Chapter 6
Census: Every 10 years there's an enumeration of the population, which is required from the Constitution.
Ex: Every year a club counts how many members it contains.
Every ten years the United States takes a census of all the Americans in America.
Ex: Every year a club counts how many members it contains.
Every ten years the United States takes a census of all the Americans in America.
Demography: Science of population changes.
Ex: When there was a high demand for workers on the plantation of the New Nation, there was an increase of population as more slaves would arrive.
Ex: When there was a high demand for workers on the plantation of the New Nation, there was an increase of population as more slaves would arrive.
Civil Disobedience: To break a law that seems unfair acknowledging to face the consequences.
Ex: Wear spaghetti strap shirts at ESAT when it's 97 degrees F will result in free-dress privilege taken away.
Ex: Wear spaghetti strap shirts at ESAT when it's 97 degrees F will result in free-dress privilege taken away.
Exit Poll: Public opinion survey to predict who would most likely be the electoral winners.
Ex: The yearbook committee at the end of the year create a survey asking who would be most likely to become a comedian in the future.
Ex: The yearbook committee at the end of the year create a survey asking who would be most likely to become a comedian in the future.
Gender Gap: The fact that it's most likely for women to be in favor of the Democratic Party and be more liberal, when it's the contrary with the men.
Ex: The stereotype that a women prefers more educational services when men would prefer more sport opportunities.
Ex: The stereotype that a women prefers more educational services when men would prefer more sport opportunities.
Minority Majority: In the mid-21st century, it will become most likely that non-Hispanics would become minorities and the minority as a total would represent the majority.
Ex: When Christopher Columbus arrived to the New World along with his people, they became the minority. But as the years passed by, their race became majority and the Native Americans went from the majority to the minority.
Ex: When Christopher Columbus arrived to the New World along with his people, they became the minority. But as the years passed by, their race became majority and the Native Americans went from the majority to the minority.
Political Culture: Society sharing an overall set of values.
Ex: Every citizen contains the equal right to practice their voting rights on ballot.
Ex: Every citizen contains the equal right to practice their voting rights on ballot.
Political Ideology: Set if beliefs towards public policy, public purpose, and politics.
Ex: If throughout a being's life they had a strong belief for immigrant equality, it would most likely be that they support the Democratic party.
Ex: If throughout a being's life they had a strong belief for immigrant equality, it would most likely be that they support the Democratic party.
Melting Pot: A characterization of the U.S. due to the history of immigration and the mixture of people, culture, and ideas.
Ex: A school contains various types of race that brings different point of views because of their culture
Ex: A school contains various types of race that brings different point of views because of their culture
Political Socialization: Process where society acquires political views and knowledge based on the media.
Ex: Candidates spend a quantity amount of money in order for an individual to believe that theire political party is the one they should support.
Ex: Candidates spend a quantity amount of money in order for an individual to believe that theire political party is the one they should support.
Political Participation: The selection of political leaders is due to the activities used by citizens.
Ex: In the election of ESAT's president for 2013-2014 proposed ideas that the students wanted in order to win the election.
Ex: In the election of ESAT's president for 2013-2014 proposed ideas that the students wanted in order to win the election.
Protest: A dramatic and unconventional tactic used in order to achieve change.
Ex: Cesar E. Chavez along with the members of the NFWA boycotted grapes in order to show others that farmers want change.
Ex: Cesar E. Chavez along with the members of the NFWA boycotted grapes in order to show others that farmers want change.
Public Opinion: Distribution of the population's beliefs towards political issues and politics.
Ex: In California, it is most likely that citizen would contain beliefs that correlate with the Democratic party and support minorities opportunities due to the environment.
Ex: In California, it is most likely that citizen would contain beliefs that correlate with the Democratic party and support minorities opportunities due to the environment.
Random-Digit Dialing: Pollsters makes telephone calls randomly when conducting a survey.
Ex: It in a way is like random sampling but instead is with phone calls.
Ex: It in a way is like random sampling but instead is with phone calls.
Random Sampling: Technique used by survey researchers where everyone has an equal probability in being chosen to complete a survey.
Ex: A group of people chosen in order to discover what are the percentage of people supporting each political party.
Ex: A group of people chosen in order to discover what are the percentage of people supporting each political party.
Reapportionment: Reallocating seats in the House of Representatives due to the results of the census.
Ex: The New Jersey Plan was created due to the small state that contained little population compared to other states. Which resulted in containing less representatives.
