APGOV UNIT IV: Political Beliefs and Behavior
ADD TO CURRENT EVENT FOLDER- Label Unit IV Part I Articles
- Go to StudentNewsDaily.com- read Wednesday’s article on the media and bias and answer the questions.
- Go to StudentNewsDaily.com-read one other article of your choice and answer the questions.
- Watch one-half hour news program and record the program’s name, topics and points discussed, liberal or conservative spin and a 1 paragraph reflection stating your position and thoughts on one or two of the topics presented in the program.
Organizing Principle: The students will understand the influences that shape political socialization and the different political beliefs of demographic groups in the US. Students will recognize the role of the linkage institutions and the role they play in policy-making which will include the impact of the media, political action committees, interest groups, and parties. Students will understand the electoral process and analyze the roles of the media, money, and interest groups in elections and campaigns. Students will demonstrate knowledge on the various ways that citizens can participate in the political process.
KEY: BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE LINKAGE INSTITUIONS THAT CONNECT VOTER INPUT TO POLICY OUTPUT
Part I: Chapters 6, 8, 11 Test
Part II: Chapters: 7, 9, 10 Test
Chapter Six Study Guide
"Public Opinion and Political Action"
1. A) Take the political ideology quiz yourself and identify where you stand on the diamond graph at the end. Print only the diamond graph at the end of the quiz. You can do this quiz online without printing anything except for the diamond. Simply record your answers on a scratch sheet of paper. B) Bring diamond graph and response to class for plotting and discussion.
AP Test will access your knowledge of demographic patterns, how these indicators are likely to effect the likelihood of voting and if the vote will be for a democrat or republican, a liberal or conservative position. Trends are patterns over a long period of time that reflect gradual changes.
The American People (p. 178)- Changes in the US population (as reflected in the US Census) impact our culture and political system in numerous ways. Briefly explain the following:
2.Immigrants- bring own political beliefs.
2A- Explain what is meant by the rise of the minority-majority, 2B- which groups are represented and what are their particular political concerns, 2C-last, which groups are growing in numbers and political influence? WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Politicians are aware that courting the immigrant vote can matter during elections. Democrats have traditionally courted the immigrant vote but the voting population has been represented by the majority. As the minority-majority vote grows in numbers they can tip the scales and create a new political culture.
2D-PREDICT- Are minorities more or less likely to vote if education is not a factor?
2E. (Pg. 182) Read the debate in the yellow box- do you think assimilation or tougher laws are needed regarding illegal immigration- take a position and defend it with 3 or more justifications.
3. Moving and Aging Population- demographic changes result in political changes.
3A. Explain the regional shift in the US over the past 60 years- how does this change effect politics? (p. 183)
3B. What is the fastest-growing age group in America and what policy is most important to this age group- how does this factor effect politics?
3C- PREDICT- is one older in age more or less likely to vote?
4 II. How Americans Learn about Politics (p. 184) -must know that individuals acquire their political orientation through formal and informal means.
4A- What is political socialization?
4B- Briefly explain each influence and identify which has the most impact on a young person’s political orientation. Circle the letter of the factor that has most influenced your political opinions.
a. family
b. mass media
c. school
d. aging (p. 188)
Your political ideology stems from your political socialization. Together, our opinions form public opinion.
5. III. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information (p. 189)- before we examine public opinion you need to know the science behind the measurement of public opinion- please read to know howpublic polling works then answer these questions. Politicians use polls to measure public opinion on a broad range of issues. Some see polling as a means for politicians to pander to the polls and jump on the bandwagon, others see polls as a useful tool to judge political temperaments.
5A. What is a political sample and why do polls rely upon a sample of the population? 5B-How many are needed in a sample to accurately reflect the universe of voters? 5C-If polling involves scientific estimation- how is the level of confidence in a poll measured?
5D. Accurate polling techniques, not the number of responses, is the most important aspect of public opinion survey. Which method is used most often today- describe?
5E. (p. 191) KEY: What reasons do supporters of polling give to support their claim that polling is a tool for democracy? 5F-KEY- What reasons do opponents give to support the claim that polling has a negative impact on politicians and democracy?
5G. Many types of polls exist and some critics claim these skew the political process. Explain the problems associated with exit polls 5H- and skewed questions?
5I. (p. 192) Polling sounds scientific but being an informed voter means in addition to polls you should also consider what…?
5J. KEY Deeper understanding question- After reading the section on what polls reveal about Americans political information describe what Russell Neuman meant by the “paradox of mass politics”
5K. Identify a few reasons that explain Americas decline in trust in government since the last 50 years and identify the largest impact of that declining trust according to Mark Hetherington. Ask a parent if needed to identify an example of America’s disgust with “Big Government” solutions.
