unit 4 gov

12th grade ap government

public opinion

- the views of the american people on the issues facing the nation

- often explained by personal interest

- can change as ppl respond to major events in a country

public opinion issues

- inflation

- healthcare

- immigration

- war in ukraine/israel

- gun control

- capital punishment

- abortion rights

- economy

- taxes

straw polls

- unreliable bc not random (needs to represent us demographics)

- respondent may provide opinion multiple times

- sample may only be representative of a certain group

random sampling

- allows everyone to have an equal opportunity to participate in the poll (results will be more valid)

- 1200-1500 people = good

margin of error

- all polls have one

- good poll: ±3 pts

literary digest poll

- had sample bias

- ppl part of poll was drawn from automobile registration lists and telephone directories, which were ppl that favored republicans more than the rest of the population

loaded question

- not neutral wording

- makes you think how they want you to think

random digit dialing

- polls done over phone/text with random numbers contacted

- numbers are contacted until target sample is reached

- random sample representing race, gender, income, and education would be contacted

random digit dialing problems

- can't measure intensity of voter's feelings

- segment of population who doesn't like/trust polls

- accuracy of polls have not improved much in past 10 years

exit polls

- polls asking every 10th voter how they voted when leaving the polling place

- not very accurate bc ppl may think their vote is private

- can help media tell who is likely doing better than expected in an election

horse race journalism

focuses on who is leading in the polls and not the positions of the candidates on issues

political socialization

how individuals learn about politics and develop their political views

influences on political attitude

- parents

- school

- types of media

- race/ethnicity, gender

- region

- age

- income

why wealthy americans are more likely to be conservative

they tend not to want a lot of change and it becomes important to them to protect and grow their assets

religion's impact on politics

they tend to be more conservative because they are less open to new ways of behavior/thinking

evangelicals

- evangelical protestant groups who are very involved in politics

- spread the good news of the gospel

- emphasis on being born again

- major issue: abortion (pro-life), republicans

african americans voting patterns

- identified with republican party "party of lincoln" until roosevelt's new deal

- support affirmative action

- oppose death penalty

- support gun control

- now, overwhelmingly democrats

hispanics voting patterns

- traditionally back democrats

- more conservative on social issues (abortion and gay rights)

- cuban americans: more conservative/republican

- mexican american: democrat

gender gap

voting differences between the genders

gender gap voting differences

- women less supportive of defense spending

- women more supportive of assistance to the poor and unemployed

- women more supportive of a strong gov funding education

- women support gun control

- women more pro-choice

- women more democratic by a small margin

solid south

- more socially conservative than rest of country

- reconstruction to 1960s: democrat

- now: republican

graying of american

- older americans vote in high numbers

- social security, medicare benefits, and other issues important to old ppl prompts carefulness when addressing

corporate world

group most likely to support cutting capital gains tax

middle class families with kids

group most likely to support increasing deductions for childcare

college students and their parents

group most likely to support making more loans available for college

poor and young workers

group most likely to support raising the minimum wage

political ideology

- a coherent set of beliefs about politics and the role of government

- parents most influential

conservatives

- hold to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change

- many are republicans

- emphasize the importance of limited government

liberals

- more open to new ideas and ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted

- many are democrats

- believe government should be active in supporting social and political change

libertarians

- usually favor the right

- believe in maximizing individual freedoms and reducing the power of the state

- more open to legalization of drugs, gay marriage, more gun rights

- against gov regulation

- gov should be the defender of that nation and protector of individual rights

- a person should be free to do anything as long as it doesn't harm others

9/11 impact on public opinion

- country became supportive of president; approval ratings were high

- supported homeland defense spending and military intervention into afghanistan

republican political beliefs

- pro-life

- less support for affirmative action programs/DEI

- support increased defense spending

- support capital punishment

- support southern border wall

- support increased domestic drilling for oil and gas

- do not support higher taxes on wealthy

- support less gov spending

democrat political beliefs

- support stricter environmental protection

- support more business regulation

- favor raising minimum wage

- favor stricter gun control

- support affordable care act/obamacare

- support gay marriage

- support expansion of medicaid

- support raising capital gains taxes

- support working with international organizations

- support marijuana legalization

fiscal policy

federal government using taxes and spending to control inflation and promote full employment

