AP Gov Unit 4 Vocabulary

Vocabulary needed to know for Unit 4 of the AP Government curriculum.

Political Culture

the shared beliefs, values, and norms that shape how citizens understand and participate in politics within a society

Individualism

places emphasis on self-reliance and independence

Free Enterprise (Laissez-Faire)

as little government intervention in economy as possible

Rule of law

belief that every citizen is equal under the law and that no one has special privileges

Political Socialization

the process by which we form our political opinions

Political Ideology

an interlocking set of ideas that form the basis for political decision making

Political Spectrum

political ideologies fall on a spectrum between how liberal or how conservative it is

Limited Government

the government’s limits are well-defined and it is restrained through checks + balances and separation of powers

Equality of Opportunity

belief that every American, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, religion, etc., deserves equal footing to go after life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Public Opinion

the collective views of individuals on issues of importance to the community, influencing government actions and policies

Scientific Poll

asking people what they believe with scientific rigor to measure public opinion

Sampling Error

a sample that does not exactly represent the general population

Focus Group

measure opinion of a small group of people, qualitative data (not a scientific poll)

Entrance Survey

conducted at voting sites before people vote, asking how they’re going to vote

Exit Poll

conducted at voting sites after people vote, asking how they voted

Opinion Polls

help get a feel for the public’s opinion on a certain topic or discerning people’s feelings on certain candidates or policies

Tracking Polls

taken over time, typically of the same group of people, giving info on how those people feel about a given issue

Veracity of Data

the accuracy and truthfulness of information used in decision-making processes, essential for reliable analysis and policymaking in government

Conservatism

emphasizes traditional social structures and existing structures of authority

• limited government in public affairs

• strong stances on crime and punishment

• states’ rights > federal power

Liberalism

emphasizes civil rights for the marginalized and supports the efforts of social justice movements to ensure everyone has equal access to civil liberties

emphasizes government involvement in public affairs

• caring for the poor

• regulations on businesses

• intervention in the economy

Libertarianism

want the least amount of government intervention as possible, including social issues

the only thing the government is good for is protecting private property and upholding individual liberty

• no regulation on businesses and minimal government programs

economic issues - more conservative
social issues - more liberal

Mixed Economy

economic system combining elements of capitalism and socialism, with both private and state ownership of resources

Globalization

the increasing interconnectedness of the world by means of economic partnerships - we are influenced by factors well beyond our borders

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

measures a country's economic performance by calculating the total value of goods and services produced within its borders in a specific period

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

measures changes in the prices of goods and services over time, helps assess inflation's impact on consumers' purchasing power

Keynesian Economic Policies

advocate for government intervention to stabilize the economy through fiscal policy, focusing on increasing demand to boost economic growth - supports government spending

Supply-Side Economic Polices

focus on cutting taxes and regulations to stimulate economic growth by boosting the supply of goods and services - supports businesses

Fiscal Policy

decisions the government makes about government spending and taxation

Monetary Policy

decisions the government makes about how much money should be in the economy

Federal Reserve Board

I. Buying and selling government bonds

II. Setting reserve requirements

III. Setting interest rates