Political Beliefs Unit Test

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Florida International University *

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Political Science

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Apr 3, 2024

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History | U.S. Government & Politics | Unit Test | Political Beliefs and Behaviors Name: Date: Unit Test Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10 points) 1. Describe how voting changed in America from the early days to the present. Answer: Over time, voting in America has seen substantial change. When this country was first founded, voting was restricted to only white men. The 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which addressed racial discrimination in the middle of the 20th century, marked significant turning points in the movement toward inclusivity. The democratic process is still being shaped by ongoing efforts, such as discussions about voter accessibility and challenges to voting rights, which show a dynamic shift toward a democracy that is more inclusive and representative. Score (10 points) 1. How do demographic factors affect the way people in the United States view political questions? List three factors, and give examples of opinions they might affect. Answer: Demographic factors contribute to diverse political perspectives, reflecting the varied interests and priorities of individuals based on age, education, and geographic location. Three examples of this would be age, location, and economic stability. Age plays a role in that older people may tend toward conservative attitudes and prioritize concerns like social security and traditional family values, younger people may be more supportive of progressive social policies like LGBTQ+ rights or environmental sustainability. Locational influence involves, for example, urban residents who might advocate for policies addressing issues like public transportation, affordable housing, and diversity, versus individuals in rural areas who may prioritize agricultural policies, gun rights, and local community values. Economic factors are hugely influential as the rich tend to care more about taxes and investments rather than middle or lower-class people, who focus more on job creation and economic policies that directly impact their immediate financial well-being. Score (10 points) 1. Describe the history of opinion polling in the United States, and give an example of a presidential election in which opinion polling failed. Answer: Although opinion polling has been in the United States since the early 1900s, its popularity increased towards the middle of the century when scientific polling techniques were developed. With the ability to gauge public opinion and shape campaign tactics, polling has become an increasingly important tool in politics over time. This, however, does not mean opinion polling is never incorrect. An example of opinion polling failure occurred in the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Many pre-election surveys indicated that Clinton had a better chance of winning, which raised expectations that she would win the presidency. On election day, though, Trump prevailed in several crucial battleground states, earning him an electoral college victory. Score (5 points) 1. What are the three most important things to notice about an opinion poll? Answer: When evaluating an opinion poll, three critical considerations are methodology, correct representation, and understanding that an opinion poll is not definite. Making credible methodology should include an examination of the polling techniques employed, such as the data collection method, the phrasing of the questions, and the survey's scheduling. Representation verifies that the sample is representative of the larger population by being randomly picked and diversified. It is also important to recognize the margin of error, which indicates any possible
History | U.S. Government & Politics | Unit Test | Political Beliefs and Behaviors variation in the outcome. There is always potential variability in the results. A lower margin of error and a higher confidence level contribute to increased poll accuracy, collectively guiding a more informed interpretation of public opinion. Score Your Score ___ of 35
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