Notes

Question 1

Public opinion

Answer 1

The thoughts and feeling of the American public on a political issue or politician at a given moment

Question 2

Public opinion polls

Answer 2

Measure public opinion over time

Question 3

Straw poll

Answer 3

Unofficial poll asking people how they feel about different subjects

Question 4

Voter turnout is highest in

Answer 4

Presidential elections

Question 5

Midterm elections

Answer 5

Vote on every member of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the senate, ballot measures( opposing side)

Question 6

Off year elections

Answer 6

Happen in odd years

Question 7

Mass survey

Answer 7

Sends a questioner to many people asking their opinions/what they care about

Question 8

Benchmark polls

Answer 8

Polls about people’s opinions at a given moment then revisited later to see if it’s changed

Question 9

Entry/exit polls

Answer 9

Only happens on Election Day.walking in or out casting their ballot. An estimate

Question 10

Push poll

Answer 10

Not reliable l. Get a desired outcome. Biased

Question 11

Tracking polls

Answer 11

Percent of people who are in favor. Giving many pills over time. Attracts opinions overtime. Revisited

Question 12

Focus groups

Answer 12

Small groups of people who come together to have a discussion to tell how they feel and why they do

Question 13

Aspects of scientific voting:

Answer 13

Sampling
Random sample
quota sample
Non- random sampling

-Large sample size: at least 500 to be accurate
- neutral/unbiased language
- transparency: be able to see all info

Question 14

Random sampling (most accurate)

Answer 14

Any person in a community is equally asked to participate in a poll

Question 15

Quota sampling

Answer 15

Pay attention to demographic groups wanting to match the population as a whole

Question 16

Non random sampling

Answer 16

Asking in a way that excludes certain people

Question 17

Margin of error +/-

Answer 17

The degree of uncertainty that your survey results might have
Ex. Rep 44 dem 40
Rep is pulling 4 +/-3

Question 18

Political efficiency:

Answer 18

An individual’s beliefs that they can influence politics in the government( believe you can make a change)
High: ( a voter, public demonstration, political rally, people who call on behalf of the political party)
Low: (don’t vote, don’t pay attention to politics)

Question 19

Politics ideology

Answer 19

A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values in the role of government

Question 20

Liberalism

Answer 20

Someone who sees a problem in the world and thinks the best way to solve the problem is through government

Question 21

Liberal goals

Answer 21

Promote Justice and equality of opportunity through government action

Question 22

Liberal critiques

Answer 22

1. Place was to much faith in the government 2. Allow government to impose too much on individuals 3. To much reliance on the government solving problems 4. If liberals get their way the government will grow to large and expensive

Question 23

Conservatism

Answer 23

Sees problems in the world but believes government intervention makes things worse

Question 24

Traditional conservatives

Answer 24

People who are primarily concerned with economics (taxes, regulation, welfare, trade) -minimal interaction

Question 25

Social conservatives

Answer 25

Tend to care about question of morality (opposed to gay marriage, abortion, weed etc) many Christian voters

Question 26

Conservative critiques

Answer 26

1. They vote for weak government when it concerns them but strong when all 2. Problems in the world? go back to before 3. Tend to be pro military 4. Minimal government in a society leads to problems

Question 27

Libertarian

Answer 27

Smallest government possible

Question 28

Unhealthy libertarian

Answer 28

Selfish people who only care about them. They Want freedom but don’t care about other’s liberty

Question 29

Heathy libertarians

Answer 29

Don’t agree always but respects liberties of own and others