independent regulatory agency founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. 13. Why are third parties weak in the US?: Third parties struggle due to the winner-take-all electoral system, lack of funding, and limited media coverage. 14. 26th Amendment: Lowered the voting age in the United States from 21 to 18. 15. 16th Amendment: Authorized the federal government to collect income tax. 16. 17th Amendment: Established the direct election of US Senators by popular vote. 17. 12th Amendment: Revised the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. 18. “Divided government”: A situation where different political parties control different branches of government. 19. Realignment: A significant change in the political landscape, often marked by a shift in party loyalty among voters. 20. Primary elections: Elections held to determine a party's candidate for the general election. 21. Presidential elections: Elections held every four years to elect the President of the United States. 22. Midterm elections: Elections that occur halfway through a president's term, where congressional and other local officials are elected. 23. Electoral college vs. direct elections: The difference between electing the president through the Electoral College system versus a direct popular vote. 24. NRA: National Rifle Association, a powerful advocacy group for gun rights. 25. Sierra Club: An environmental organization focused on conservation and promoting green policies. 26. Winner-take-all elections: An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins all the power, often used in single-member districts. 27. Closed primaries: Primary elections where only registered party members can vote. 28. Open primaries: Primary elections where any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation. 29. Run-off elections: Additional elections held if no candidate wins a majority in the initial vote, usually between the top two candidates. 30. NY Times vs. US (1971): A Supreme Court case that upheld the First Amendment right of the press to publish the Pentagon Papers without government censorship. 31. Tinker v. DesMoines (1969): A Supreme Court case that affirmed students' rights to free speech in public schools. 32. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988): A Supreme Court case that allowed public school officials to censor student newspapers. 33. Schenck v. United States (1919): A Supreme Court case that established the "clear and present danger" standard for restricting free speech. 34. Coattails: The tendency for a popular political leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. 35. Redistricting: The process of drawing electoral district boundaries, typically done every ten years after the census. 36. Reapportionment: The redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives based on changes in population. 37. Incumbency advantage: The benefits that current officeholders have over challengers in an election, such as name recognition and access to campaign resources. 38. Tracking poll: It tracks changes in public opinion over time. 39. American National Election Studies (ANES): Primary focus since its founding in 1952 is collecting data on political attitudes and behavior among voters. 40. Exit poll: Polling method is typically used to gauge public opinion immediately after an election. 41. Push poll: A poll taken for the purpose of providing information that may influence voters against an opponent.