Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

equality of opportunity

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

free enterprise

Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference

Individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

Laizzez-faire

idea that government should play a small role in economic affairs. "Hands off" approach to the economy

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

political culture

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Baby Boomers

The 78 million people born during the baby boom, following World War II and lasting until the early 1960s

Generation X (Gen X)

generational cohort of people born between 1965 and 1980

Generational Effects of Fiscal Policy

Gov't expenditures that are NOT funded by current taxes.

Studies show that over half of fiscal imbalance will be paid by future generations (medicare)

lifecycle effects

As people become middle-aged, they become more politically conservative, less mobile, and more likely to participate in politics.

Millennials

the 83 million children of the baby boomers born between 1980 and 2000

Silent Generation (1925-1945)

youth of the 50's that seemed to conform to middle class culture without question.

Great Depression

the economic crisis beginning with the stock market crash in 1929 and continuing through the 1930s

New Deal Coalition

coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930's to the 1960's. its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

Iraq Invasion

- Bush Jr invaded Iraq because he believed that they were oppressing its own people, frustrating the weapons inspectors, developing nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction, and supporting terrorist groups

- a liberated Iraq would be a beacon of hope to the Islamic world

- Bush and Britain launched the invasion in 2003

- Saddam was driven from power

Great Recession

severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008; has affected the global economy, with higher detriment in some countries than others; sparked by the outbreak of the late-2000s financial crisis

approval ratings

The percentage of survey respondents who say that they "approve" or "strongly approve" of the way the president is doing his job.

Benchmark Polls

Initial polls on a candidate and issues on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared

entrance polls

Public opinion surveys taken before voters cast their ballots

exit polls

polls based on interviews conducted on election day with randomly selected voters

focus group

A small group of individuals who are led in discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to candidates and issues. (10-40 people)

public opinion polls

interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

push polling

a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion

random digit dialing

A technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey.

random sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

representative sample (universe)

a group of people meant to represent the large group in question

sampling error (margin of error)

polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample

Sampling Techniques

The method used to select people from the population.

tracking polls

continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate's daily rise or fall in support

weighting/stratification

making sure demographic groups are properly represented in a sample

bandwagon effect

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

social desirability bias

A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself which may be untrue

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Libertarian

One who believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties

moderate

Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

Populist Party

U.S. political party formed in 1892 representing mainly farmers, favoring free coinage of silver and government control of railroads and other monopolies

progressive

A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are important

wedge issues

a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party

agenda

Plan of action; purpose

fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

flat rate

a single percentage that applies to the entire tax base

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The branch of the U.S. Treasury Department in charge of collecting taxes

monetary policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.

multiplier effect

An effect in economics in which an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Allows open trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

progressive tax

A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes increases as income increases

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

trade balance

the value of a nation's exports minus the value of its imports; also called net exports

entitlement

social welfare program that people are "entitled to" if they meet certain eligibility requirements

mandatory spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

Medicaid

A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

2010 legislation aimed at reducing the number of uninsured individuals and decreasing health care costs

Social Security Act of 1935

Created both the Social Security Program and a national assistance program for poor children, usually called AFDC.

liberal

more likely to experiment with policy. believe in law and order but are concerned about protecting rights of the accused. More accepting of higher taxes in exchange for more government services. Often vote democratic

conservative

prefer smaller government which provides fewer services than large federal government. Prefer spending money on defense, prefer harsh punishments for lawbreakers. Often vote Republican

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.

Federalist 10

Argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Diversity is good.

Necessary and Proper Clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers