CH 05 GOVT

Support for same-sex marriage

has dramatically increased since 1996

The term public opinion is used to describe

beliefs and attitudes toward different issues, events, and people.

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is the most accurate?

Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans are greater today than during any other period in the last 40 years.

The fact that Americans strongly support minimal governmental interference with individuals' lives and property illustrates their commitment to

liberty

Which of the following terms describe America's fundamental political values?

liberty, equality of opportunity, and democracy

In public-opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

must be at least 50% of the targeted population ****

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders more conservative is important because

partisans in the public tend to rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

poorly worded questions

The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of the ________ effect.

social desirability

The practice of push polling involves

the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion.

Which of the following statements is true about the forces that shape public opinion?

the ways in which the news media frames or interprets events have little influence on how the public responds to these events.****

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between public opinion and government policy?

Although there is no one-to-one correlation between public opinion and government policy, shifts in public opinion on particular issues frequently lead to changes in government policy.

________ is the most important core value of liberalism.

Equality

Which U.S. president promoted his policy agenda to the American people through "fireside chats"?

Franklin D. Roosevelt

________ is the core political value most highly prioritized by American conservatives.

Liberty

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

There is not a complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population

________ is one of the most important mechanisms for promoting equality of opportunity.

affirmative action****

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

school prayer

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums.

What is the "social desirability effect"?

the fact that respondents report what they think the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable, rather than what they actually believe