Ap Government Unit 7 Terms

Front 1

Elites

Back 1

Rule by identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of political power

Front 2

Bully Pulpit

Back 2

A public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.

Front 3

Fiscal Policy

Back 3

Attempts to stabilize the economy by controlling interest rates and the supply of money. The two main instruments are government spending and taxation.

Front 4

Monetary Policy

Back 4

The process by which the government, central bank, or monetary authority of a country controls (i) the supply of money, (ii) availability of money, and (iii) cost of money or rate of interest, in order to attain a set of objectives oriented towards the growth and stability of the economy.

Front 5

Linkage institution

Back 5

A structure within a society that connects the people to the government or centralized authority. These institutions include: elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Front 6

Interest Group (pressure group)

Back 6

An organization that seeks to influence political decisions.

Front 7

Lobbyist

Back 7

A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a member of a lobby.

Front 8

Interest Group Politics

Back 8

A policy in which one small group benefits an another small group pays.

Front 9

Majoritarian Politics

Back 9

A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.

Front 10

Client Politics

Back 10

A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everyone pays.

Front 11

Entrepreneurial Politics

Back 11

A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays the cost.

Front 12

Policy Entrepreneur

Back 12

Activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests.

Front 13

Issue Network

Back 13

A network of people in Washington D.C. -based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.

Front 14

Iron Triangle

Back 14

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

Front 15

Coalition

Back 15

An alliance of factions

Front 16

Elitist Theory

Back 16

A theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in modern society. It argues that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power independent of a state's democratic elections process.

Front 17

Pluralist Theory

Back 17

Political power in society does not lie with the electorate, nor with a small concentrated elite, but is distributed between a wide number of groups. These groups may be trade unions, interest groups, business organizations, and any of a multitude of formal and informal coalitions.

Front 18

Political Ideology

Back 18

A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue.

Front 19

Political Socialization

Back 19

Process by which background traits influence one's political views.

Front 20

Agent of Socialization

Back 20

the people and groups that influence our self-concept, emotions, attitudes, and behavior.(Family, Education, Religion, Peer Groups, Mass Media... etc...)

Front 21

Equal Time Rule

Back 21

Rule that specifies that U.S. radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it. This means, for example that if a station gives one free minute to a candidate on the prime time, it must do the same for another candidate.

Front 22

Right of Reply

Back 22

The right to defend oneself against criticism.

Front 23

On the Record

Back 23

A quotable source that journalists can use and thus report truthfully.

Front 24

Off the Record

Back 24

A source of information that is not quotable, but can be used to uncover related facts. Especially useful in investigative reporting.

Front 25

On Background

Back 25

The thrust of the briefing may be reported (and the source characterized in general terms as above) but direct quotes may not be used.

Front 26

On Deep Blue

Back 26

The information may not be included in the article but is used by the journalist to enhance his or her view of the subject matter, or to act as a guide to other leads or sources.

Front 27

Watchdog

Back 27

Press Role: The gossipy high school girls that are spreading rumors. Controls how much of something we see, especially if its something that a majority of people are going to want to see.

Front 28

Gatekeeper

Back 28

Press Role: Media filter. Filters out what is being shown to us, the audience.

Front 29

Scorekeeper

Back 29

Press Role: Keeps score of different important events.

Front 30

Gender Gap

Back 30

Difference in political views between men and women.

Front 31

Silent Majority

Back 31

An unspecified large majority of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly.

Front 32

Middle America

Back 32

The part of the U.S. middle class thought of as being average in income and education and moderately conservative in values and attitudes.

Front 33

"John Q. Public"

Back 33

A generic name in the United States to denote a hypothetical member of society deemed a "common man."

Front 34

Random Sample

Back 34

a subject chosen by a method involving an unpredictable component.

Front 35

Sampling Error

Back 35

The error caused by observing a sample instead of the whole population

Front 36

Liberal

Back 36

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

Front 37

Conservative

Back 37

Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.

Front 38

Populist

Back 38

A supporter of the rights and power of the people.

Front 39

Libertarian

Back 39

One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.

Front 40

Muckraker

Back 40

Journalist who seeks to expose corruption of businesses or government to the public.

Front 41

Yellow Journalism

Back 41

A type of journalism that downplays legitimate news in favor of eye-catching headlines that sell more newspapers.