Political Culture and Ideology
Chapter 4
The American Political Culture
List and describe the seven Shared Values.
Explain the five policies and laws that the government must
adhere to the rule of law.
What are some sources of political culture in the United
States?
Explain how Wealthy individuals or corporations have
impacted politics.
Analyze Roosevelt’s “Second Bill of Rights.” Then explain
how this relates to todays government.
Political Ideology and attitudes toward government
List and give a brief overview of each ideology.
What are the main differences between Traditional and
social conservatives.
How have events such as the great depression, WWII, and
September 11th changed political ideology?
Political ideology and the american people
How do the more conservative partisans or extreme liberals
get the “middle vote” or “swing vote”?
Why do most Americans consider themselves “moderate”?
How is the united states’ policy making process different
from those of european countries?
Ideology and tolerance
Give an example of a difference between liberals and
conservatives. Explain.
What are some consequences of ideologies?
Katie Normand
Laura Meece
Bridget Walsh
Chapter 5 Questions
1) Explain the conflicting ideas of immigration in America.
2) What changes to the U.S. immigration policy did President Bush propose after the
attacks on 9/11?
3) Define ethnocentrism.
A LAND OF DIVERSITY
4) Explain the appeal of the U.S.
5) Define political socialization.
6) Define and give examples of demographics.
7) Explain the differences between cross-cutting cleavages and reinforcing
cleavages.
8) Does America have more cross-cutting or reinforcing cleavages? Explain.
9) How does geography affect the country and American politics?
10) Compare cities and suburbs in terms of race.
WHERE WE LIVE
11) Explain the idea of white flight.
12) Why are cities suffering?
WHO WE ARE
13) Compare the net worth of the different races.
14) Discuss how African Americans are becoming more important politically.
15) Describe some differences among Hispanics.
16) How can large numbers of immigrants pose challenges to society?
17) Is there a gender gap in voting and attitudes on important issues?
18) Discuss some political tendencies of women.
19) Describe inequalities among men and women.
20) How have the opinions on family structure changed over time?
21) Why is religion important in American politics?
22) Describe primogeniture, how it’s changed, and how those changes affect
America.
23) How does unequal distribution of wealth affect politics?
24) What shift has occurred among the American labor force?
25) Describe life-cycle and generational effects.
26) How does education affect political participation?
Chapter 6: Interest Groups
What is a faction?
What is an interest group and how many kinds exist?
What is the difference between a “special” interest group and a “public” interest group?
What do workers’ association do and how do they help the U.S.?
What does lobbying mean?
What are 4 useful functions lobbyists do for the government?
What is the most important thing lobbyists provide for the government?
Explain the difference between “hard” and “soft money”?
How much money do House and Senate members usually spend on their own campaigns?
What is significant about the 527 group?
What is the problem with a low number of factions in the U.S. today?
What does the table 6-5 at the bottom of pg 157 show about PAC?
In 2004 soft money was largely banned. What strategy did many groups return to?
Chapter 7: Political Parties
1) State one of the most important functions of political parties. Do you
agree with this? Explain.
What Parties Do For Democracy
2) Contrast the Caucus/Convention System and the Primary Elections
system. What are the major differences, and why are there different
methods for choosing candidates for elections?
3)
How do political parties unify the electorate?
4) How does party control of the government influence the employment
of public officials and the appointment of judges? Cite specific terms.
5) State the differences in soft money vs. hard money, and their
importance in elections.
6) What is the difference between our two-party system and the
multiparty system of many European countries? What are some minor
parties in our political system, and what is the significance of these
parties?
A Brief History of American Political Parties
7) How did Polotical parties originally start? Were they supported by
polotical leaders such as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson?
8) How did the Democratic party come to be? The Republican Party?
Give an example of who had the most influence in creating both partys.
9) What was the New Deal period, and what did Keynesian economics
have to do with it? What did the Republican party and the Democratic
party mainly disagree on during this period?
10)
What does Divided Government mean, and has the US
been in one? If so, how long?
11)
Give a brief summary of the dispute that went on during the
2000-04 elections. What happened to both political parties during this
period?
Are The Political Parties Dying?
12)
make?
What three allegations against political parties to critics
13)
14)
15)
What is the party unity score?
What is the proportionality system?
What is the difference between Campaign finances, pre
and post the 2002 finance reforms?
Chapter 8 Questions
A.P. Government period 2
1. Explain how the canvass process is used and how it relates to undecided or “swing”
voters.
2. Define Public Opinion and explain why governments and potential government
officials should be concerned with it.
3. Identify the parts and characteristics of public opinion polls, what they are designed to
measure, and how.
4. What three things factor into public opinion? Explain how each affects the opinion of
the population.
5. Define political socialization and list some possible influences on one’s political
opinion.
6. How can political opinions change over the course of time? Give at least one
example.
7. Outline the spectrum of the different types of citizens relative to their political
involvement and knowledge that the book gives in “Awareness and Interest.”
8. List some effects of political participation.
9. Explain the key components of American political activity:
Voting:
Registration:
Motor Voter:
Turnout:
10. Give some reasons why voting is important, (page 210-211).
11. Why do people vote as they do? List and explain the three main elements of voting
choice.
How Long is the Senate, House of Representatives, and president in office far?
What Amendment limited the Presidency to 2 terms?
What system is used in American electoral settings?
What is an Electoral College?
What happens if there is no majority in electoral votes for a candidate?
What does the process Partisan Gerrymandering do?
Why are incumbents rarely challenged for renomination?
What are some reasons why the Senate seat is such a big competition to be
elected?
What are the three steps that the book states are in running for president.
Explain?
Money In U.S. Elections
What did the 1972 Watergate scandal lead to?
What are three basic strategies to prevent abuse in political contributions?
Explain the purposes of both the Federal Election Campaign Act and the Bipartisan
Campaign
What were the 527 Groups and how did they come about?
Explain independent expenditures.
Where does the money to fund election campaigns come from?
Improving Elections
What are the four issues we consider when choosing our presidents?
Name and describe the two types of primaries.
What was the purpose of the Help America Vote Act?
Clark Templeton
Stocker
AP Government
26 October 2010
Chapter 10: The Media and American Politics
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA ON POLITICS
1. Explain the difference between the mass media and news media.
2. Explain the importance of the following in the political realm.
a. Television
b. Radio
c. Newspapers
d. Internet
THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA
3.
4. What kinds of regulations have been placed on the media and why? (Be sure to
discuss fairness doctrine).
MEDIATED POLITICS
5. Explain the difference between selective exposure &selective perception AND
provide how they both contribute to individualized political views.
6. How do recall & comprehension limit the influence of media on public opinion?
7. Briefly explain how people cater the media to fit their political views.
8. In what ways is the media supposedly affected by party biases?
9. Explain the influence of agenda setting and issue framing on public opinion.
THE MEDIA AND ELECTIONS
10. Give several examples of strategies candidates have used recently (with the
advent of new technology like TV and internet) to gain publicity and/or publicize
their stance on an issue.
11. What do media consultants do? How does their job influence the appearance of a
candidate?
THE MEDIA AND GOVERNANCE
12. Describe how the press covers the Legislative Branch, Judicial Branch, Executive
Branch, and the local government differently.