monetary policy

the regulation of money supply and interest rates by the federal reserve (central bank- federal institution) to promote economic growth

economic policy goal

- stable prices

- low unemployment

- economic growth

stagflation

- high unemployment and high inflation

- difficult situation for fiscal policy and monetary policy bc neither approach can accomplish low unemployment and low inflation at the same time

expansionary policy

- expand economy

- should increase employment but may lead to higher inflation

contractionary policy

- slow down the economy

- should decrease inflation but may lead to higher unemployment

4%

healthy unemployment rate

gross domestic product (GDP)

- the basic measure of economic growth

- the market value of all goods and services the US produces in a year

recession

a decline in GDP for two consecutive quarters (6 months)

deficit

when spendings/expenditures exceeds its revenues

debt

accumulated deficits

why federal deficit grows

- economic situations

- wars/epidemics

- entitlements

why federal deficit grew during reagan

- recessive of late 1970s cut into revenues that a large tax cut further reduced

- increased defense spending

- funding for entitlements expanded

why federal deficit grew during w. bush

tax cuts to pay for two wars in iraq/afghanistan

why federal deficit grew during obama

- economy collapsed

- entitlement spending exploded

- paying for two wars

- needed to push for stimulus

why federal deficit grew during trump

- tax cuts in 2017 did not bring in extra revenue

- covid gov spending

- increase in military spending

- entitlements

entitlements/mandatory spending

- government-funded programs providing benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements outlined by law

- types: non-means-based, means-tested

- ex: social security, medicare, medicaid, SNAP

clinton's budget surplus

- gov spending was cut

- taxes were raised on wealthier americans

- already strong economy brought in significant revenue

adam smith's ideas in the wealth of nations

- low taxes

- free trade

- minimal role for the government

- these were the best approach to grow the economy

laissez-faire economics

- gov should not interfere in economy

- market will self-correct booms and busts in business cycle

us and laissez-faire economics

- not a good example

- gov encourages business with high protective tariffs and subsidies

- gov used regulations to curb monopolies or abuses of power to protect the consumer

- gov has taken active role to promote competition and protect the consumer and worker

keynesian economics/demand-side

- gov should take an active role in the economy and work to stimulate/weaken demand

- booms and busts of business cycle can be smoothed out with gov help

- high unemployment can last for years unless gov intervenes

- stimulate demand = best way to create jobs

- economy on firm footing and growing at a good rate = time to pull back on gov spending and raise taxes to bring down deficits

reaganomics/supply-side economics

- supply can create demand

- tax cuts for corporation and the wealthy

- support deregulation to lower costs

- businesses will thrive and hire more workers, increasing demand instead of gov trying to pump demand

- less gov spending to balance the budget

- favored by republicans

federal reserve

uses monetary policy to pump money into the economy or take it out depending on the economic situation

federal reserve system characteristics

- begun in 1913

- central bank of the us

- jerome powell is current chairman

- purpose if to ensure sufficient money and credit in banking system (fight inflation and unemployment and economic growth by increasing or decreasing money supply)

- 12 federal reserve banks

- 7 board of governors who serve 14 year terms, appointed by president, confirmed by senate

discount rate

- interest rate that the federal reserve charges banks to borrow money

- raised: harder for banks to borrow money, less money to lend, less money supply in economy

reserve requirement

- amount of money banks must hold in reserve and not lend out

- lowers: pumps more money into the economy

open market operations

- buying or selling of bonds between the federal reserve and banks

- if fed sells bonds to banks, this takes money out of the economy

- if fed buys bonds from banks, this puts money into the economy

office of management and budget (OMB) assistance to the president

- helps prepare a budget for the president

- reviews funding request from the federal agencies and executive departments

- makes recommendations to the president

- submitted to congress who may decide to completely change it

congressional budget office (CBO)

