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Government Exam 2
Pretty tough
73
Other
Not Applicable
11/15/2005

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Term
Public Opinion
Definition
aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population
Term
Consensus Opinion
Definition
general agreement among citizens on an issue
Term
Divisive Opinion
Definition
Public opinion polarized between two very different yet strong positions (e.g. abortion)
Term
Non-opinion
Definition
don't care to have or give their opinion
Term
Simple Random Sample
Definition
Everyone has an equal chance of being selected
Term
Quota Sample
Definition
Less accurate, polling organizations pre-determine charactertics that they want and try to find respondents to fill those spots, results typically worsen
Term
Sampling Error
Definition
The difference between a sample's result and the actual restult

a.ka. the margin of error
Term
Correct analytical and statistical techniques
Definition
unbiased questions
order, content, and presentation of Q's
difficulty of question
strong support not soft
Term
Straw polls
Definition
just asking people questions with absolutely no technique whatsoever

unable to draw strong conclusions
Term
opinion velocity
Definition
speed with which people's opinions change
Term
Push Poll
Definition
questions manipulated to make you change your mind

illegitimate practice
Term
Political Socialization
Definition
the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs
Term
Family
Definition
Most important force in socialization
Term
Education
Definition
Learn patriotism, structure of government, and how to form positions on issues
another form of socialization
Term
Peers
Definition
Most likely to shape political opinion when peer groups are politically active
another form of socialization
Term
Religious
Definition
another socialization issue

religious groups give definite political preferences
Term
Operational definition
Definition
Put some vague idea into a measurable form
Term
Economic Status and socialization
Definition
another socialization issue
Term
Media
Definition
another socialization issue

events impact peoples political attitude
Term
Generational effect
Definition
effect of an event is long lasting and impacts preferences of those who came of age at that time
Term
Demographic Traits
Definition
Another socialization issue

Age, gender, culture,
Term
Linkage institution
Definition
allows people to be a part of the government without being totally involved in the structure
Term
Interest group
Definition
an organized group of individuals who share a common goal or objective and attempt to influence policy-makers in all levels
Term
Material Incentives
Definition
Motivated by economic benefits or opportunities
Term
Economic Interest Group
Definition
labor unions, business, agricultural, public employee, interest group of professionals
Term
Public
Definition
pursue to increase the public good
Term
Lobbying
Definition
meeting officials and attempting to convince them to take your opinion

testifying before executives rule

assiting in drafting of legislation

entertaining legislators

providing information to legislators

assisting in nominating individuals to government posts
Term
Indirect Techniques
Definition
generating public pressure

using constituents as lobbyists

building alliances
Term
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946
Definition
provided for public disclosure

failed because of no enforcement mechanism
Term
U.S. v. harris
Definition
1954

confirmed constitutionality of legislative reoganization act
Term
hyperpluralism
Definition
a.k.a. interest group liberalism

government is so influenced by interest groups you have no policy trying to help with the common good
Term
Political party
Definition
more or less an interest group of activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy
Term
Functions of Political Parties
Definition
Recruiting candidates for public office

Organizing and running elections

Presenting alternative policies to the electorate

Accepting responsibility for operating the government

Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power
Term
Evolution of Parties
Definition
1789-1932- creation of parties

1816-1824- era of one party rule

1828-1860- two party rule

1864-1892- post civil war period

1896-1928- Progressive era

1932- present- modern era
Term
National republican Party
Definition
a.k.a. whigs, splinter of Democratic-Republicans
Term
Roosevelt's New Deal
Definition
Amalgamation of professionals, immigrants, etc...
Term
Party-in-the-Electorate
Definition
members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over the other, supporters of the party
Term
Party Organization
Definition
the formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election commmittees; local, state, and national executive, and paid professionals
Term
Party in Government
Definition
all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party
Term
Senator
Definition
6 year terms
Term
Congressmen
Definition
2 year terms

more campaigning than issues
Term
Single member district
Definition
entire country is divided up into electoral district and each one sends a representative to the colleg of representatives (e.g. OK has 5)
Term
Proportional representation
Definition
system that is designed to maximize the representation

plurality

common in Europe
Term
caucus
Definition
party dictates that particular state delegation's choice

very very rare
Term
closed primary
Definition
only voter who are declared party members can vote
Term
open primary
Definition
voters can vote in either party primary without disclosing their party affiliation
Term
blanket primary
Definition
voters can vote in primary elections for candidates of more than one party
Term
run-off primary
Definition
if no candidate receives a majority in the first primary, some states require a second primary between the top thow candidates
Term
Electoral college
Definition
535 members

actually elect the president and vice
Term
Requirement for running for office
Definition
vary from state to state

define citizenship as where you were born
Term
Presidential requirements
Definition
must be natural born citizen, 35 yrs old, and a resident of that state for 14 years before inauguration
Term
Vice Presidential Requirements
Definition
natural born citizen, 35 years old, cannot be from same state as presidential candidate
Term
Senator requirements
Definition
citizen for 9 years, 30 years old, resident of state from which elected
Term
Congressmen
Definition
citizen for 7 years, 25 years old, resident from state from which elected
Term
Voting Activity
Definition
best way to find out abou tthe U.S. public political involvement
Term
Political withdrawal
Definition
fewer citizens feel involved enough in their community to be interested in voting
Term
rational ignorance
Definition
people choose not to inform themselves on issue because they do not believe their vote is a deciding factor
Term
campaign effects
Definition
length of campaigns and negative advertising may drive voters away
Term
Incumbency advantage
Definition
always over 50% reelection rate
Term
realignment
Definition
sgnificant and durable swing in party strength and control
Term
dealignment
Definition
party support is fragmented, breaks old pattern but doesn't establish a long term support
Term
visual perception
Definition
huge factor
Term
Single Issue Voter
Definition
someone who feels so strongly about an issue that they will vote or note vote for the candidate due to their views
Term
Tracking polls
Definition
indicate how well a campaign is going by polling nearly everyday
Term
focus group
Definition
small groups of peole consultatns use to gather information about reactions to candidates and issues
Term
Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925
Definition
limted elction expenses to candidates

required disclosures
Term
Hatch Act of 1939
Definition
failed in general but seccessful in dealing with political shadiness
Term
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972
Definition
restricted mass media expenditures

$1 for public funding from income tax
Term
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974
Definition
Created Federal Election Commission which is designed to enforce the campaign laws

established PACs
Term
Buckley v. Valeo
Definition
declared that people can spend however much money they want to on their own campaign, symbolic speech
Term
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002
Definition
banned soft money contributions to national party committees

placed limitations on issue advocacy ads
Term
Levin funds
Definition
money that is set aside at local and state levels and used only for voeter registration use
Term
McConnel v. FEC 2003
Definition
Challenged restrictions
ruled in favor of FEC
but it was a 5-4 split
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