Download Political Science Terms and Concepts and more Quizzes Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Politics DEFINITION 1 Process by which we choose government officials and make decisions about public policy (pg. 3) TERM 2 Government DEFINITION 2 The body or bodies charged with making official policies for its citizens formal institutions through which a land/people is ruled TERM 3 Public Policy DEFINITION 3 What gov decides to do or not to do (pg. 379) governmental rules, laws, or expenditures that express the govs goals. TERM 4 Democracy DEFINITION 4 ruled by the people. 1) Direct Democracy citizens participate 2) Representative Democracy vote for people to represent us TERM 5 Monarchy DEFINITION 5 ruled by an inherited leader. 1) Constitutional monarchy Queen is figure head and parliament rules TERM 6 Oligarchy DEFINITION 6 ruled by the few TERM 7 Ideology and Ideologies DEFINITION 7 ideas, values, and beliefs about how gov should operate (pg 7) ordered set of political beliefs TERM 8 Robert Dahls Ideals of Democracy DEFINITION 8 1) Effective Participation 2) Voting Equality 3) Enlightened Understanding 4) Control of the Agenda 5) Inclusion o f Adults TERM 9 Robert Dahls Institutions of Democracy DEFINITION 9 real 1) Elected officials 2) Free, fair, and frequent elections (to keep elected officials accountable) 3) Freedom of Expression 4) Alternative sources of information 5) Associational autonomy 6) Inclusive citizenship TERM 10 Political socialization DEFINITION 10 People adopt attitudes, values, beliefs, and/or opinions of their political culture (pg 129) TERM 21 Political Participation DEFINITION 21 (154-155) Intent of directly/indirectly influencing public policy; broad legal consequences for entire community ------------------ Voting, attending party conventions, campaigning, advocacy, protesting, boycotting, contributing money, contacting elected officials, involvement with political organization, being an elected official, litigation, lobbying TERM 22 Access to Resources DEFINITION 22 unequal distribution of resources; some are in better position to take political action than others (155-156) ex. Time, money, skill ------------------ Family wealth/income, education, religious institutions, workplace, race and gender TERM 23 Political engagement DEFINITION 23 (158) psychological predisposition toward/interest in politics - ---------------------- Political interest; Information; Efficacy; Strength of Party Identification TERM 24 Mobilization (Direct and Indirect) DEFINITION 24 (159) process whereby citizens are alerted to participatory opportunities and encouraged to become involved 1) Direct mobilization candidate/party personally invite you to participate 2) Indirect mobilization networks/friends get you to participate TERM 25 Voting and Turnout DEFINITION 25 (168 or 161 ?) Turnout increases with increases in education, wealth, and/or age. Regionally, east/west coasts have higher turnout; south has lower rates of participation -------------- Factors influencing turnout 1) When you must register to vote 2) When elections are held 3) Number of parties 4) Number and frequency of elections 5) Type of election TERM 26 Voting History in Texas DEFINITION 26 1) Poll taxes (1902-1964) 2) White Primary (1923-1944) 3) Annual Registration (ended 1971) 4) Racial Gerrymandering cracking and packing 5) Democratic party dominance (1874- 1961) TERM 27 Remedies to Increase Participation DEFINITION 27 1) Keep polls open longer 2) Make election day a holiday 3) Same day registration 4) Increase vote-by-mail, early voting; similar opportunities 5) Compulsory voting laws 6) Increase educational opportunities TERM 28 Debate on Photo ID law DEFINITION 28 Definition TERM 29 Redistricting and Debate DEFINITION 29 (269) the practice of drawing congressional district boundaries to accord with population changes; happens every 10 years ---------------- Killers ds in 2003 Tom Delay. In 2006 they upheld the 2003 redistricting (minus district 23 LUAC vs Perry) TERM 30 Interest Groups DEFINITION 30 (177) narrow focus; any formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy TERM 31 Madisons view of Interest groups DEFINITION 31 federalist #10; he worried about FACTIONS; his solution: diffuse their influences and divide public policy TERM 32 Types of Interest Groups DEFINITION 32 1) Economic (business/trade assoc., labor unions, professional) 2) Public interest 3) Environmental 4) Good Government 5) Ideology 6) Religious Interests 7) Civil Rights 8) Single Issue Groups 9) Think Tanks 10) Governmental Units TERM 33 Incentives (Interest Groups) DEFINITION 33 1) Material Incentives AARP 2) Solidarity Incentives Sierra Club 3) Purposive Incentives 4) Informational Incentives NRA TERM 34 Lobbying DEFINITION 34 tactic for influencing public decisions for private purposes, usually employing personal contact with elected officials (178) 1) Testifying before committees 2) Meet legislators individually 3) Assist legislators in drafting bills TERM 35 Political Parties DEFINITION 35 (203) broad focus; organization created for purpose of winning elections