- analyzes the budget for congress

- non-partisan

how gov got revenue before 1900s

tariffs and the sale of public lands (often out west)

16th amendment

- gov could directly tax people's incomes

- changed the way gov acquired its revenue

after WWII

when income taxes began to raise significantly

progressive tax

- the more money you make, the higher the tax rate

- ex: income tax

regressive tax

- rich and poor pay the same tax on items which puts a greater burden on poor individual

- ex: sales tax

federal excise tax/sin tax

- extra taxes placed on products

- ex: placed on alcohol and tobacco products

flat tax

- a low rate of tax for everyone, regardless of income

- cut out all exemptions

capital-gains tax

tax on the income earned by the sale of real estate, stocks, or dividends from stocks

the world bank

provides loans and technical assistance for economic development to poor countries

world trade organization (WTO)

committed to breaking down protectionism (high tariffs and subsidies) around the world in order to promote the free flow of goods, services, and intellectual property

NAFTA/USMCA

- north american free trade agreement (1993)

- created a free trade zone between canada, us, and mexico

G7

seven of the major economies of the world informally meeting to decide international economic and foreign policy matters

public policy

an intentional course of action followed by the government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern

domestic policies

- government programs intended to enhance the quality of life and lead to a more secure, satisfying, and productive life

- meant to benefit everyone but ppl struggling to provide for themselves and families are the focus

domestic policy examples

- protection from poverty and hunger

- improving transportation and internet speed

- improve its citizens health and physical well-being

- maintain a healthy and livable environment

- maintain safety in society (crime prevention)

social welfare programs

- largest of the domestic policy programs

- ex: social security, medicaid, medicare, EITC

social security act (1935)

- old-age income

- allowed those who paid a certain minimum amount of money into the system to get a portion back each month when retired for as long as they live

non means based programs

- benefits are provided regardless of the income of recipients

- everyone gets it, no qualifications needed

- ex: social security

means tested programs

- assist those whose incomes fall below a designated level

- need to qualify for it

- ex: TANF, food stamps/SNAP

temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)

- income security program for the poor

- drug felons and illegal immigrants are ineligible

- time limit for how long benefits can be received

food stamps/SNAP

gov issued vouchers that can be redeemed at retailers for certain categories of groceries

earned income tax credit program (EITC)

- designed to help the working poor by subsidizing their wages

- provides an incentive for people to go to work

- supported by democrats and republicans

medicare

provides health insurance for the elderly

medicaid

- expansion of medicare

- subsidizes health insurance for the poor

- funded by states and federal gov

affordable care act/obama care (2010)

- promised to expand health insurance coverage to more americans to help those who couldn't get insurance and bring down health care costs

- combination of gov and free market health care

mandate

those without insurance would be helped by the gov to get insurance by qualifying for subsidies but would be penalized/fined started in april of 2014 if they did not sign up for this insurance, called what?

public health

- CDC: try to control growth of infectious and chronic diseases

- vaccines

- promote AIDS prevention

- subsidize research to find vaccines/cures (operation warpspeed during trump)

energy policy

- sparked in the early 1970s after dramatic price increases in imported oil

- department of energy was created in 1977 to oversee energy policy

corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE)

standards to improve gas mileage for automobiles so we would use less oil

environmental protection agency (EPA)

created by executive order in 1970

clean air act of 1970

law that established the primary standards for air quality in the us

cap and trade

- program used to combat the proliferation of greenhouse gases into the environment

- puts a cap on how much companies can emit greenhouse gases into the environment

- each company is given a permit. if a company stays under their permit, they can sell to others struggling to stay under their permit to avoid being fined

- democrats favor; republicans don't

state department

federal department in charge of helping out the president with carrying out foreign policy

foreign policy

promoting our national interests, protecting our security, and participating in international organizations

national security council (NSC)

advises the president on a daily basis when it comes to foreign policy decisions

monroe doctrine

keep europe out of central and south america in order to promote the us politically and economically

league of nations

- international organization of countries which would help to ensure peace around the world

- established by president wilson

- part of versailles treaty

- us did not join