Study Guide for Unit 2:

Political Beliefs & Behavior

Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action

Questions you should be able to answer:

1. What demographic changes have occurred in the U.S. and what are their political and public policy consequences?

2. What is political socialization? What is the difference between formal and informal learning? Which do you think is most important and why? Give examples to support your answer.

3. Explain how public opinion is measured. What scientific techniques are used to measure public opinion? What are the arguments against public opinion polling?

4. Explain the main differences between liberals and conservatives.

5. What are some of the ways in which people participate in politics? Compare conventional and unconventional participation. How do they affect policy in different ways?

6. Why is participation in America unequal? What are the political and policy implications of unequal participation?

Terms you should be able to identify & describe:

Demographics melting pot

minority majority reapportionment

political socialization political culture

exit poll gender gap

political ideology civil disobedience

Chapter 10: Elections & Voting Behavior

Questions you should be able to answer:

1. How has the American election system evolved? How did the election of 2000 contrast with elections of the past, particularly the elections of 1800 and 1896?

2. What is the electoral paradox of more suffrage and less participation? Why would we expect people to vote more today and shy do they not do so? How does the voter registration system affect the decision to vote?

3. What factors determine why people choose to vote? What groups are most likely to vote and what groups are least likely to vote? What are the implications of these differences in electoral participation?

4. Why do people vote the way they do? Which reason do you think is most important and why?

5. What is the electoral college and how does it work? What biases in the electoral process does it introduce? Should the electoral college system be preserved or abolished?

Terms you should be able to identify & describe:

referendum initiative

suffrage Motor Voter Act

policy voting mandate theory of elections

political efficacy voter registration

plurality (& plurality elections)

Chapter 9: Nominations & Campaigns

Questions you should be able to answer:

1. How is a candidate nominated for the presidency? What functions do national party conventions perform? What criticisms have been raised about the nomination process? Is it a representative process?

2. What are the elements of a successful political campaign? What impacts do campaigns have on voters?

3. What is the role of money in campaigns? What campaign finance reforms have been adopted? What effects have they had?

4. What are the positive and negative features of Political Action Committees? How might they affect politicians and policymaking?

5. How do campaign images and issues conflict, or do they? What is the role of the media in shaping both?

Terms you should be able to identify & describe:

caucus superdelegates

frontloading presidential primaries

party platform direct mail

McCain-Feingold Act Federal Election Campaign Act

Federal Election Commission soft money

hard money political action committees

issue advocacy ads national party convention