Political Science: Agents of Political Socialization, Political Ideology, Public Opinion, Electoral College, Campaigns, Direct Democracy

This article discusses the primary and secondary agents of political socialization, political ideology, public opinion, electoral college, political campaigns, and direct democracy. It also explains the problems surrounding public opinion polls and the importance of citizens' participation in the political process.

Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICAL SCIENCE
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Identify and explain three primary agents of political socialization, and explain their
importance. Next, identify and explain three secondary agents of political socialization. Do
you think a person’s political opinion can change over time? Explain. [MO3.1]
Family, Media and Peers are mainly the three primary agents of the concept of political
socialization (Greenberg, 2017). The three secondary causes are Education, Religion and Faith.
Yes, it is possible for a person’s political opinion and ideas to change. It is often seen that the
people often change their previous political opinions due to various causes including the present
situation that is going on, influence from the peers and the friends and the development of one’s
ideology with time. These are the various reasons because of which the political opinions change
over time. The primary change in the ideology is mainly based on whether the person is right
wing or left wing, whether the person is nationalist or leftist and what is the final political verdict
of that person on various issues. Political socialization as already discussed are having influence
from various factors and agents.
Define political ideology and briefly define the following terms: libertarian, classical
liberal, modern liberal, traditional conservative, modern conservative, socialism,
communism, and fascism. [MO3.1]
Libertarian is an individual who trusts in the ideology of libertarianism or freedom
freewill. This is the ultimate expression of free will of the individuals. In classical liberalism the
theorists believe that the civil liberties should be maintained under rule of law but ensuring
economic freedom. Modern liberalism however prefers a mixed economy and the concept of
social justice The traditional conservatism is also often known as the classical conservatism
highlighting the need for the ideologies of a superior moral order, displayed through certain

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natural laws to which the society must conform. Modern conservatism is an upgraded version of
the older conservatism and is more liberal in nature. Socialism is the idea of the society greater
than individual. Communism is the philosophy propounded by Karl Marx about the rule of the
Proletariat through revolution. Fascism is the rule of dictatorship.
Several factors play a role in a person’s interest and participation in government. List and
explain three of these factors and how they contribute to/detract from participation. Why is
it important for citizens to participate in the political process? [MO3.1, MO3.2]
The three factors that play important role in a person’s participation in the government are social
environment, political environment and the benefits of such participation. It is important for the
people to participate in the government because otherwise power will be concentrated in the
hands of a few people that will destroy the democratic nature.
Describe some of the problems surrounding public opinion polls. How does public opinion
influence public policy? [MO3.2]
Rather than truly concentrating on individuals' opinions, polls center around the activity
of casting a ballot in a setting that is a false theoretical — if the "poll were being held today,"
when it isn't. Pollsters do that, it is assumed, in light of the fact that they accept ought to
anticipate how the decision will turn out, as opposed to giving a reasonable photo of the
reasoning of the U.S. people. The opinion polls often do not match the ground reality because
voters often give varied expressions those are actually different from what they have actually
done with the ballot boxes. This is the reason that there are many problems surrounding the
opinion polls held by different reputed organizations. They often radically differ from what
actually takes place on the ground in reality.

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Explain the electoral college. Can an election in the electoral college differ from the
population’s election? [MO3.4]
The Electoral College is the gathering and the collective of the voters and the electors
who ultimately decides on the electoral results that comes out of the voting process. The directly
cast votes are used to decide on the winning party which is then of the responsibility to
electorally vote the candidate into the position of the President
The Electoral College has a number of 538 voters (Bugh, 2016). Among these 538 voters
the number of votes required to elect the President is 270. It is well taken care of that the
President is chosen after absolute majority and there is no election of the President is made
without majority to avoid any authoritarian crisis.
Describe today’s political campaigns. Include the shadow campaign, primary campaigns,
and general election campaigns. [MO3.3]
Shadow Campaigns is The Shift in Presidential Campaign Funding to Outside
Groups.But this cycle, shadow campaigns appear to be more shameless than any other time in
recent memory about transmitting their associations with hopefuls, and enormous givers are
compensating those gatherings that have close ties. A primary race is the procedure by which
voters, either the overall population (open primary) or individuals from a political gathering (shut
primary), can demonstrate their inclination for a hopeful in an up and coming general race or by-
decision, in this way narrowing the field of applicants.
During the 1800s various political parties in the United States rose, evolved, and died.
Today the two major parties reflect differing ideologies. Summarize the ideology each

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party promotes and the segments of society and the economy that each attracts. [MO3.3,
MO3.4]
The two political campaigns present in USA are the democrats and the republicans the
liberal and the conservative political factions respectively.
Discuss the various elements in the election process from announcing candidacy to election.
[MO3.4]
Each segment of the electoral framework has a crucial job and can be utilized to change
its outcomes. A straightforward however viable portrayal of the electoral framework must think
about the entire procedure, beginning from the inclinations communicated by the voters to the
foundation of an administration. The accompanying four eliminates can be pointed: defining the
electoral standards; selection of candidates; the vote; the interpretation of votes into seats; and
the final administration development.
Money is a crucial component of any presidential campaign. Where do campaign funds
come from? [MO3.4]
As indicated by the Federal Election Commission and reports from the competitors and
media, the cash originates from an assortment of sources including extensive sponsors, small
contributors and authoritative donations. The smaller amounts contributed by the various entities
go a long way in deciding on the final total contribution made for the party, however the Super
PAC, the political action committees are instrumental in providing the party with required funds.
An arrival of information by the Federal Election Commission demonstrated that 48.9% of
money go toward media ads, with regulatory costs positioning in the second place at 24.6%

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Discuss the importance of direct democracy. List some examples of this process. [MO3.3]
Direct democracy, additionally called pure democracy, sorts of direct sustenance of
natives in fair intricate management, rather than indirect or delegate democracy, in opinion of the
sway of the overall populace. This can happen as a get together democracy or by activity and
choice with poll casting a ballot, with direct casting a ballot on subjects relative to aspirants or
the group. Now and again the term is equally used for selecting agents in a direct vote instead of
indirect decisions, by polling in approval of a selecting body, constituent school, and so on, and
in calculation for appraising picked office holders. Direct democracy might be realized as a
complete organization of the political organizations, however in current occasions, it suggests
frequently specific elementary leadership establishments in the more widespread context
condition of democracy.

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Reference:
Bugh, G. (Ed.). (2016). Electoral College Reform: Challenges and Possibilities. Routledge.
Greenberg, E. (Ed.). (2017). Political socialization. Routledge.