Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors, Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media
Readings:
Textbook / Wilson: Read pages 114 - 140 (political socialization)
Read pages 172 - 180 & 183 - 188 (political parties)
Read pages 224 - 232 (elections & campaigns)
Read pages 252 - 263 (interest groups and PAC's)
Read pages 276 - 279 & 283 -288 (the media)
Green Study Guide: Read pages 23 -36; Answer questions 1 - 25 on pages 37 - 44
Read pages 47 - 71; Answer questions 1 - 25 on pages 72 - 77
Objectives:
The information on this site was created with a great deal of help from Rebecca Small who conducts a summer AP Government workshop at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. Much of the information was adapted from that workshop.
Textbook / Wilson: Read pages 114 - 140 (political socialization)
Read pages 172 - 180 & 183 - 188 (political parties)
Read pages 224 - 232 (elections & campaigns)
Read pages 252 - 263 (interest groups and PAC's)
Read pages 276 - 279 & 283 -288 (the media)
Green Study Guide: Read pages 23 -36; Answer questions 1 - 25 on pages 37 - 44
Read pages 47 - 71; Answer questions 1 - 25 on pages 72 - 77
Objectives:
- Define political structure.
- What is political socialization? Identify the main agents of socialization in the United States.
- What are the basic beliefs of conservatives and liberals? Are you a conservative or liberal? Why?
- What is an interest group / PAC?
- How do interest groups influence government?
- What is a political party?
- What is a third party? What are some reasons that third parties have not had tremendous success in America?
- What coalitions make up the two main parties?
- Are parties strong today or are they in decline? Why?
- Demonstrate realignment and dealignment through some historical elections.
- Discuss the difference between majority and plurality elections. Who benefits from each, who suffers?
- Discuss the impact of winner take all elections as opposed to proportional representation elections.
- Discuss the difference between a primary, caucus, and convention.
- How has the process of electing presidential candidates changed? Is it more or less democratic? Why?
- How does the Electoral College System work? What are some of the impacts of this system?
- Identify trends in voter turnout.
- Identify which groups tend to vote in which manner.
- Identify demographic groups that tend to vote frequently in a certain manner.
- Why does the media seem to have little effect on political preferences?
- Why is the media sometimes called the gatekeeper, scorekeeper, and watchdog?
- Why do we have homogenization of the news?
- What role does the major media play in political beliefs?
- What institutional and demographic obstacles are their to voter turnout?
- Have campaigns become more candidate centered? Why?
- What are some major groups that associate with each political party?
The information on this site was created with a great deal of help from Rebecca Small who conducts a summer AP Government workshop at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. Much of the information was adapted from that workshop.