Unit 2 essential questions
1. How are political beliefs formed?
Political beliefs are shaped through the theory of political socialization, when individuals become aware of politics. There are many factors that hinders one's view of political beliefs, the most effective one being family. Since an individual is surrounded by family for most of their childhood, their parents' ideologies can easily influence a child's view. Political socialization methods also include school, the community, peers, mass media, and religious affiliations.
2. How do political beliefs evolve?
The average age when kids start to actually comprehend politics is around age 12, so their beliefs can evolve based on the environment that they're surrounded in. As individuals mature, they develop more personal opinions. Education is the greatest single factor that increases awareness and understanding of political issues, so as people gain more knowledge, their beliefs can change.
3. Know the process by which political beliefs are transmitted.
Again, political beliefs are transmitted through the process of political socialization. Methods of transmittance can be through social media, mass media, peers, the community, groups, and most importantly, family.
4. Know why US citizens hold certain beliefs about politics?
Beliefs are based on how they effect an individual. People form opinions and beliefs on certain ideals that would benefit them. Different races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic statuses can contribute to the reasons why many people having varying beliefs about politics.
5. How do families, schools, and the media act to perpetuate or change political beliefs?
Family has a huge impact on individuals regarding politics because children usually follow in their parents' footsteps and agree on the same stances regarding political parties because it's just what they've been surrounded with growing up. Schools can change political beliefs because as children grow up, they learn about other ideologies and parties and gain more knowledge about ideals of government and such, so that can hinder ones view. Media nowadays plays a huge role in campaigns and government due to the advanced technology, but it can perpetuate political beliefs by the way they portray something. People can easily be convinced by something they see on the news or an advertisement.
6. Understand the ways in which political culture affects and informs political participation.
Political culture is the attitude that shapes political behavior, so the more political culture there is, the more participation. How strongly one feels about a political party will decipher how involved they will be and whether or not if they would put in more effort into more higher initiative political participation.
7. Understand why individuals engage in various forms of political participation and how that participation may
affect the political system.
Individuals get involved and engage in various forms of political participation to voice their opinion, which would make up the public opinion, which helps representatives understand what their constituents would like. There's conventional participation which is the dominant form and what people are used to, compared to nonconventional participation which consists of riots and such. But overall, political participation leads to public opinion, which helps express an individuals voice in government.
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)
Education is the greatest single factor that attributes to one's political beliefs, the more educated an individual is, the more liberal they tend to be. Socioeconomic differences also plays a huge part as to why views differ. A wealthy individual tends to be more conservative while a lower-class family would tend to be more liberal because they need more government assistance. Gender also contributes to the a differences; women tend to be more liberal while men are more conservative. There are a lot of "stereotypes" that what age/gender/race people usually are. Like a young, african american woman would lean democratic while an old, white male would be more republican.
9. What are the group differences in political beliefs and behavior?
Like stated above, education, demographics, religion, socioeconomic status, political efficacy, and age are huge factors in voter turnout. This relates a lot to number 8 because like i said earlier, different "groups" such as women, tend to vote more democratic because they believe in more equality rather than men, who tend to be more conservative. Another example is that miniorites also tend to lean liberal because they believe in equality and most people need government aid, while conservatives support ideals of wealthier individuals.
10. How do changes in political participation affect the political system?
It can affect voter turnout, which wouldn't make for a very accurate poll if not that many people vote. If there is low participation, it's hard to decipher what the public opinion really is. Like in the video Mr. Cao goes to Washington, weather was a factor that can help make or break a campaign, so if people don't participate for certain reasons, the poll would inaccurately reflect the results. Political participation has decreased in the recent years, so one way that they are trying to fix this problem is providing solutions to peoples excuses as to why they can't vote. For example, some complain that it's "too complicated" to get registered. Well, a solution is that is the motor voter laws, so all they have to do check a box. Some say they don't have the transportation to get to a polling station. Well, some places offer shuttles to provide the transportation.
11. What role is played by party organizations, PACs, and money generally in campaigns?
Party organizations and PACs generate and manage the money in a campaign. They work toward campaigning, getting the candidate's name recognized, and endorsing what the candidate believes in. In elections, "hard money" refers to direct contributions (there's a limit on donations) while "soft money" refers to donations to buy equipment, remodeling, and staffing.
12. What roles do the groups listed above play in the electoral process?
Their job is to publicize for the candidate they're representing and gaining as many votes as possible. The more money the group has, the more they have to offer. Money plays a huge role in campaigning. They help advertise and appeal to public opinion to lure in voters.