6. IV. Political Ideologies (p. 196)-
a. Use the ideology quiz handout to define and provide examples of the labels conservative, liberal, libertarian, authoritarian, moderate, and centrist. After studying would you be able to identify conservative issues, or liberal issues? A centrist position or a libertarian position? Have study guide question 1 completed. (NOTHING TO COMPLETE- JUST STUDY)
b. AP Test requires knowledge of how demographic factors impact the likelihood that someone will vote and how they are likely to vote- in class discussion. Must know: race, class, gender, occupation, level of education, regional and religious voting patterns. (STUDY, NOTHING TO COMPLETE)
7. V. How Americans Participate in Politics (p.200)- Americans have many avenues of political participation open to them:
7A. identify the various means of conventional vs. unconventional means of participation by creating a T- Chart. SUGGEST- providing an example from the book for each term identified. Ex. Civil disobedience- Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes to support the Mexican-American War (THIS WAS AN FRQ QUESTION ONE YEAR SO BE PREPARED)
7B. Voting is one of the primary conventional means of political participation – read the excerpt below from FairVote.org about voter turnout in the US. They go on to explain why people do not vote and how to increase voter turnout.
For your studies describe the following terms:
7C- Ballot fatigue-
7D- Registration requirements to vote-
7E- famous laws to help increase voter turnout-
FAIRVOTE.ORG-Voter turnout in the United States fluctuates in national elections, but has never risen to levels of most other well-established democracies. In countries withcompulsory voting, like Australia, Belgium, and Chile, voter turnout hovered near 90% in the 2000s. Other countries, like Austria, Sweden, and Italy, experienced turnout rates near 80%. Overall, OECD countries experience turnout rates of about 70%, while in the U.S., about 60% of the voting eligible population votes during presidential election years, and about 40% votes during midterm elections.
Sources - 1948-1998:McDonald and Popkin, The Myth of the Vanishing Voter (2001), 2000-2012:McDonald, United States Elections Project.
8. VI. Political Attitudes about Scope of Government (p. 206)- Interview someone from the Reagan era about their opinion to this statement and record their answer: Ronald Reagan once said government was not the solution to society’s problems- it was the problem. 8A- Do you agree with his assessment about an obtrusive “big government”- why or why not?
8B- Last thought- Your question: if it is the public’s task in a democracy to decide NOT WHAT the government WILL do but WHO shall decide WHAT government will do- what do you believe is your responsibility as a citizen in this process we call democracy?
Chapter Eight Study Guide
Linkage Institution: Political parties help voters and impacts not only how we are governed but also impacts what government does. This impact is felt by the parties expansion or contraction of the scope of government, and policies that are passed and implemented. Which party controls the presidency or Congress makes a big difference in the outcome of policies and direction of government. Political parties try to channel personal ideologies and public opinion into favorable policy through the party machine.
Objective #1: Discuss the meaning and functions of a political party.
A.) What is the fundamental (or core function) of political parties and how does this differ from interest groups?
B.) Explain the three heads of the political party as a “three-headed political giant.” Know the chart we will create in class.
C.) How do linkage institutions operate?
D.) Deeper understanding question- Explain the two components of Anthony Downs’ rational-choice model of political parties. Next- Thus, in order to win what must parties do? The long history of American parties has shown what about party behavior? MUST KNOW RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY.
E) From lecture- what is party moderation (or the Big Tent theory)?
Objective #2: Discuss the nature of the party-in-the-electorate, party organizations, and the party-in-government.
A.) AP Test requires knowledge of trends (long-term patterns). What has been the two most prominent trends in party identification in recent years? (p. 247)
B.) What is meant by “ticket-splitting” and what is the potential political results of ticket-splitting?
C.) In the past, party practices allowed for strong and powerful parties to influence government. What is meant by a “party machine” and patronage?- how do they operate? Provide a famous example? Why did urban party organizations weaken and loose power- explain the Civil Service Act (AKA Pendleton Act).
D.) Complicating the party system is the nature of its division into national, state and local party organization. At the state party organizational level, all 50 states have varied and unique characteristics. Since states have wide discretion over party activities how they choose to organize elections may differ from state to state. Thus the need to know: What is the difference between the following types of party primaries- simply define
A. closed primaries:
B. open primaries:
C. blanket primaries:
E.) Which party controls the many elected positions matter because both parties and elected officials try to turn campaign promises into public policies and action. According to Gerald Pomper (p.252) What is the general relationship between party promises and party performance? If this is true- what is the value of party platforms? Define- what is a party platform?
Objective #3: Describe the party eras in American history and how parties realign.
