Unit 4 Vocab

Question 1

The process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next

Answer 1

Political socialization

Question 2

A patterned and ongoing way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out

Answer 2

Political culture

Question 3

Guarantee of equal wealth for all citizens, regardless of education or job; not a priority of the USA

Answer 3

Equality of outcome

Question 4

Every person has the same chances in life; a goal in the USA

Answer 4

Equality of opportunity

Question 5

The focus on individual rights and responsibilities; each person achieves their own success through hard work; a defining value in the USA

Answer 5

Individualism

Question 6

The Constitution and legal codes apply equally to all citizens and are accepted by people without question

Answer 6

Rule of Law

Question 7

An economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control

Answer 7

Free enterprise

Question 8

Conservative Christians who are pro-life on the abortion issue; strong bloc of the Republican Party

Answer 8

Evangelicals

Question 9

Statistical data related to the population (e.g. age, race, religion, etc.)

Answer 9

Demographics

Question 10

The difference between men and women in their opinions or voting behavior

Answer 10

Gender gap

Question 11

A consistent set of beliefs about what policies the government ought to pursue

Answer 11

Political ideology (ideological)

Question 12

Strong loyalty to one political party

Answer 12

Partisan (Partisanship)

Question 13

Political ideology espousing an active and powerful national government for the purpose of economic equality, environmental regulation, and other social problems; pro-choice on abortion and personal freedom issues

Answer 13

Liberal

Question 14

A person who is non-ideological; mixed views

Answer 14

Moderate

Question 15

Political ideology espousing a limited role for the government in order to protect individual liberty; most social and economic problems can be solved by the marketplace (supply and demand), private charities, or religious institutions; pro-life (government should make abortion illegal)

Answer 15

Conservative

Question 16

Political ideology espousing an extremely limited role for the government in both social and economic areas; the national government should only do those things that the marketplace cannot handle (ie. national defense, currency, etc.)

Answer 16

Libertarian

Question 17

A structure within a society that connects the people to the government

Answer 17

Linkage institution

Question 18

An organization of people that seek to win elections and control the government

Answer 18

Political Party

Question 19

Two major political parties dominate the political system; third parties can exist, but they rarely stand a chance of winning elections

Answer 19

Two party system

Question 20

Organization of workers for better pay, etc.; dominant force in the Democratic Party

Answer 20

Labor Union

Question 21

Hiring people for government jobs on the basis of their skill, talent, education, job experience etc. (also known as the Civil Service System); began with the Pendleton Act (1883)

Answer 21

Merit system

Question 22

Any political party other than Democratic or Republican; they can make a difference but rarely win elections

Answer 22

Minor party (third party)

Question 23

Government officials (or a party boss) awarding government jobs in exchange for political support in the form of votes, campaigning, contributions, etc.

Answer 23

Patronage

Question 24

A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls at least one house of Congress; this has been the trend since the early 1970s

Answer 24

Divided Government

Question 25

A person selecting candidates from both political parties, not just one; a cause of divided government

Answer 25

Split ticket voting (ticket splitting)

Question 26

Each state is divided into congressional districts, and one representative is chosen from each district by plurality vote; cause of the two-party system in the USA

Answer 26

Single-member district electoral system

Question 27

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty; the majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era for decades

Answer 27

Critical election/party realignment

Question 28

Long period of time (decades) where Americans abandon their previous partisan loyalties without taking on an allegiance to a new party; often results in divided government

Answer 28

Party dealignment

Question 29

How people feel or think about issues or candidates for office

Answer 29

Public opinion

Question 30

A tool used to measure public opinion about issues or candidates

Answer 30

Opinion Poll

Question 31

Method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal chance of being selected; essential for accurate polling

Answer 31

Random sample

Question 32

The number of people that are questioned and included in a poll

Answer 32

Sample size (of a poll)

Question 33

The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time; measures the accuracy of a poll…the lower the better

Answer 33

Margin of error (of a poll)

Question 34

Poll based on interviews conducted on Election Day as voters are leaving their voting precinct

Answer 34

Exit Poll

Question 35

A type of poll repeated periodically with the same group of people to check and measure changes of opinion or knowledge

Answer 35

Tracking Poll