The Basics Of American Politics Chapter 7

Front 1

Political Socialization

Back 1

The gradual process of adopting political values.
Influenced by:
Parents
Schools
Social Stance (Black, White, Rich Poor)

Front 2

Classes of the Electorate

Back 2

Working Class, Middle Class, Upper Class

Front 3

Working class

Back 3

Receive lowest incomes and fill "blue collar jobs in factories and farms, as well as "white-collar" positions like clerical and secretarial jobs in offices.

Front 4

Middle Class

Back 4

Consists of professionals (like teachers and engineers), small businesspeople, bureaucrats, and some skilled workers (those earning more than $50,000)

Front 5

Upper Class (elite or ruling class)

Back 5

is composed of those who run our major economic and political institutions and receive the highest incomes for doing so.

Front 6

Nonvoters

Back 6

Approximately half of the American population. They tend to be less affluent, 43 percent have incomes over $30,00. They are significantly younger than voters. 1 in 5 cited time constraints, 17% cited apathy

Front 7

Political Efficacy

Back 7

A sense that government will respond to people's needs.

Front 8

Political Party

Back 8

Organization that runs candidates for public office under the party's name.

Front 9

Function of Political Parties

Back 9

1.) Contest Elections
2.) Organize Public Opinion
3.) Put Together Coalitions
4.) Adopt Policy Changes proposed by groups outside the party system and the government.

Front 10

Contesting Elections

Back 10

Parties organize voters, and recruit people into the political system to work on their campaigns.

Front 11

Organizing Public Opinion

Back 11

Parties give the public a limited channel of communication to express their desires about how government should operate. Voters can disapprove by voting for the opposition.

Front 12

Building Coalitions

Back 12

Parties put together various interests. They organize different regions, ethnic groups, and economic interests into large coalitions for the purpose of winning elections. Gathering special interests under the broad umbrella of a party label is an important function.

Front 13

Adopting Changes

Back 13

Reforms proposed by third parties or social protest movements. If third parties or political movements show that they have considerable support, their programs are often incorporated, though usually in a more moderate form.

Front 14

State Party Organization Hierarchy

Back 14

1.) Local Party Committeeperson (Ward, Precinct)
2.) Ward Committees
3.) Intermediate Committees (City, Legislative)
4.) County Committees
5.) Congressional District Committees
6.) State Committee

Front 15

Realigning Elections

Back 15

Show a permanent shift in the popular base of support of the parties, and usually a shift in the relative strength of the parties, so that the minority party emerges as the majority party.