AP U.S. Government and Politics: Political Ideology, Policy, Socialization, Voting, and Polling

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering political ideologies, public policy positions, monetary vs. fiscal policy, political socialization, voter turnout, constitutional amendments expanding the electorate, demographic voting patterns, and scientific polling.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about politics and public policy that creates the structure for looking at government and public policy; it can change over time, and differences generally occur across political, economic, and social issues.

Radical

A position on the political spectrum that favors rapid, fundamental change in the existing social, economic, or political order, and may resort to extreme means, violence, or revolution to create an entirely new social system.

Liberal

A political ideology that supports active government in promoting individual welfare and supporting civil rights, and accepts peaceful political and social change within the existing political system.

Moderate

A position on the political spectrum falling between liberal and conservative that may include aspects of both; characterized by tolerance of others' political opinions and a reluctance to hold extreme views on issues.

Conservative

A political ideology that promotes a limited governmental role in economic issues, supports traditional values, favors a more active role for government in promoting national security, and approaches change cautiously.

Reactionary

A position on the political spectrum that advocates a return to a previous state of affairs—often a social order or government that existed earlier in history—and may be willing to go to extremes to achieve its goals.

Monetary Policy

The regulation of the amount of money available in the economy through adjustments in interest rates and the money supply, implemented by the Federal Reserve Board (The Fed).

Fiscal Policy

The taxing and spending methodology of the government initiated by Congress through its power to budget, which includes mandatory spending on programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Keynesian Theory

An economic theory favored by liberals that advocates for government intervention, market regulation, and spending to manage the economy.

Supply-Side Theory

An economic theory favored by conservatives that supports lower taxes, free-market enterprise, and minimal government intervention to stimulate economic growth.

Political Socialization

The process by which an individual develops political opinions, shaped by agents including family (the #1 agent), education/peer groups, media, religion, race/ethnicity, location, gender, and generation/life-cycle.

Voter Apathy

A simple lack of concern for an election, recognized as a primary reason for low voter turnout.

Voter Efficacy

A citizen's belief or feeling that their vote really counts and matters in an election.

Motor-Voter Law

A legislative measure designed to address low voter turnout by simplifying the voter registration process.

15th Amendment ($1870$)

A constitutional amendment establishing that the right to vote cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (protecting former slaves).

17th Amendment ($1912$)

A constitutional amendment that altered the election of U.S. senators so they are elected directly by the people rather than by state legislatures.

19th Amendment ($1920$)

A constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote by prohibiting voter denial based on sex.

23rd Amendment ($1961$)

A constitutional amendment that granted Washington D.C. $3$ electoral votes in presidential elections.

24th Amendment ($1964$)

A constitutional amendment that prohibited poll taxes, eliminating the requirement to pay in order to vote.

26th Amendment ($1971$)

A constitutional amendment that expanded the electorate by lowering the voting age to $18$ years old.

Public Opinion Polls

Interviews or surveys conducted with samples of citizens used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.

Tracking Polls

Polls where researchers ask people the same or similar questions over time to track the trajectory and path of public opinion.

Entrance Polls

Surveys administered to individuals before they enter a polling place to vote, used to predict election outcomes.

Exit Polls

Surveys conducted with voters immediately outside of a polling location to predict the outcome of an election.

Focus Groups

Small groups of citizens gathered together to hold guided conversations about political issues or candidates.

Approval Ratings

Surveys where researchers ask respondents whether or not they approve of the president's job performance.

Margin of Error

A statistical calculation representing polling precision (such as $\bar{x} \ne 0$ or $\pm 4\%$) that should be as low as possible for a poll to be considered reliable.

Reliable Poll Criteria

The standard requirements for successful polling, including random sampling, a sample size of $1{,}500+$ respondents, properly worded and ordered questions, and survey-based administration rather than phone or in-person formats.