Project Notes PDF

1. Be able to distinguish between the three types of data comparisons we made in the voter ID lab (cross sectional, interrupted time series, and panel data/difference in difference), and what type of comparison we would ideally like to make if we were studying the effects of a state policy 2....

1. Be able to distinguish between the three types of data comparisons we made in the voter ID lab (cross sectional, interrupted time series, and panel data/difference in difference), and what type of comparison we would ideally like to make if we were studying the effects of a state policy 2. What are the main arguments for and against federalism? Do Democrats or Republicans tend to be on one side vs. the other? 3. What does nationalization mean, in terms of public opinion? What does it mean in terms of political parties/organizations? 4. What are some ways that federalism might affect democracy? You should think about this both in terms of voting rights/ability to vote AND other types of policies that might differ across states. 5. What is public opinion? 6. Be able to distinguish between ideology, partisanship, and political attitudes, and the relationship between those. 7. What are the main ideologies in the US? What dimensions can we use to describe ideologies in the US? 8. Where do our political attitudes come from? Make sure you can name three potential sources, and which one political scientists think is the most influential. 9. What is socialization? What is social learning? How does it relate to our politics? 10. What is minimal group theory? Social identity theory? How are these related to our politics? 11. What is political polarization? Who is polarized? What are we polarized around? 12. Be able to distinguish between ideological and affective polarization in the mass public. 13. What is the relationship between polarization and nationalization? Why would polarization reduce split ticket voting? 14. Does affective polarization pose a challenge to democracy? Why or why not? What about ideological polarization? 15. How has polarization of the public changed over time? 16. What are the powers of Congress? (See Congress chapter in assigned reading) 17. What does it mean to have a bicameral Congress? 18. How does Congressional decision making usually work? Be able to explain the concept of logrolling. 19. What are some major differences between the House and the Senate? 20. What is gerrymandering? How can you tell if a district is gerrymandered? 21. What the relationship between democracy and gerrymandering? 22. What are some strategies for gerrymandering? 23. What is the court’s role in overturning gerrymandering? What role has the court played in drawing districts? 24. Are there elections where there can’t be gerrymandering?