Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting

Question 1

Public Opinion

Answer 1

The distribution of individual preferences or evaluation of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population

Question 2

Random Sample

Answer 2

In this type of sample, every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected

Question 3

Manifest Opinion

Answer 3

A widely shared and consciously held view, such as homeland security support

Question 4

Political Socialization

Answer 4

The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs, usually from families and schools

Question 5

Attentive Public

Answer 5

Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully

Question 6

Voter Registration

Answer 6

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents

Question 7

Australian Ballot

Answer 7

A secret ballot printed by the state

Question 8

General Election

Answer 8

Elections in which voters elect officeholders

Question 9

Primary Election

Answer 9

Elections in which voters determine party nominees

Question 10

Presidential Election

Answer 10

Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot

Question 11

Midterm Election

Answer 11

Elections held midway between presidential elections

Question 12

Turnout

Answer 12

The proportion of the voting-age public that votes, sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote

Question 13

Candidate Appeal

Answer 13

How voters feel about a candidate’s background, personality, leadership ability, and other personal qualities

Question 14

Prospective Voting Issue

Answer 14

Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected

Question 15

Retrospective Issue of Voting

Answer 15

Holding incumbents, usually the president’s party, responsible for their records on issues, such as the economy or foreign policy