Political beliefs are shaped through the theory of political socialization, when individuals become aware of politics. There are many factors that hinders one's view of political beliefs, the most effective one being family. Since an individual is surrounded by family for most of their childhood, their parents' ideologies can easily influence a child's view. Political socialization methods also include school, the community, peers, mass media, and religious affiliations.
2. How do political beliefs evolve?
The average age when kids start to actually comprehend politics is around age 12, so their beliefs can evolve based on the environment that they're surrounded in. As individuals mature, they develop more personal opinions. Education is the greatest single factor that increases awareness and understanding of political issues, so as people gain more knowledge, their beliefs can change.
3. Know the process by which political beliefs are transmitted.
Again, political beliefs are transmitted through the process of political socialization. Methods of transmittance can be through social media, mass media, peers, the community, groups, and most importantly, family.
4. Know why US citizens hold certain beliefs about politics?
Beliefs are based on how they effect an individual. People form opinions and beliefs on certain ideals that would benefit them. Different races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic statuses can contribute to the reasons why many people having varying beliefs about politics.
5. How do families, schools, and the media act to perpetuate or change political beliefs?
Family has a huge impact on individuals regarding politics because children usually follow in their parents' footsteps and agree on the same stances regarding political parties because it's just what they've been surrounded with growing up. Schools can change political beliefs because as children grow up, they learn about other ideologies and parties and gain more knowledge about ideals of government and such, so that can hinder ones view. Media nowadays plays a huge role in campaigns and government due to the advanced technology, but it can perpetuate political beliefs by the way they portray something. People can easily be convinced by something they see on the news or an advertisement.
6. Understand the ways in which political culture affects and informs political participation.
Political culture is the attitude that shapes political behavior, so the more political culture there is, the more participation. How strongly one feels about a political party will decipher how involved they will be and whether or not if they would put in more effort into more higher initiative political participation.
7. Understand why individuals engage in various forms of political participation and how that participation may
affect the political system.
Individuals get involved and engage in various forms of political participation to voice their opinion, which would make up the public opinion, which helps representatives understand what their constituents would like. There's conventional participation which is the dominant form and what people are used to, compared to nonconventional participation which consists of riots and such. But overall, political participation leads to public opinion, which helps express an individuals voice in government.
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)
Education is the greatest single factor that attributes to one's political beliefs, the more educated an individual is, the more liberal they tend to be. Socioeconomic differences also plays a huge part as to why views differ. A wealthy individual tends to be more conservative while a lower-class family would tend to be more liberal because they need more government assistance. Gender also contributes to the a differences; women tend to be more liberal while men are more conservative. There are a lot of "stereotypes" that what age/gender/race people usually are. Like a young, african american woman would lean democratic while an old, white male would be more republican.
9. What are the group differences in political beliefs and behavior?
Like stated above, education, demographics, religion, socioeconomic status, political efficacy, and age are huge factors in voter turnout. This relates a lot to number 8 because like i said earlier, different "groups" such as women, tend to vote more democratic because they believe in more equality rather than men, who tend to be more conservative. Another example is that miniorites also tend to lean liberal because they believe in equality and most people need government aid, while conservatives support ideals of wealthier individuals.
10. How do changes in political participation affect the political system?
It can affect voter turnout, which wouldn't make for a very accurate poll if not that many people vote. If there is low participation, it's hard to decipher what the public opinion really is. Like in the video Mr. Cao goes to Washington, weather was a factor that can help make or break a campaign, so if people don't participate for certain reasons, the poll would inaccurately reflect the results. Political participation has decreased in the recent years, so one way that they are trying to fix this problem is providing solutions to peoples excuses as to why they can't vote. For example, some complain that it's "too complicated" to get registered. Well, a solution is that is the motor voter laws, so all they have to do check a box. Some say they don't have the transportation to get to a polling station. Well, some places offer shuttles to provide the transportation.
11. What role is played by party organizations, PACs, and money generally in campaigns?
Party organizations and PACs generate and manage the money in a campaign. They work toward campaigning, getting the candidate's name recognized, and endorsing what the candidate believes in. In elections, "hard money" refers to direct contributions (there's a limit on donations) while "soft money" refers to donations to buy equipment, remodeling, and staffing.
12. What roles do the groups listed above play in the electoral process?
Their job is to publicize for the candidate they're representing and gaining as many votes as possible. The more money the group has, the more they have to offer. Money plays a huge role in campaigning. They help advertise and appeal to public opinion to lure in voters.