Unit 4 - Chapter 6

Term used to describe the United States, with its history of immigration and mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples.

Immigrants were mainly northwestern Europeans (English, Irish, Germans, and Scandinavians).

Many immigrants were southern and eastern Europeans (Italians, Jews, Poles, Russians, and others).

Immigrants have been dominated by Latinos, particularly from Cuba, Central America, and Mexico, and Asians from Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines, and elsewhere.

Situation in which non-Hispanic whites represent a minority of the U.S. population and minority groups together represent a majority.

An overall set of values widely shared within the society.

Process through which an individual acquires political attitudes, views, and knowledge from sources such as family, media, and school.

"Actual enumeration" of the population conducted every 10 years to understand demographic changes and allocate federal funding.

The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the Census.

In-class learning about politics

Mostly accidental socialization about politics

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common means of political participation in a democracy is voting; other means include contacting public officials, protest, and civil disobedience.

Includes many widely accepted modes of influencing government voting, trying to persuade others, ringing doorbells for a petition, running for office

Includes activities that are often dramatic, such as protesting, civil disobedience, and even violence

A form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics.

A form of political participation based on a conscious decision to break a law believed to be unjust and to suffer the consequences.

A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen to represent the whole.

Technique used in opinion polls where everyone has an equal probability of being selected as part of the sample, ensuring accuracy.

The level of confidence

Public opinion survey used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision.

A technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey.

Coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose that helps give meaning to

Supports a wide scope for the central government, often involving policies that aim to promote equality.

• Democratic Party

Supports a less active scope of the government that gives free rein to the private sector.

• Republican Party