CHAPTER FOUR – AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
KEY TERMS: Briefly identify, define, and/or explain.
1) Democracy In America 2) political culture 3) 5 important elements in American view of our political system 4) “an American dilemma” 5) Attitudes in the U.S.A. v. other democracies (table 4.1, p. 82) 6) 2 foundation principles of American economic system 7) America v. Sweden – differences in political culture 8) civic duty 9) civic competence 10) America v. Sweden – differences in economic beliefs 11) role of religion in major U.S. political movements 12) importance of the election of 1800 13) Protestant work ethic 14) class consciousness 15) Horatio Alger 16) 2 cultural classes: a) orthodox b) progressive 17) 3 ways in which the culture war differs from other political disputes 18) how trust in Washington officials rose and then ebbed after 9/11 19) civil society 20) importance of political tolerance in a democracy
KEY IDEAS: Explain in depth.
1) Discuss two specific examples of current issues that in your opinion best illustrate the following quote by Samuel P. Huntington about our country: “critics say that America is a lie because its reality falls so far short of its ideals. America is not a lie, it is a disappointment only because it is also a hope.” (p. 79) CHAPTER SEVEN – PUBLIC OPINION
KEY TERMS: Briefly identify, define, and/or explain.
1) public opinion 2) Madison’s view of the role of U.S. Senators 3) 2 reasons why government policy often appears at odds with public opinion 4) poll 5) random sample 6) sampling error 7) exit polls 8) opinion saliency 9) opinion stability 10) opinion-policy congruence 11) political socialization 12) elite 13) factors that influence political socialization: a) family b) religion c) gender gap 14) factors that create cleavages in public opinion: a) social class b) race & ethnicity c) region 15) political ideology 16) political elites 17) 2 ways in which elites influence public opinion 18) norm
KEY IDEAS: Explain in depth.
1) Take the political typology survey at: http://typology.people-press.org/typology According to your survey results, into which of the ideological typologies do you fall? When you read the description of that typology, do you agree that it's a good representation of who you are? Explain.
2) Discuss the key factors which influence the formation of political attitudes among individuals. Which of these factors have played the most important role in the development of your political views? Explain. (p. 156-60) CHAPTER EIGHT – POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
KEY TERMS: Briefly identify, define, and/or explain.
1) political participation 2) VAP 3) VEP 4) voter turnout in 2012 election 5) registered voters 6) voter turnout in U.S. versus other democracies (table 8.2, p. 173) 7) 3 most common reasons given by registered non-voters for not voting 8) “no-fault” absentee voting 9) U.S. voter registration procedure v. most European countries 10) “Motor-Voter” law’s impact on non-voting 11) some ways of participating in politics other than voting 12) alternate ways of casting ballots: (box on p. 176) a) early voting b) absentee voting c) mail voting 13) 15th Amendment 14) methods used to prevent blacks from voting: a) literacy tests b) poll tax c) grandfather clause d) intimidation 15) Voting Rights Act of 1965 16) 19th Amendment 17) Voting Rights Act of 1970 & 26th Amendment 18) proportion of VAP that has gone to the polls since 1928 19) “Australian ballot” 20) difference it would make if everyone voted 21) compulsory voting (box on p. 181) 22) 6 different kinds of citizens: a) inactives b) activists c) voting specialists d) campaigners e) communalists f) parochial participants 23) effect of schooling, employment & race on turnout (fig. 8.3, p. 183) 24) conclusions drawn in last paragraph on p. 184
KEY IDEAS: Explain in depth.
1) Trace the expansion of the electorate in this country from the early days of the Republic to the present. (pp. 176-9)