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Conservative

A political ideology that generally supports tradition, limited government involvement in the economy, free markets, and individual responsibility.

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that everyone should have the same opportunities to succeed, even if their final outcomes are different.

Free Enterprise

An economic system where individuals and businesses can make their own economic decisions with limited government interference.

Individualism

 The belief that individuals are responsible for their own choices, success, and failures rather than depending heavily on government.

Laissez-Faire Liberal

 A belief that government should have very little involvement in the economy and should allow businesses and individuals to operate freely.

Political Culture

The shared beliefs, values, and attitudes that people have about government, politics, and the role of government in society.

Rule of Law

 The principle that everyone, including government officials, must follow the law and no one is above it.

Globalization

The increasing connection between countries through trade, technology, communication, and the movement of people and ideas.

Political Socialization

The process through which people develop their political beliefs and attitudes, influenced by family, school, friends, media, and major events.

Baby Boomers

People born roughly from 1946–1964, after World War II, who experienced major social and political changes during the 1960s and 1970s.

Generation X

 People born roughly from 1965–1980, who grew up during changing family structures, economic changes, and the rise of new technology.

Generational Effects

Changes in political attitudes caused by major events and experiences shared by people in the same generation.

Lifecycle Effects

Changes in political beliefs or behavior that occur as people get older and move through different stages of life.

Millennials

People generally born from 1981–1996 who came of age during the rise of the internet, the Great Recession, and major changes in technology.

Silent Generation

People generally born from 1928–1945 who grew up during the Great Depression and World War II.

Great Depression

A severe economic crisis beginning in 1929 that caused widespread unemployment, poverty, and bank failures.

New Deal Coalition

A group of voters and interest groups that supported Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democratic Party because of the New Deal programs.

Iraq Invasion (2003)

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that removed Saddam Hussein from power and began a long military conflict.

Great Recession (2007-2012)

A major economic downturn caused by problems in the housing and financial markets, leading to unemployment, foreclosures, and economic hardship.

Approval Rating

The percentage of people who approve of the way a political leader is performing their job.

Benchmark Polls

Initial polls taken early in a campaign to measure a candidate's starting level of support and identify important issues.

Entrance Polls

Polls conducted as voters enter a polling place to learn about their opinions and voting intentions.

Exit Polls

Polls conducted after people vote to find out who they voted for and why.

Focus Groups

Small groups of people brought together to discuss their opinions about a candidate, issue, or political message.

Push Polling

A misleading type of poll designed to influence a person's opinion rather than accurately measure it.

Random-digit dialing

A method of selecting poll participants by randomly generating telephone numbers.

Random sample

A sample in which every person in the population has an equal or known chance of being selected.

Representative samples (universe)

A sample that closely reflects the characteristics of the larger population being studied.

Sampling error (margin of error)

The amount a poll's results may differ from the actual opinions of the entire population because only a sample was surveyed.

Tracking polls

Polls conducted repeatedly over time to track changes in public opinion or support for a candidate.

Weighting (stratification)

Adjusting poll results to make the sample better match the characteristics of the overall population.

Bandwagon Effect

The tendency for people to support a candidate or position because they believe it is popular or winning.

Bradley Effect

The tendency for some people to give a socially acceptable answer in a poll instead of revealing their true opinion.

Non-response Bias

Bias that occurs when certain types of people are less likely to respond to a poll, making the results less representative.

Social desirability bias

When people give answers they believe are socially acceptable instead of their honest opinions.

Ideology

A set of beliefs about how government and society should work and what role government should play.

Libertarian

A political ideology that strongly supports individual freedom and believes government should have a very limited role in people's lives and the economy.

Moderation

Taking a political position that is closer to the center rather than strongly supporting extreme views.

Populist

A political approach that claims to represent ordinary people and often challenges political or economic elites.

Progressive

A political ideology that generally supports government action to address social, economic, and political problems.

Saliency

How important or noticeable an issue is to voters and how strongly it affects their political opinions or decisions.

Valence Issues

Issues where most people agree on the desired goal, but may disagree about which candidate or party can achieve it.

Wedge Issues

Issues that divide voters and can cause strong disagreements within or between political parties.

Agenda

A set of issues or problems that politicians, government officials, or the public consider important and want to address.

Majoritarian

A system or approach based on the preferences or decisions of the majority.

Progressive Tax

A tax system where people with higher incomes pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes.

Supply Side Econ

The belief that reducing taxes and government regulations can encourage businesses to produce more, invest, and create jobs.

Trade Balance

The difference between the value of a country's exports and imports.

NAFTA (199)

The North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico that reduced trade barriers between the three countries.

Federal Reserve Board

The group that oversees the Federal Reserve and helps manage the nation's monetary policy and banking system.

Fiscal Policy

Government decisions about taxing and spending used to influence the economy.

Flat Rate

A tax system where everyone pays the same percentage of their income regardless of how much they earn.

Inflation

A general increase in the prices of goods and services, which reduces the purchasing power of money.

IRS

The federal agency responsible for collecting federal taxes and enforcing federal tax laws.

Monetary Policy

Actions by the Federal Reserve to control the money supply and interest rates to influence the economy.

Multiplier Effect

When an initial change in spending leads to a larger overall change in economic activity.

Reserve Requirement

The amount of money banks are required to keep in reserve instead of lending out.

16th Amendment

The amendment that gave Congress the constitutional power to collect a federal income tax.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide benefits to people who meet specific eligibility requirements established by law.

Mandatory Spending

Government spending that is required by existing laws and does not need to be approved through the annual budget process.

Social Welfare

Government programs designed to provide financial or other assistance to people who need help.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state health insurance program that primarily provides coverage for low-income people.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program primarily for people age 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010

A law that expanded access to health insurance, created protections for people with preexisting conditions, and made other changes to the healthcare system.

Social Security Act 1935

A law passed during the New Deal that created Social Security and provided federal assistance for elderly Americans and other vulnerable groups.