Unit 3; Political Ideology and Public Policy

Political Ideology

set of beliefs and ideals that shape how a person or group views the ideal social and political order, and how to achieve it. It encompasses a range of perspectives on issues like government's role, individual liberties, social justice, and economic systems

Conservatives political ideology

• believe in a free market with little government regulation of business

• a strong military

• traditional values like school prayer

• individual responsibility

• government should take action in certain areas like abortion and gay marriage

• oppose expensive federal programs such as welfare, a national health care system and affirmative action

• often call for limited government.

males, southerners, evangelicals and people who live in rural areas tend to be more

politically conservative

Liberals Political Ideology

• believe that government should regulate the economy and business

• often call for increased spending for social programs for the poor, (welfare), minorities, (Affirmative Action), and women (equal pay act)

• generally support some form of a national health care system, abortion rights and marriage equality

• oppose increasing military spending and school prayer, which they see as a violation of the separation of church and state.  

Minorities tend to be more ____________, as do women, Jews, Catholics, and people who live on the east coast or in large urban areas

politically liberal

Moderates Political Ideology

• least philosophical of the three groups, in that they see themselves less as ideologues and more as pragmatists

• less consistent ideology

• many moderates are fiscally conservative and support a strong military but are more socially liberal, supporting abortion rights, marriage equality and social programs to aid the poor

important facts about ideology

• can change over time

• Generally Americans have shown a willingness to vote outside of their political beliefs

Political Identity

your political ideology may lead you to identify with a particular party

why is political ideology important

• influences the public policies you support, which in turn influences the support you give to those in government who you feel will best carry out those policies (influences who you vote for which influences what gets done)

often a reflection of who is in power, and since who is in power is a reflection of who participated by voting and other political activities, the American people, through elections, can impact _______. The policies of our government at any given time are a reflection of the attitudes and beliefs of those citizens who chose to participate in the political process.

Political policy