Gmhs Apgopol Political Behavior Flashcards

Front 1

public opinion

Back 1

What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time.

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George Gallup

Back 2

An American pioneer of survey sampling techniques and inventor of the Gallup poll, a successful statistical method of survey sampling for measuring public opinion.

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political socialization

Back 3

The process through which an individual acquires particular political orientations (beliefs and values).

Front 4

political ideology

Back 4

The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals.

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tracking polls

Back 5

Continuous surveys that enable a campaign to chart its daily rise or fall in support.

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exit poll

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Poll conducted at selected polling places on Election Day.

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sampling error

Back 7

A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll

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What are the shortcomings of polls?

Back 8

Sampling error
Limited respondent options
Lack of information
Failure to measure intensity

Front 9

What have been some historical examples of attempts to influence public opinion in America?

Back 9

Paul Revere's Engraving of the Boston Massacre
Thomas Paine's Common Sense,
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison's Federalist Papers,
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin,
U.S. Government propaganda during World War I,
Embedding of reporters with U.S. troops during Iraq War

Front 10

What factors influence political socialization?

Back 10

Family, school, peers, media, religion, race/ethnicity, gender, age, region, and impact of events.

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push poll

Back 11

Poll taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate.

Front 12

poll

Back 12

Survey that can measure name recognition, ad effectiveness, public perception of candidates, and public opinion of issues

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political party

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A group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label.

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Governmental party

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Members of a political party who hold elected office.

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Organizational party

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Members of a political party who work directly for the political party.

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Party in the electorate

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People who identified themselves as members of a political party and vote in primaries and general elections.

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Rational Choice Theory

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A political science theory that assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives; seeks to explain the actions of voters and politicians
Voters want to maximize the chance that policies they favor will be adopted by government
Parties want to win office
Successful political parties rarely stray from the midpoint public opinion; centrist parties with many similarities

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linkage institution

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Institutions that connect people to the government; Elections, Political Parties, Media, and Interest Groups

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What are the functions of a political party?

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Linkage institution
Mobilize support for a candidate or issue
Create stability and moderation in government
Create unity and accountability in government
Create national party platform - government's agenda