Chapter 6 Study Guide
1. Define public opinion.
2. Define demography.
3. What is the census and how often is it conducted?
4. What is a minority majority?
5. What is the largest minority group in America?
6. What did the Simpson Mazzoli Act do?
7. Define political culture.
8. Where has most of America’s population growth been since WWII?]
9. What is reapportionment and how often does it occur?
10. Social Security is “pay as you go”. What does that mean?
11. What is political socialization?
12. What were the three main agents of socialization according to your text?
13. When does political learning end?
14. Who developed public opinion polling?
15. What is a sample?
16. Define random sampling.
17. What is sampling error? What is the sampling error of a typical poll?
18. What is random digit dialing?
19. What are some problems with random digit dialing?
20. What is the bandwagon effect?
21. What are exit polls?
22. How can altering the wording of a question affect results?
23. In general has trust in the government been increasing or decreasing? What events do you think
contributed to this?
24. What is political ideology?
25. Are young people more likely to be liberal or conservative?
26. Are African Americans more likely to be liberal or conservative?
27. Are women considered to be a minority? Why or why not?
28. What is the gender gap?
29. Are Catholics and Jews more or less liberal than Protestants?
30. What group is considered to be the most liberal demographic group in the country?
31. What is religiosity?
32. What are some examples of conventional participation?
33. What are some examples of unconventional participation?