Unit 5

Question 1

Party Primary

Answer 1

An election to select who is going to represent a political party in the general election.

Question 2

Party Nominee

Answer 2

The candidate that is selected by the primary/caucus to represent their respective political party. In presidential elections they have to collect the majority (50% +1) of electoral votes that are granted by each of the states.

Question 3

General Election

Answer 3

The election where the nominees from both parties that selects face off to actually win the office.

Question 4

Closed Primary

Answer 4

Must declare party affiliation when registering to vote.

Question 5

Open Primary

Answer 5

Do not have to declare party affiliation but can only vote for one party’s slate of candidates per election. Texas has an open primary.

Question 6

Blanket Primary

Answer 6

Can vote for candidates in both parties on the same ballot.

Question 7

Caucus

Answer 7

A local meeting of political party members where a pre-determined amount of delegates are distributed to candidates in a fashion that is proportionate to the amount of supporters they have at the meeting. The more people show up for a candidate relative to others, the larger proportion of delegate points they get from that caucus.

Question 8

Crossover Voting

Answer 8

Where voters from an opposing political party vote in a rival party’s election to try to nominate the rival candidate who most likely to lose in the general election.

Question 9

Parliamentary Governance

Answer 9

Democratic system used in most of the world where there are many political parities, and; Members of Parliament (called MP’s) are selected by either: (1) regional elections to select a candidate where the candidate with the most votes wins (Majority not required), or (2) citizens vote for a political party instead of a candidate. The percentage of votes each party gets determines what percent of the seats in parliament they are entitled to. The party (or coalition of parties) with the most members selects the Prime Minister & other administrative officials from the MP’s. It only takes a Majority (50% +1) to get anything passed, therefore the majority or their coalition of parties can control all votes.

Question 10

Prime Minister

Answer 10

An MP elected by the majority of members to serve as the head of the government. Although they don’t have a veto and can be removed from office with a simple majority, they oversee government agencies & the country’s foreign policy. They have a lot of informal influence.

Question 11

Propoganda

Answer 11

is a form of blatantly biased communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

Question 12

Lying by omission

Answer 12

Failing to mention certain essential elements that might shift one’s perception.

Question 13

Emotional Triggers

Answer 13

By framing the concept or people related the to a concept with either negative or positive emotional responses.

Question 14

Emotional Response

Answer 14

A strategy used by media, advertisers and politicians to directly appeal to the fears, frustrations and/or ignorance of the people instead of their intellect and rational ability.

Question 15

Rational Response

Answer 15

The ability to examine news and information and form an opinion based on a thorough examination of the facts without the interjection of emotion or pre-conceived preference.

Question 16

Political Socialization

Answer 16

Is the process in which we develop our political ideologies.

Question 17

Political Ideologies

Answer 17

The ideas that we have regarding the role of government in one’s life.

Question 18

Agents of Socialization

Answer 18

Various circumstances that mold and effect one’s political ideology. The main agent is family.

Question 19

Redistributed Policy

Answer 19

A tax structure that benefits one group of socioeconomic class at the expense of another.

Question 20

Regressive Taxation

Answer 20

Taxes that have a set rate for everyone and are more painful to poor people because they have much less disposable income to spend.

Question 21

Progressive Taxation

Answer 21

As someone makes more money, the percentage of money that they have to pay in taxes increases. Thus, it hurts poor people less because it does not cut into their disposable income.

Question 22

Sales Taxes

Answer 22

Taxes that are assessed as a percentage of an item’s cost.

Question 23

Income Taxes

Answer 23

Progressive taxes that are assessed on one’s wages. The more you make, the higher percentage you pay.

Question 24

Wealth Taxes

Answer 24

Taxes that are assessed on someone’s saved wealth.

Question 25

Estate Taxes

Answer 25

Tax on wealth and possession after one dies but before it is passed on to heirs. Also called an inheritance tax or a death tax.

Question 26

Sin Tax

Answer 26

Tax to reduce consumption or compensate the government for an item’s costs to society. -tobacco and alcohol

Question 27

Excise Tax

Answer 27

Cost is added to price & is based on the quantity of units consumed not a percentage of the cost. -Gasoline, alcohol, tobacco

Question 28

Capital Gains Tax

Answer 28

Tax on the profits from investments (not labor). Generally about 15%.

Question 29

Property/Ad Valorem Taxes

Answer 29

Taxes set according to the value of real estate, vehicles, or boats.

Question 30

Regulatory Policy

Answer 30

Government imposition of regulations on the functions of business (worker safety, worker rights, prevention of corruption, etc.)

Question 31

Social Insurance Programs

Answer 31

Where the government takes money from everyone and gives it back to everyone during qualifying circumstances. Social Security is the most famous Social Ins. Program.

Question 32

Means-Tested Programs

Answer 32

Programs where government takes money from everyone and redistributes it only to the needy. Food stamps are means tested.

Question 33

Socio Economic Status

Answer 33

A simplified model for classifying peoples placement in society according to wealth, occupation and education level.

Question 34

Moral Idealism (Foreign Policy)

Answer 34

The idea that America has a responsibility to prevent atrocities, injustice & oppression and spread democratic ideas.

Question 35

Political Realism or Realpolitik (in Foreign Policy)

Answer 35

the idea that: each nation usually acts in its own self-interest and therefore, in this selfish environment The US should do whatever is necessary to protect its citizens and interests.

Question 36

Foreign Policy Liberalism

Answer 36

Real reluctance to use military force unless directly attacked. Favors diplomacy, appeasement, and appealing to the rational nature of mankind and nations.