Unit 4 AP GOV

Conservative

Belief in limited government intervention, traditional values, and free market principles. Plus, strict threshold to qualify for welfare, harsh prison sentences for criminals.

Liberal

Belief in government involvement to promote social welfare and equality, support for civil rights, and progressive values. Advocates for increased taxes on the wealthy to fund social programs. They are more likely to experiment with policy.

Individualism

Belief in the value of the individual, some believe in self-centered individualism and others warn against its ability to fracture society.

Free Enterprise

Idea of free markets, conservative value, laissez-faire capitalism, not practiced today as it was originally due to mandate of minimum wage among other reforms

Rule of Law

Oath by the president to obey and establish the laws of the nation in the interest of the people. It is to prevent leaders from acting on their own whims. It is an Enlightenment ideal. There are systems like public audits and the like to protect leader’s disregard.

Limited Government

A government kept under control by law and by checks and balances, conservatives believe there should be the most regulation of the federal government as possible, while democrats believe in more social programs, at the expense of liberty

Political Socialization

The process of forming one’s political opinions, most influenced by family, circumstances, and religion. Family and the views of your parents influencing your own are the most important due to Primary and Structuring Principles

Primary Principle

What is learned first is learned best

Structuring Principle

What is learned first structures and serves as a frame of reference for further learning; new info will be compared against original knowledge

Millennial Views

Youngest; tend to be the most accepting of same-sex marriage, marijuana, and are the most ethnically diverse. They are tech-focused, consume their news online and more liberal/progressive the younger the person. They have been most impacted by the Iraq invasion (leading them to want the US to stay out of foreign conflict), and the Great Recession (leading to them wanting gov. intervention in a failing economy).

Silent Generation Views

Oldest; most opposed to cultural changes due to their greater experiences. Their foreign policy is shaped by the events they felt, thus they hate communism and approach things often from a Judeo-Christian mindset—want the US to be involved in foreign policy due to seeing them as the guardian of democracy as a result. They are the most reliable voters due to not having work conflicts and for their long-time investment in social policy. Also known as the ‘New Deal Coalition’.

Lifecycle Effects

The concept that people’s political views may change or evolve throughout their life as their interests change in accordance with their age. For example, college students are focused on student debt, seniors are focused on social security.

The Older Generation

Those who lived during the Great Depression and WWII and saw the US under times of great unity. They are trusting of the government and slow to criticize it compared to Baby Boomers.

Baby Boomers

Generation most affected by JFK assassination, others, the Vietnam draft, and protests. Because of this mistrust, challenging the gov. became a political norm. Began as democratic voters, but flocked to the republican party with other seniors as Democrats held more progressive views.

The Effect of Globalization on Poliltical Views

The Effect of the United States becoming more involved in foreign policy/the interconnectivity of the world following accessible tech and social media/communication. This affected the millennial generation most with 9/11 and the Iraq invasion.