Ex: The New Jersey Plan was created due to the small state that contained little population compared to other states. Which resulted in containing less representatives.
Sample: A small portion of society being chosen in order to represent the population as a whole.
Ex: Due to sampling there is an estimate of the amount of people are political active and recently the senior citizens are more political active than the young adults.
Ex: Due to sampling there is an estimate of the amount of people are political active and recently the senior citizens are more political active than the young adults.
Sampling Error: The amount of confidence that get gained from the results of the public opinion poll.
Ex: As the more someone receives support from others, they would feel as if they have already won the battle.
Ex: As the more someone receives support from others, they would feel as if they have already won the battle.
Chapter 8(Political Parties)
Blue Dog Democrat: Conservative Democrats from the the south.
Ex: Recently there has been a debate whether laws of discrimination should be taken away from the South due to how the South claims that they aren't racist anymore.
Ex: Recently there has been a debate whether laws of discrimination should be taken away from the South due to how the South claims that they aren't racist anymore.
Closed Primaries: People who have registered in advanced with a party are allowed to vote for party nominees.
Ex: the concept of "First come first serve"
Ex: the concept of "First come first serve"
Coalition: A political party depends on a group of people that share the same interest.
Ex: When the Republican party was formed, it was most likely that they would depend on the Northerners due to the fact that they were against slavery.
Ex: When the Republican party was formed, it was most likely that they would depend on the Northerners due to the fact that they were against slavery.
Coalition Government: A majority formed by the alliance of 2 or more parties.
Ex: The concept of the Democratic party sharing interests with the Republican party in order to form the Democratic-Republican Party.
Ex: The concept of the Democratic party sharing interests with the Republican party in order to form the Democratic-Republican Party.
Critical Election: New coalitions replace the older ones and the majority party is displayed by the minority party. It is most likely to occur during a crisis which would require a new party era.
Ex: The shift that occurred in the mid-20th century from Republican presidents to Democratic.
Ex: The shift that occurred in the mid-20th century from Republican presidents to Democratic.
Linkage Institutions: When people's concerns becomes issues that are on the political agenda.
Ex: The Civil Rights Movement played a role in the political agenda for several years in the 1950s and 1960s
Ex: The Civil Rights Movement played a role in the political agenda for several years in the 1950s and 1960s
National Chairperson: The one in charge for the day-to-day activities of the party.
Ex: A teacher is in charge of what are the activities for a certain day but can't go pass the principal's authority.
Ex: A teacher is in charge of what are the activities for a certain day but can't go pass the principal's authority.
National Committee: An institution that keeps the party operating between conventions.
Ex: Senior committee at ESAT assisting the student government in preparation of senior events.
Ex: Senior committee at ESAT assisting the student government in preparation of senior events.
National Convention: A meeting every 4 years in order to choose a presidential ticket.
Ex: Every month teachers get together in order to discuss who deserves the recognition of Student of the Month.
Ex: Every month teachers get together in order to discuss who deserves the recognition of Student of the Month.
New Deal Coalition: Forged by Democrats with the basic elements of Catholics and Jews, poor, working class, etc.
Ex: Medicare constantly being what is an interest of the senior citizens and are pushing for more benefits.
Ex: Medicare constantly being what is an interest of the senior citizens and are pushing for more benefits.
Open Primaries: Election in order to select party nominees for who society can decide for who to vote for on election day.
Party Competition: Parties battle between each other in order to contain the authority of public offices.
Ex: Parties waste money on their campaigns in order to grab society's attention by the dates of presidential election.
Ex: Parties waste money on their campaigns in order to grab society's attention by the dates of presidential election.
Party Dealignment: The gradual disengagement of people from the parties
Ex: Seen by the shrinking of party identification
Ex: Seen by the shrinking of party identification
Party Eras: Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
Ex: For the past decades the political party that has been in power with the presidency are the Democrats
Ex: For the past decades the political party that has been in power with the presidency are the Democrats
Party Identification: A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Ex: You could claim membership to any political party without having "official" membership
Ex: You could claim membership to any political party without having "official" membership
Party Image: The voter's perception of what the republicans or Democrats stand for.
Ex: Conservative or Liberal
Ex: Conservative or Liberal
Party Machine: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern
Ex: patronage
Ex: patronage
Party Realignment: The displacement of the majority party by the minority, usually during a critical election period.
Ex: In current times the realignment of the democrats and republicans to more independent parties, or just individualism.
Ex: In current times the realignment of the democrats and republicans to more independent parties, or just individualism.
