Chapter 11: Political Science PDF

Chapter 11 1. Qualities of the Ideal Democratic Citizen: Is informed about political issues, engaged in civic activities, participates in voting, advocates for the common good, holds representatives accountable. 2. Apolitical, Self-Interested Citizen: Primarily concerned with pers...

Chapter 11 1. Qualities of the Ideal Democratic Citizen: Is informed about political issues, engaged in civic activities, participates in voting, advocates for the common good, holds representatives accountable. 2. Apolitical, Self-Interested Citizen: Primarily concerned with personal interests over public affairs, may vote but is not engaged in other civic activities, lacks political knowledge. 3. Political Socialization: The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, education, media, and social networks. 4. Voter Participation in the U.S.: Historically lower than many other democracies; seeks engagement strategies to increase turnout. 5. Partisan Sorting: The tendency of people to align themselves with a political party that reflects their ideologies more distinctly over time. 6. Political Generations: Cohorts of people who experience significant political events together, influencing their political attitudes and behaviors. 7. Spiral of Silence: A theory suggesting that individuals are less likely to express their opinions if they believe they are in the minority, leading to a suppression of diverse viewpoints. 8. Public Opinion Polling Aspects: a. Population: The entire group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying. b. Sample: A subset of the population selected for participation. c. Sample Bias: Occurs when the sample is not representative of the population. d. Sampling Error: The margin of error that reflects the uncertainty in findings from a sample. e. Random Samples: Samples selected in such a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being included. f. Nonresponse Bias: Occurs when individuals selected for the survey do not respond, potentially skewing results. g. Weighting: Adjusting survey results to make them more representative of the overall population. h. Robo Calling: Automated calls used for polling or solicitation efforts. 9. Types of Campaign Polls:  a. Benchmark Poll: Initial poll that measures a candidate's name recognition and the public's image of them. b. Tracking Poll: Ongoing poll that measures the same questions over time to track changes in public opinion. c. Exit Poll: Conducted on Election Day to predict outcomes based on how people voted as they leave polling places. d. National Polls: Polls that assess public opinion across the country. 10. Pseudo-Polls: a. Self-Selection: Polls where individuals choose to participate, often leading to skewed results (e.g., online polls). b. Push Polls: Polls designed to influence respondents' opinions under the guise of gathering information. 11. Nonresponse Bias: A major challenge in modern polling as it may lead to results that do not accurately reflect public opinion. Chapter 12 1. Ideological Breakdown of the Parties: Generally, Democrats lean left (liberal) supporting social equality, environmental issues, and government intervention; Republicans lean right (conservative) favoring individual liberties, free markets, and limited government. 2. Definitions: a. Party Activists: Individuals actively involved in promoting a party's candidates and policies. b. Party Platform: A formal set of principal goals supported by a political party or candidate. c. Negative Partisanship: The tendency of voters to act against the opposing party rather than supporting their own party. 3. Responsible Party Model: Suggests parties should present clear platforms, hold their officials accountable, and educate voters. 4. Party Era Definitions: a. Party Era: A significant period in U.S. political history dominated by a specific political party. b. Critical Election: An election signaling a significant change in the political landscape. c. Realignment: A lasting shift in party loyalities and electoral support.  d. Dealignment: A trend where voters become less associated with either major political party. 5. Different Party Eras: Included Federalists, Democratic-Republicans, Jacksonian Democrats, Civil War era Republicans, New Deal Democrats, and the modern era. 6. U.S. Political Parties: Evolved from Federalist and Anti-Federalist to present-day Democratic and Republican Parties. 7. Types of Primaries: a. Closed: Only registered party members can vote. b. Open: Any registered voter can participate regardless of party affiliation. 8. Electioneering Duties of Parties: Mobilizing voters, fundraising, campaigning for candidates, and managing election logistics. 9. Reasons for Two Major Parties: Historical context, legal barriers (like ballot access), the electoral system (single-member districts), and psychological factors (voter loyalty). 10. Three Components of Parties: a. Party Organization: Structure of the party at local, state, and national levels. b. Party in Government: Elected officials who align with the party. c. Party in the Electorate: Voters who identify with the party. Chapter 13 1. Selective Incentives: Benefits offered to encourage membership or participation in interest groups. Types include: a. Material Benefits: Tangible rewards or goods. b. Solidary Benefits: Social rewards and companionship. c. Expressive Benefits: Emotional satisfaction from expressing political beliefs. 