Political Science Test 2

largest voluntary association in America, and one of the biggest interest groups

occurs when the media affects which issues and problems people think about, even if the media do not determine what positions people adopt (generally effects people who are uninterested/uninformed about politics)

1/3 of their black adult male population is ineligible to vote because of imprisonment

tend to be non-ideological

at much lower levels

�friend of the court� briefing that can be sent to attempt and help the Supreme Court form a decision. (involved in �litigation�)

well-informed and have particularly strong views on foreign imports

10-15% turnout rate difference between America and Europe can be accounted for by our electoral institutions

NAACP

refusing to accept service or goods from a particular company for specific reasons

devoted the highest percentage of its overall news to election coverage

typically have similar party identification as their parents

bloggers on the internet.

very few before, decent amount after

advocates less government regulation of the economy

purported ability of TV to raise a distant foreign affairs situation to national prominence by broadcasting vivid pictures

Social pressure or force to make people join in a collective effort (state BAR association for lawyers in some states..)� this is to overcome the free-rider problem.

the second most popular type of political participation

a shift in the behavior of a group that results from a change in the group's composition, rather than a change in the behavior of individuals already in the group.

punishment for not voting (Aust., Belg., Greece, Italy)

In low conflict, we should expect low voter turnout, and vice versa.

unnoticeable individual contribution, people receiving the benefit regardless of their effort.

left it up to the states. Many states had restrictions based on property and some religious

strongly opposed the shift of federal student loans

Elections are charades, real decisions are made by elites, voting is only to ease the minds of the masses, so elections don't matter.

largest percentage of highly informed viewers

involves everything from peaceful sit-ins and demonstrations to riots and even rebellions.

computer-generated communication by interest groups to people who might be sympathetic to an appeal for money or support

no reporters, they basically printed anything and everything

started in 1970, sparked the environmental movement

testified at a congressional hearing on the subject of immigrant labor

Tuesdays. Other countries make it Sundays or make it a holiday to increase voter turnout.

the fastest-growing group tactic used to influence public policy

Quality of electoral decisions are higher, if we don't try as hard for voter motorization, because nonvoters are less educated than voters. (Don't try and change things because we have better decisions made when only educated people vote).

reporters assigned to travel with specific infantry battalions in wars

licensing condition by FCC that requires any station that gives or sells time to a legally qualified candidate for public office makes equal time available to all candidates on equal terms

interviewing for research directly after you cast your vote

FCC regulation, enforced between 1949 and 1987, that required stations to air contrasting viewpoints on matters of public importance and to give public figures who had been criticized on any of the station�s programs a free opportunity to reply.

the most influential on your political beliefs. Most important socializing agent as well

responsible for regulating broadcast media

radios need these to operate

race outlawed as a criterion for voting (1870)

NY�s World Fair in 1939 (10 years later 6% of the country owned a TV.. jumped to 45% by �52 and 90% by �59)

John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon

small groups of trained researchers lead an open-ended discussion of various subjects or

participating at an event, voting, lobbying government officials, proposing referendums

occurs when the media induce people to think about an issue along particular lines, as opposed to others

the right to vote

people can enjoy the benefits of group activity without bearing any of the costs

company deals with opinion research. Invented the �presidential approval question�

asks whether the voter intends on voting republican or democrat

lowest approval rating in recorded history

groups that vote � thats the reason they pay more attention to the AARP rather than college students

largest newspaper corporation

One of the oldest interest groups

attempts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly through their constituents

an interest group makes an ad for a supporter or member of congress locally, then plays the ad in that member�s district. The assumption is that key supporters of the congressional member are on the interest group�s side. Key supporters may be more influential that regular voters.

Americans favor them tougher

more than those without a formal education. Whites also tend to be more educated.

volunteer, checking up on elderly neighbors, attending political meetings or religious services

media has a direct and powerful capacity to put ideas into people�s heads

a system of beliefs in which one or more organizing principles connect the individual's views on a wide range of particular issues

interest groups reformulating their appeals to suggest small contributions have a concrete impact

the mental time and effort required to absorb and store information

around economic interests

in waves (Civil War, Progressive Era, MAINLY Post 60s)

solidarity (social reasons), material (economic reasons), purposive (advancing social and political goals)

all of its potential membership (mostly about 1% of its potentials!)

organization or association of people with common interests that engages in politics on behalf of its members

most young people get political news from here than anywhere else. The use of the internet as a news source has doubled every four years from 1996 on. (5�11�.21.. etc)

advertising campaigns that attempt to influence public opinion in regard to a specific policy proposal.

a loose constellation of larger numbers and committees, agencies, interest groups, and policy experts active in a particular policy area

groups of people affected by or concerned with specific issues

some people were paid to vote, thats why.

public opinion influencing government even though it does so indirectly and passively

It is illegal to send out information attacking their opponent, illegal to accept non-regulated donations, illegal to accept many from a non-citizen, illegal to use government funds to fund campaigns, it's okay to use your own money.

those with a high school diploma or less

involves carrying out a legal strategy to utilize court decisions to support the interest group�s goals (example

yield the response desired by those who commissioned the poll

interest group activities intended to influence directly the decisions that public officials make

someone who engages in lobbying � can be full time or part time, they are the �hired guns� with contracts and expertise, some are affiliated with a particular party, leaders of groups do double duty as lobbyists. They are very concerned with maintaining their long-term relationships with public officials

most people get their information from this news source

Interest group that was the driving force behind National Minimum Drinking Age Act

they are increasingly marginal as a news source, growing in numbers but few talk about government and politics. Time and Newsweek are the best kind.