Patronage: One of the key inducements used by Political Machines. Incentives are given for political reasons rather than competence.
Ex: Promotions, Patronage jobs or Contracts usually
Ex: Promotions, Patronage jobs or Contracts usually
Political Party: According to Anthony Downns, a "team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."
Ex: Democrats & Republicans
Ex: Democrats & Republicans
Proportional Representation: An electoral stystem that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.
Ex: California has 55 electoral votes in the government
Ex: California has 55 electoral votes in the government
Rational-choice theory: A principle that assumes that individuals always make prudent and logical decisions that provide them with the greatest benefit or satisfaction and that are in their highest self-interest.
Ex: you're less likely to spend your money, if you know you have to save up for something you really need.
Ex: you're less likely to spend your money, if you know you have to save up for something you really need.
Responsible party model: According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises.
Ex: Obama promised he would cut health insurance premiums by his first term...but of course that hasn't happened so he's not carrying out his promises.
Ex: Obama promised he would cut health insurance premiums by his first term...but of course that hasn't happened so he's not carrying out his promises.
Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
Ex: Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party
Ex: Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party
Ticket-splitting: voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.
Ex: I vote for a Democratic president but a Republican senator.
Ex: I vote for a Democratic president but a Republican senator.
Winner-take-all system: electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular votes in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.
Ex: the majority of the population in CA votes for a Democratic president, all the electoral college votes in CA go to that Democrat
Ex: the majority of the population in CA votes for a Democratic president, all the electoral college votes in CA go to that Democrat
Chapter 11(Interest Groups)
Actual group: composed of those in the potential group who eventually become members of the interest group
Ex: Since I believe in animal rights, I eventually become member of PETA
Ex: Since I believe in animal rights, I eventually become member of PETA
Collective Goods: Goods that benefit every individual belonging to some group, and where it is hard to exclude any individual from that benefit.
Ex: water, roads, clean air
Ex: water, roads, clean air
Electioneering: when interest groups help a sympathetic candidate get into office so that their opinions are more likely to be represented.
Ex: PETA would electioneer for a candidate that believed in animal rights.
Ex: PETA would electioneer for a candidate that believed in animal rights.
Elite theory: argues that because only a few groups have enough power to influence policy, power is concentrated into a few interlocking power centers
Ex: the interest groups with a lot of wealth are usually the most powerful ones
Ex: the interest groups with a lot of wealth are usually the most powerful ones
Free-rider problem: a situtation where individuals let others work to secure a collective good and then enjoy the benefit without contributing anything to the group effort
Ex: I'm in a group but I don't do any work; the collective goods are still available to me since I'm a member
Ex: I'm in a group but I don't do any work; the collective goods are still available to me since I'm a member
Hyperpluralist theory: argues that too many groups are getting what they want at the expense of the unrepresented and that this behavior leads to incoherent public policy and gridlock
Ex: They have this idea that the more groups there are, the more intensity there is between them.
Ex: They have this idea that the more groups there are, the more intensity there is between them.
Interest group: organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process to achieve these goals
Ex: PETA, ACLU, NAACP
Ex: PETA, ACLU, NAACP
Subgovernments: AKA Iron Triangles; exclusive relationships composed of interest group leaders, government agencies, and congressional committees that are related by a common issue
Ex: The NRA can lobby to block new gun control measures. This can become an iron triangle issue if politicians respond to the NRA lobbyists and block an initiative such as universal background checks, even if the initiative is supported by most voters.
Ex: The NRA can lobby to block new gun control measures. This can become an iron triangle issue if politicians respond to the NRA lobbyists and block an initiative such as universal background checks, even if the initiative is supported by most voters.
Lobbying: a communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a government decision-maker with the hope of influencing his or her decisions
Ex: the American Association of Retired People lobbies for issues of concern to people over the age of 50
Ex: the American Association of Retired People lobbies for issues of concern to people over the age of 50
PAC /Political Action Committee: the funding mechanism of an interest group ; must be registered with the Federal Election Commission
Ex: American Bankers Association PAC, Bank of America Federal PAC
Ex: American Bankers Association PAC, Bank of America Federal PAC
Pluralist theory: argues that interest group activities provide additional representation and compete against each other to achieve political outcomes
Ex: more groups allow for good competition
Ex: more groups allow for good competition
Potential group: composed of all people who share some common interest
Ex: individuals who believe in animal rights but are not in a group yet are part of a potential group
Ex: individuals who believe in animal rights but are not in a group yet are part of a potential group
Public interest lobby: organizations that seek a collective good, the achievement of which will benefit the people and not businesses
Ex: Common Cause
Ex: Common Cause
Right-To-Work Laws: Laws that state a person is NOT required to be part of a union for them to be hired or keep their job
Ex: Freedom of Association-> Dont have to be associated with what you don't want to be
Ex: Freedom of Association-> Dont have to be associated with what you don't want to be
Selective Benefits: Benefits that encourage membership of an interest group because of incentives gained only through membership
Ex: The Child Tax Credit
Ex: The Child Tax Credit
Single-Issue Group: Groups that have a narrow interest, dislike compromise, get new members from people that are new to politics.
