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Political culture itself is the underlying beliefs, assumptions, attitudes and patterns of behavior people have toward government and politics. A person’s beliefs about government are shaped by the cross section of demographics, political culture, and dynamic social change.
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A person’s ideology impacts their position on issues. Where there is more than one side to an issue, people tend to take sides, falling into one or more political schools of thought: liberalism and conservatism
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Political parties are organized groups of people with similar political views that seek political power by helping get their candidates for government office elected so that the party’s positions and philosophy becomes government policy. Due to social, economic and political divisions, the United States developed a two-party system that discourages third parties
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One of the easiest ways for citizens to impact their government is through the right to vote. Voting is the most common form of political participation among the electorate who vote every 2-4 years. However, turnout in elections often depends on who was eligible to vote.
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Strength in numbers. While one person can make a difference in the political process, think voting, a group of people can make a bigger difference. These interest groups are organizations dedicated to advancing specific interests through the political process.
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Becoming president of the United States is a very complex process and much more involved than any other election. With many more regulations and rules, a presidential candidate must first secure their party’s nomination away from fellow party competitors, then win a majority of the electoral votes against their rival. Congressional elections aren’t as difficult, but still tough
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Running for public office is mostly a contest of “survival of the fittest” as campaigns challenge candidates to not only raise a fortune to compete against their challengers, but also remain electable in the public eye for a long-extended period. In this contest, only the strong and rich survive!
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While not perfect, polling has become the most reliable way to determine public opinion. Determining what is public opinion on any given topic is extremely valuable to those seeking knowledge on which way the “wind is blowing”. Being able to measure and then evaluate public opinion data is key understanding the political culture of an area
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“There is nothing so fretting and vexatious, nothing so justly terrible to tyrants, and their tools and abettors, as a free press.” – Samuel Adams. “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” – Thomas Jefferson. Both these quotes from our founding fathers lay at the heart of the importance of media, whether that be in print, over the airways, or over the Internet. A free press is essential to a free society
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