psychological (civic duty)

district-based representation means members of Congress have different constituencies.

the answers provided by a random sample of 1500 Americans on any political question would fall within 3 % points of national opinion 95% of the time

forms of communication that are technologically capable of reaching most people and economically affordable to most. Existed for less than 200 years. Political power is related to the control of this information

ordinary people for whom politics is a peripheral concern

the dominant incentive to join economic groups or associations

the error that arises from attempting to measure something as subjective as opinion

only marginal sway on preexisting views

not as effective as personal campaigning

receives highest confidence ratings for public opinions

the idea that mass media tend to reinforce what people already believe and rarely change people�s minds

fastest going race in the United States

you can swing the election! One vote!

business groups

eased voter registration requirements

formed during Progressive Era

ignored by the media. (party managers trying to get involved turns away coverage.. now it can be viewed more on the Internet)

Newspaper for jeffersonians

traditionally given the mast vajority of their campaign donations and support to Democratic Candidates

public demands.

Decline in the number of cities with more than one newspaper, and the spread of chain ownership

Women given the right to vote (1920)

when someone votes for more than one candidate

Political Action Committee

rich individuals with deep commitments to the group goal who make a difference with large contributions

39%. Americans on average contribute to four.

34%

nearly 70%

school of thought that politics is the clash of groups that represent all important interests in society and that they check and balance each other

no representation of interest group universe, interest of the nation doesn�t equal the sum of all its interest groups, groups distort politics, and reinforce extremism

a belief that one person can make a difference in politics

those people who are deeply involved in politics, that bind together their positions on different policy issues

people willing to assume the costs of forms and maintaining an organization even when others may free-ride on them.

ended in mid 1960s

drafting bills, testifying before cong. committees, meeting with elected officials, presenting their cases, providing information.

Developed by Gallup organization

occurs when the media alters the standards people use to evaluate political figures

things that you must purchase to enjoy, and your consumption of which means that others cannot consume them

things you can enjoy without contributing, by free-riding on the efforts of those who do (often provided at sub-optimal levels)

�those opinions held by private persons which governments find it prudent to heed�... the aggregation of people's views about issues, situations, and public figures

preaching ideals of citizenship and patriotism is an example of this

do not always have clear-guiding ideologies

not dominant, but popular. There has been a growth of talk radio (satellites allow for transmission of one program to hundreds of stations)

those legally eligible to vote who have registered in accordance with the requirements prevailing in their state and locality

radio is a limited public resource, while newspaper is not.

asking simple questions is essential for this

error that results from using a small group to estimate the characteristics of a larger population

the only thing free from FCC content regulations

when a sample systematically includes or excludes people

guideline according to which stories with certain characteristics are chosen over stories without those characteristics

benefits that are specifically for members of the interest group (AARP has craploads of incentives and benefits belonging to members)

An interest group narrowly focused to influence policy on a single issue

the degree to which individuals are integrated into society � extended families, neighborhoods, religious organizations, and other social units

issues that reflect personal values more than economic interests

most likely group to take direct action.

process by which one learns political beliefs and values

childhood and adolescence

camaraderie and social aspects of group membership

a piece of film or video that shows a candidate speaking in his or her own words

alliance of congressional committee, the executive agency, and interest groups that combine to dominate policy-making in some specified policy area (they�re not �more powerful than ever in creating policy today�)

the right to vote

the most recent significant political development in radio communications

the main requirement to vote until the 1850's

99% of households have at least one, network system used to dominate, but has declined dramatically due to UHF and cable. TV has been the public�s main source of info since the 60s

larger. (Feeding the poor in your neighborhood versus reducing world hunger..)

licensing system, importance of advertising, emergence of national networks

Early on they were partisan, then grew to be less after the Civil War, realizing that it was not important to alienate readers.

Poll tax outlawed (1964)

18-21 year-olds given the right to vote (1971)

DC Residents granted right to vote (1961)

ballots that indicate no choice for an office, whether because the voter abstained or because the voter's intention could not be determined

didn't happen until eve of the Civil War

partisan. (many received subsidies or patronage from the party�s supporters)

Voting Age Population � all people in the US over the age of 18, including those who may not be legally eligible to vote.

Voting Eligible Population

the efforts of parties, groups, and activits to encouarage their supporters to turn out for elections

being pro-this, pro-that, anti-that � and voting on those ideas

(1965) reestablished federal oversight of southern elections

the controversy that stemmed from a break-in at the Democratic Headquarters in Washington D.C., and led to the resignation of President Nixon

Lobbying, electioneering, PACs, persuading the public, direct action, litigation

the states

There is a decline in personal benefits, a decline in voter mobilization, and a decline in social connectedness (how involved people are in society). Costs are higher, not everyone wants jury duty, election day is weird. The move to high-tech campaigning may also indirectly cause this as well. Most of the reasons are psychological.

Because everyone benefits if the results are positive, whether they help out or not, so they have the idea that other people will do the work for them and they'll get the benefit.

slow process � Wyoming in 1890 gave them the right first, then 11 other states before 1920, when the 19th amendment gave all women the right to vote. Other countries did the same later

many newspapers in the late 1800s and early 1900s eagerly exploited scandals and any story involving sex or violence.