2. Goal of All Interest Groups: To influence public policy and decision-makers in favor of their interests. 3. Definitions: a. Collective Action Problem: Difficulty in organizing collective group efforts due to individual interests. b. Collective Good: A benefit available to all members of a group, regardless of individual contribution. c. Free Rider Problem: Individuals benefiting from resources or services without paying for them. 4. Roles of Interest Groups:  a. Representation: Advocating on behalf of members' interests. b. Participation: Encouraging civic engagement and involvement. c. Mechanism: Bridging the gap between the public and government. d. Education: Informing lawmakers and the public about issues. e. Agenda Building: Influencing which issues are prioritized. f. Provision of Program Alternatives: Offering solutions to policy problems. g. Program Monitoring: Keeping track of policy implementation and effects. 5. Types of Interest Groups: Economic groups (e.g., corporations, labor unions), public interest groups (advocates for the common good), ideological groups, and government interest groups. 6. Types of Lobbying: Direct lobbying (interactions with policymakers) and grassroots lobbying (mobilizing public support). Chapter 14 1. Functions of Elections: a. Selection of Leaders: Choosing public officials. b. Policy Direction: Reflecting voters’ preferences. c. Citizen Development: Enhancing civic engagement. d. Informing the Public: Providing information on issues and candidates. e. Containing Conflict: Offering mechanisms to resolve political disputes. f. Legitimation: Establishing the authority of the government. 2. Policy Efficacy: The belief that government action can lead to effective change. 3. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers preventing African Americans from voting; Shelby County v. Holder (2013) overturned key provisions of the Act, weakening federal oversight of voting laws. 4. Voting Tendencies: a. Age: Older individuals tend to vote more. b. Gender: Women often have higher turnout rates. c. Income: Higher income correlates with increased likelihood to vote. d. Education: More educated citizens are more likely to vote. e. Race and Ethnicity: Voter turnout varies; significant changes were seen after the civil rights movement. 5. Social Connectedness: Implies that individuals with strong social ties and networks are more likely to vote due to communal incentives. 6. Prospective vs. Retrospective Voting: a. Prospective: Voting based on future promises and policies.  b. Retrospective: Voting based on past performance and experiences. 7. Types of Issues in General Election Campaigns: a. Valence Issues: Common positions, where most agree (e.g., good education). b. Position Issues: Divergent viewpoints on specific topics (e.g., healthcare). c. Wedge Issue: Controversial matters aimed at splitting opposing voters (e.g., abortion). d. Issue Ownership: Associations of certain issues with specific parties (e.g., Republicans and defense, Democrats and education). 8. Swing Voters and Swing States: Swing voters are those who are not consistently aligned with a particular party, while swing states are those that can be won by either major party in an election. Chapter 15 1. Mass Media: A broad term encompassing various means of communication that reach and influence large audiences. 2. News Organizations: Entities dedicated to reporting the news, operating through different media formats. 3. News Aggregators: Platforms that collect and curate information from multiple sources. 4. Narrowcasting: Targeting specific audiences rather than a general one. 5. Media Convergence: The integration of different media formats into a unified form. 6. Permanent Campaign: Consistent efforts by politicians to maintain public support for policies. 7. News Management: Strategies used by political staff to control narrative and coverage. 8. Spin: biased representation of a politician's actions or statements. 9. Gatekeepers: Influential figures in media determining what stories gain coverage. 10. Consequences of Corporate Ownership: a. Commercial Bias: Prioritizing profit over political coverage. b. Reduced Emphasis on Political News: Shift toward more sensational topics to attract audiences. c. Dramatization of Content: Coverage focusing on entertainment to maintain engagement. d. Conflicts of Interest: Pressures from corporate interests affecting journalistic integrity.  e. Corruption of Journalistic Standards: Incentives sometimes undermining traditional ethical reporting. 11. Revolving Door: Movement of individuals between public office and roles in the private sector, especially lobbying and media. 12. Pundit: A commentator who shares professional analysis on political issues, often blurring lines of objectivity. 13. Creation of Political Narratives: a. Persuasion: Influence through controlled messaging. b. Reduction: Oversimplifying complex political situations. c. Horse-race Journalism: Focus on competitive aspects over substantive policy. d. Sound Bites and Optics: Use of brief, impactful communication for public consumption. e. Agenda Setting: Media highlighting certain issues to shape public discourse. f. Framing: Presenting information in specific contexts to influence interpretation.