Unit 2 Political Beliefs & Behaviors

Essential Questions


1.       How are political beliefs formed?
2.       How do political beliefs evolve?
3.       Know the process by which political beliefs are transmitted.
4.       Know why US citizens hold certain beliefs about politics?
5.       How do families, schools, and the media act to perpetuate or change political beliefs?
6.       Understand the ways in which political culture affects and informs political participation.
7.       Understand why individuals engage in various forms of political participation and how that participation may 
           affect the political system.
8.       What leads citizens to differ from one another in their political beliefs and behaviors and the political 
           consequences of these differences? (should focus on the demographic features of the American population     
           and the different views that people hold of the political process)
9.       What are the group differences in political beliefs and behavior?
10.     How do changes in political participation affect the political system?
11.     What role is played by party organizations, PACs, and money generally in campaigns?
12.     What roles do the groups listed above play in the electoral process?

Vocabulary

Political socialization
Political ideology
Public opinion
Straw polls
Random sampling
Sample error

Liberal
Radical
Moderate
Gender gap
Conservative reactionary
Saliency
Intensity
Exit polls

Gallup poll
Public agenda
Suffrage
General election
Primary election
Recall
Initiative referendum
Political efficacy

Voter turnout
Coattail effect
Off-year elections
Retrospective voting
Pocket-book voting
Split-ticket voting
Socio economic status

Lecture Videos & Interactives

For this unit, view and take notes from

·         Political Party Eras
·         Third Parties
·         Functions of Parties
·         Factors that lead to Party ID
·         Party Realignment & Dealignment
·         Demographics
·         Intensity

·         Cost of Elections
·         Campaign Finance Reform
·         Incumbency
·         Electoral College
·         Primary, Caucuses, & Conventions
·         General Elections

Political Socialization & Public Opinion info, video & interactives

Political Participation info, video, & interactives

Gallup polls

Pew polls

Activities & Assignments

SOTU Connections with Government PPT
Political Culture  PDF
Political Socialization PPT
Voting & Elections PPT
Mr. Cao Goes to Washington video