AP Government Unit 2

What is the most politically influential age in the US?

65+

What is a media event?

An event conducted for the purpose of media publicity (yellow journalism is under this category)

What is the Simpson Mazzoli Act?

Attempt to control illegal immigration into the United States --> immigration reform and control act

What is public opinion?

Attitudes held by a significant number of people on maters of government and politics. *It is not a single view of all people*

What is the most powerful religious group?

Christianity

What is the 19th Amendment?

Gave women the right to vote

What are the functions of mass media?

Information, Entertainment, Education, Persuasion

What kinds of groups sponsor polls?

Interest groups, news outlets, and television

What are the effects of college on people and voting?

It introduces people to different cultures and informs them, altering voting reasoning. More education = higher voting percentages & more likely to vote liberal

Why is family important to political participation?

It is what you grow up around (what you hear, see, etc)

What is the motor-voter law?

Mandate requiring states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for motor vehicle registration

Who is most likely to vote?

Married people, union members, people 65+

What is a random sample?

Method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected

Horse race media coverage is...

News media outlets reporting the results of public opinion polls that show the relative popularity of presidential candidates

Problems with voter registration in America?

Often takes too long and is too complicated (ballot fatigue)

Who is most active in the government?

Older, wealthy, married people

What is the voting problem in the US?

People do not vote! (Ballot fatigue, time zone fallout)

Who doesn't vote?

People under 30, a large portion of western democracies (due to time-zone fallout)

Who are moderates and why are they important?

People who do not identify with either part; their choice greatly influences the polls

What is the difference between populists and libertarians?

Populists have a political standpoint while libertarians are set on philosophies

What is the 4th estate?

Refers to the media. It is called this because it is the imaginary 4th part of government (4th branch)

Why are public opinion polls only estimates?

Some people change their minds, not everyone participates

Which level of government controls voter registration?

State governments because every state has different rules

Who is most of the media coverage given to?

The President

How does the US compare to other Western Democracies as it relates to voting turnout?

The US has a very low voting turnout of 55% for presidential elections, 35% for Congressional, & 15% for local compared to the 80% in other western democracies

What is the most important factor of political socialization?

The influence of family

What does the size of samples have to do with polls?

The more people that are sampled, the better representation of the polls (less bias)

What is political socialization?

The process by which people form their values and ideas of politics

What are some problems with the wording of polling questions?

They are often misleading; they are often too vague or too specific (Obamacare vs. Affordable Care Act)

How is Public Opinion Measured?

Through public opinion polls

What is the most common political activity taken by American citizens?

Voting

What is a minority majority?

When there are so many minorities that they become the majority

Who is least active in the government?

Younger, poor, unmarried people

What is the 24th Amendment?

abolished poll taxes

A media organization is interested in reporting election results in a congressional election prior to the final tally of votes which will not occur until later in the evening. The organization randomly selects several polling places across the district asking voters whom they voted for. The type of poll being used in this scenario is known as...

an exit poll

What are the voting qualifications for the US?

citizenship, residence, at least 18 years of age, and voter's registration

libertarians

conservative economically, liberal socially

What is the 15th Amendment?

gave African-American men the right to vote

What are different types of political participation?

join SIGs, give $$$ to SIGs or PACs, become a political elite, contact government officials (on a regular basis), work on a campaign, civil disobedience, violence, and voting

populists

liberal economically, conservative social

What is the 26th Amendment?

lowered the voting age to 18

Political socialization is the process by which

public attitudes toward government are measured and reported

What are some generalizations of each party?

republican — older, catholic, white, men; democrat — younger, progressive, diverse, women, no religious identities or more diverse religions

What is the Freedom of Information Act?

requesting to see government documents and information