Ex:Anti-Vietnam War Activist
Ex:Anti-Vietnam War Activist
Union Shop: A ule found in some parts of America that requires ALL emplyees of a business to join the union within 30 days to keep their jobs and as members
Ex: In the construction Industry workers have 7 days to join the union or they have to pay fees
Ex: In the construction Industry workers have 7 days to join the union or they have to pay fees
Additional Unit 2 Terms
527 Group: is a typ of U.S. tax-exempt organization/group. created primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local oublic office.
Ex: MoveOn.org, The Media Fund and America Coming Together
Ex: MoveOn.org, The Media Fund and America Coming Together
Affirmative Action: A policy designed to ive special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantaged group
Ex: The American Civil Liberties Union focuses on people of color and on women and gaining equality for them now
Ex: The American Civil Liberties Union focuses on people of color and on women and gaining equality for them now
Amicus Curiae Brief : Legal briefs submitted by a "Friend of the Court" for the purpose of influencing a court's decision by raising additional points of view and presenting information that is not presented in the briefs for the formal parties.
Ex: the American Center for Law and Justice frequently submit such briefs to advocate for or against a particular legal change or interpretation.
Ex: the American Center for Law and Justice frequently submit such briefs to advocate for or against a particular legal change or interpretation.
Class Action Lawsuit: Lawsuit in which a group of people sue on behalf of a bigger group for a similar circumstance
Ex of when a class action lawsuit could take place : Patients given a pharmaceutical with undisclosed, harmful side-effects.
Ex of when a class action lawsuit could take place : Patients given a pharmaceutical with undisclosed, harmful side-effects.
Conservative : a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.
Ex: Ronald Reagan
Ex: Ronald Reagan
Dealignment : A movement among voters toward nonpartisanship, resulting in a weakening of party structure.
Ex: 1828 separating the First Party System and the Second Party System in the U.S.
Ex: 1828 separating the First Party System and the Second Party System in the U.S.
Democrat: An advocate or supporter of Democracy
Ex: Obama
Ex: Obama
Divided Government : one where the presidency and congress are controlled by different parties
Ex: Last six years of the Clinton Administration, the Presidency was Democratic while congress was Republic
Ex: Last six years of the Clinton Administration, the Presidency was Democratic while congress was Republic
Federalist 10: Written by James Madison and it warned against how to combat fractions
Grassroots Movement: is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous,
Ex: Grassroots movements can cause a greater turn out voing rate for a political party
Ex: Grassroots movements can cause a greater turn out voing rate for a political party
Independent: loyal to no one political party or organization
Ex: Libertarians
Ex: Libertarians
Incumbent: the holder of an office or post.
Ex:Obama was an incumbent in the 2012 election
Ex:Obama was an incumbent in the 2012 election
Issue Advocacy ad: are communications intended to bring a problem to light.
Ex: Special interest Groups, Single Issue groups use these ads to communicate their points
Ex: Special interest Groups, Single Issue groups use these ads to communicate their points
Liberal : believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change
Ex: Paul Krugman, Op-ed columnist, the New York Times
Ex: Paul Krugman, Op-ed columnist, the New York Times
Litigation: suing of innocent parties for the purpose of making enough court costs, which they either capitulate for political pressure
Ex: filing lawsuits against manufactures and distributors who have committed no particular illegal dealings
Ex: filing lawsuits against manufactures and distributors who have committed no particular illegal dealings
Partisanship: Favor in support of a particular cause; bias
Ex: Professional Politicains push for their party's interest
Ex: Professional Politicains push for their party's interest
Political Efficacy: The belief that ones political participation really matters- that ones vote can really make a difference
Ex: people are more likely to turn up and vote if they feel their vote matters
Ex: people are more likely to turn up and vote if they feel their vote matters
Republican: a person advocating or supporting republican government.
Ex: Mitt Romney
Ex: Mitt Romney