A.) List two classic examples from the textbook considered “critical” or realigning” and explain why.
B.) Study and know America’s major 2 party eras. View- political party rap song.
Party Era / Major Party / Coalition / Minor Party / Coalition / Prominent PresidentsFederalist vs. Democratic Republicans
1796-1824
First Party System / Federalist (at first) / Wealthy, educated, upper class, commercial interests / Democratic Republicans (major party by 1800) / Agrarian interests, farmers, small gov. supporters / John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Democrats vs. Whigs
1828-1856
Second Party System / Democrats / Agrarian interests / Whigs / Commercial interests / Andrew Jackson
Martin an Buren
W.H. Harrison
And Tyler, Polk
Republicans and Democrats
1860-1928
Third Party System / Republicans / Anti-expansion of slavery, northerners, commercial interests, Af. Am. Vote,higher tariffs / Democrats / Split but maintain agrarian interests, immigrant vote, lower tariffs / Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson
Republicans and Democrats
1932-1964
Fourth Party System / Democrats / New Deal Coalition / Republicans / FDR
Republicans and Democrats
1968-Present
Fifth Party System / Republicans / Democrats / JFK, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama
C) What is divided government and unified government and why does it matter in terms of getting policy passed or facing gridlock. (Review from Congress chapter)
Objective #4: Evaluate the two-party system, its consequences, and the place of third parties in the system.
A.) What are the three basic varieties of third parties? Briefly describe each.
B) What are ways in which third parties can have an impact on American politics despite the fact that a Third Party has never won? (Must know Ralph Nader and Ross Perot) In politics voting for a third party is often described as “throwing away the vote”- why do some adopt this view?
C) What value do third parties bring to the process?
Objective #5: Identify the challenges facing the American political parties, and explain their relationship to American democracy, individualism, and the scope of government.
A.) Deeper understanding question- Since elected officials do not always carry out campaign promises or are unable to carry out their promises some critics have called for a more responsible two- party system. List the FOUR conditions that advocates of the responsible party model believe the parties should meet. Understand this theory!!
Objective #6- finish in-class packet
CHAPTER 11 STUDY GUIDE
"Interest Groups"
The Role and Reputations of Interest Groups
1. (P.323) By making the political system open and accessible to groups an array of interests can be heard in Washington. What do some of the critics say is a problem with this system? Review: from CH. 1 what is the Laswell model? What is elite theory, pluralism theory and hyperpluralism theory?
I. Role of Interest Groups (p.324)-
1A. Interest groups stem from the constitutional right to…?
1B. Describe the differences in goals between an interest group and a political party.
II (p. 326)- Theories of Interest Group Politics
2A. Outline the varying theories of interest group politics:pluralist, elite, and hyperpluralist theory
2b. Key to know: how powerful Iron Triangles are in the policy-making process. Use your textbook data on this section to re-create a triangle and label the triangle with the three parts of subgovernment (aka Iron Triangle).
2C-Next, add data from the tobacco industry subgovernment to provide specifics of the three parts of the triangle at work.
2D-Last, how can iron triangles strengthen the influence of interest groups in getting policy they favor passed?
III. (p. 329) What Makes an Interest Group Successful (FRQ one year)
3A. List the factors that affect the success of an interest group.
3B. Explain collective good and the free rider problem using the AFL and higher minimum wage goals as an example. How does it differ from selective benefits?
3C. Explain howa large potential group may be mobilized by intensity through a Single-issue group- use abortion as an example.
3D. How is the interest group system biased towards money- what is the role of money? What does it buy?
4. (p. 333) Interest Group Explosion- no questions, but know gist
5. (p. 335) How Groups Try to Shape Policy- VERY IMPORTANT SECTION
5A. MUST KNOW VERY WELL: What are the four basic strategies used by interest groups?
5B. Identify the two types of lobbyists. How can lobbyists help members of congress.? How can lobbyists play heavy-handed? .
5C. Because interest groups work best with those already on the same side, getting the right people into office and keeping them there is a key strategy. Identify the role interest groups and PACS play in elections.
5D. Read the yellow box on p. 339- what are PACS and should PACS be eliminated? Take a position and provide three supporting statements to defend your position. Use the internet- in an election year, how much can PACS contribute to candidates?
5E- watch the Super Pacs video on yola under unit 4. What would be the arguments in favor of and opposed to Super Pacs? Use the internet to cite the case and year the Supreme Court approved Super Pacs? Campaign contribution limits?
5F. If interest groups fail to succeed in legislation, they may go to the courts next to get favorable policy- this is called litigation.How do interest groups use the courts, specifically use amicus curie in your response.