Study Guide for Unit 2:
Political Beliefs & Behavior, 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
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)
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, super delegates, 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