Unit 3: Public Opinion, Political Parties, and Interest Groups
Study Guide
Overview
Political Beliefs and Behavior- 10-20%
● Role of the individual in government and politics
● Processes by which citizens learn about politics
● Nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion
● Role of voting in democratic systems
● Factors that influence political behavior
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media- 10-20%
● Development, organization, and functions of political parties
● Role of parties in the electoral process
● Development, role, and effects of interest groups
● Characteristics and roles of PACs
Guiding questions
1. What factors shape public opinion?
2. What is political socialization and how do individual’s beliefs evolve?
3. What are linkage institutions, and why are these important?
4. How does public opinion influence the political process?
5. Examine the influence of demographic factors on political participation and ideology.
6. Assess the various means by which individuals participate in American politics.
7. How do political parties impact the political process?
8. What has led to calls for party reform?
9. How do interest groups affect the political process, and what advantages do they garner for represented sectors?
10. What are the ideological stances of the major parties, and how have these changed throughout American history?
What roles have minor parties played in politics?
11. What are PACs, and how do they affect the political process?
Vocabulary
1. coalition
2. critical election
3. demographics/demography
4. divided government
5. electioneering
6. exit poll
7. free-rider problem
8. gender gap
9. interest group
10. litigation
11. lobbying
12. minority majority
13. party dealignment (party
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
neutrality) vs. party
realignment
party eras
party identification
party platform
political action committee
(PAC)
political culture
political efficacy
political ideology
political participation
political party
political socialization
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
public interest lobbies
public opinion
random sampling
rational-choice theory
responsible party model
sampling error
single-issue groups
ticket splitting (split-ticket
voting)
32. winner-take-all system vs.
proportional
representation
Readings from textbook Chapters 6, 8, and 10
9/21 – pages 180-189
9/23 – pages 189-199
9/24 – pages 199-209
9/25 – pages 244-256
9/28 – pages 256-268
9/29 – pages 312-322
9/30 – pages 322-335
10/1 – no assigned reading/Study!
10/1-10/6 - Party platform project (test grade)
10/3 – Vocabulary quiz; no assigned reading
10/5 – no assigned reading/Study!
10/6 – no assigned reading/Study!
10/7 – Tentative test date