Civic Duty
a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs
Political Culture
A set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens and that influences political opinions and behaviors
Political Ideology
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
Political Socialization
process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize)
Liberal
a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Generational Effect
a long-lasting effect of the events of a particular time on the political opinions of those who came of political age at that time
Random Sample
a sample in which everyone has an equal chance of being selected
Opinion Leader
person within a reference group who, because of special skills, knowledge, personality, or other characteristics, exerts social influence on others
Recall
the act of removing an official by petition, referendum, or special election
Tyranny of the Majority
The tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights and liberties of minorities.
Registered Voters
People who are registered to vote. Only those who have registered may vote on election day.
15th Amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude.
Grandfather Clause
A device used by southern states to disenfranchise African Americans. It restricted voting to those whose grandfathers had voted before 1867.
Motor Voter Law
An unfunded mandate requiring states to provide voter registration materials when people receive or renew their driver's license.
Culture War
A split in the United States reflecting differences in people's beliefs about private and public morality, and regarding what standards ought to govern individual behavior and social arrangements.
Work Ethic
A belief in the importance of hard work and personal achievement.
Political Subculture
Groups of citizens organized by race, religion, etc. that share assumptions on how the political system should work.
Communism
A political system characterized by a centrally planned economy with all economic and political power resting in the hands of the central government
Libertarianism
An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of gov't regulation in moral, economic, and social life.
Inalienable Rights
Found in the Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Issue Framing
The way that politicians or interest group leaders define an issue when presenting it to others... in an attempt to shape public opinion.
Peer Group
A social group whose members have interests, social position, and age in common.
Referendum
The political process in which the citizens vote on an issue of public concern.
Activist
A person who works for change
Conventional Participation
Political actions that are deemed appropriate by most; includes voting, donating to a campaign, writing letters to officeholders, etc.
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
Literacy Test
A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Federal law that increased government supervision of local election practices, suspended the use of literacy tests to prevent people (usually African Americans) from voting, and expanded government efforts to register voters.
External Efficacy
The belief that one is effective when participating in politics, for example that the government will respond to one's demands.
Internal Efficacy
The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics.
Political Efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference.
Conservatism
A political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and organized religion
Gender Gap
Difference in political views between men and women
Self-Interest Principle
The view that voters are motivated mainly by desire for personal gain.
Orthodox vs. Progressive
The battle over values & differences in public & private morality in America... The Orthodox value morality over personal freedoms and Progressives value freedoms & problem-solving over morality.
Initiative
Political process that permits voters to put proposed laws or constitutional (state, not federal) amendments directly on the ballot
Suffrage/Franchise
The right to vote
Supportive behavior
An action that expresses allegiance to country and government. (Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing National Anthem, etc.)
Influencing behavior
An action used by citizens to modify or reverse government policy
Unconventional participation
Political actions that are viewed with skepticism by most; includes demonstrating, boycotting, etc.
19th Amendment
Established that no citizen can be denied the right to vote on account of sex. Granted women the ability to vote.
White Primary
The practice of keeping blacks from voting in the southern states' primaries by excluding them from the Democratic Party. Because the "solid south" was essentially a one-party system, it denied them a voice in the only meaningful election.
Civic Duty
a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs
Political Culture
A set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens and that influences political opinions and behaviors
Political Ideology
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
Political Socialization
process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize)
Liberal
a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Generational Effect
a long-lasting effect of the events of a particular time on the political opinions of those who came of political age at that time
Random Sample
a sample in which everyone has an equal chance of being selected
Opinion Leader
person within a reference group who, because of special skills, knowledge, personality, or other characteristics, exerts social influence on others
Recall
the act of removing an official by petition, referendum, or special election
Tyranny of the Majority
The tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights and liberties of minorities.
Registered Voters
People who are registered to vote. Only those who have registered may vote on election day.
15th Amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude.
Grandfather Clause
A device used by southern states to disenfranchise African Americans. It restricted voting to those whose grandfathers had voted before 1867.
Motor Voter Law
An unfunded mandate requiring states to provide voter registration materials when people receive or renew their driver's license.
Culture War
A split in the United States reflecting differences in people's beliefs about private and public morality, and regarding what standards ought to govern individual behavior and social arrangements.
Work Ethic
A belief in the importance of hard work and personal achievement.
Political Subculture
Groups of citizens organized by race, religion, etc. that share assumptions on how the political system should work.
Communism
A political system characterized by a centrally planned economy with all economic and political power resting in the hands of the central government
Libertarianism
An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of gov't regulation in moral, economic, and social life.
Inalienable Rights
Found in the Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Issue Framing
The way that politicians or interest group leaders define an issue when presenting it to others... in an attempt to shape public opinion.
Peer Group
A social group whose members have interests, social position, and age in common.
Referendum
The political process in which the citizens vote on an issue of public concern.
Activist
A person who works for change
Conventional Participation
Political actions that are deemed appropriate by most; includes voting, donating to a campaign, writing letters to officeholders, etc.
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
Literacy Test
A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Federal law that increased government supervision of local election practices, suspended the use of literacy tests to prevent people (usually African Americans) from voting, and expanded government efforts to register voters.
External Efficacy
The belief that one is effective when participating in politics, for example that the government will respond to one's demands.
Internal Efficacy
The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics.
Political Efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference.
Conservatism
A political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and organized religion
Gender Gap
Difference in political views between men and women
Self-Interest Principle
The view that voters are motivated mainly by desire for personal gain.
Orthodox vs. Progressive
The battle over values & differences in public & private morality in America... The Orthodox value morality over personal freedoms and Progressives value freedoms & problem-solving over morality.
Initiative
Political process that permits voters to put proposed laws or constitutional (state, not federal) amendments directly on the ballot
Suffrage/Franchise
The right to vote
Supportive behavior
An action that expresses allegiance to country and government. (Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing National Anthem, etc.)
Influencing behavior
An action used by citizens to modify or reverse government policy
Unconventional participation
Political actions that are viewed with skepticism by most; includes demonstrating, boycotting, etc.
19th Amendment
Established that no citizen can be denied the right to vote on account of sex. Granted women the ability to vote.
White Primary
The practice of keeping blacks from voting in the southern states' primaries by excluding them from the Democratic Party. Because the "solid south" was essentially a one-party system, it denied them a voice in the only meaningful election.