Unit 4 Vocab

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes.

American political culture

The values that influence individuals' attitudes and beliefs about the relationship between citizens and the federal government.

benchmark polls

Polls conducted at the start of a race by a campaign to establish a baseline for comparison with later polls.

biased questions

Questions framed to portray candidates or policies positively or negatively, influencing responses.

communitarian

A viewpoint that emphasizes the needs of communities over individual rights; economically liberal but socially conservative.

conservative ideology

Belief that government should be small, limited to the states or local level, with minimal economic interference and traditional morality.

Democratic Party

One of the two main US political parties; founded in 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson; typically liberal in ideology.

demographic characteristics

Socioeconomic traits (age, race, gender, religion, etc.) that influence voting and party ID.

entrance polls

Polls conducted as voters enter polling places on Election Day to gauge support.

enumerated

Explicitly stated; often used to describe powers listed in a constitution.

equality of opportunity

The belief that everyone should have the same chances to advance in society.

exit polls

Polls conducted as voters exit polling places; used to predict results before official tallies.

fiscal policy

Government decisions about taxation and spending to influence the economy.

focus group

A small, demographically diverse group used for in-depth discussion of ideas or candidates.

formative age

Young adulthood (ages 18–24) when many people form lasting political attitudes.

free enterprise

Belief in the right to compete freely in a market with limited government involvement.

generational effects

Experiences shared by a generation that shape political attitudes (e.g., wars, recessions).

globalization

Growth of an interconnected world economy and culture; affects US politics and policy.

government intervention

Regulatory actions to influence decisions by individuals, groups, or organizations.

Green Party

Fourth-largest US party, founded in 2001; platform includes grassroots democracy, nonviolence, social justice, environmentalism.

Horse Race Journalism

Media coverage that treats campaigns as competitions and focuses on polls, not policy analysis.

ideology

A set of beliefs and ideas that shape political opinions and policy.

individual liberties

Personal freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights that the government cannot abridge.

individualism

Valuing individual rights over government, with emphasis on initiative and responsibility.

Keynesian economics

Economic theory advocating government spending and interventions to stimulate growth.

sampling error

Difference between a sample and the population; margin of error indicates likely size.

liberal ideology

Belief that government should intervene in the economy and provide social services; left-wing.

Libertarian Party

Third-largest US party, founded in 1971; favors limited government in personal, social, and economic issues.

Lifecycle effects

Changes in political attitudes/participation as a person ages from youth to adulthood to old age.

limited government

A political system with restrictions to protect individual rights and liberties.

mass survey

Measuring public opinion by interviewing a large sample of the population.

monetary policy

Government decisions on influencing the economy via money supply and interest rates.

nationalists

People who promote their nation's interests, sometimes believing in national superiority.

opinion polls

Polls taken from a small section of the public to predict results or gauge attitudes.

party identification

An individual's loyalty or sense of belonging to a political party.

party realignment

A sharp shift in the issues or voting blocs a party represents.

Time Period effects

Major events and social trends that affect political attitudes across the population.

policy mood

A measure of the public's preferences toward policy choices.

political socialization

Process by which a person develops political values through family, school, media, etc.

population

A group of people that a researcher wants to study.

position issue

An issue that divides voters (e.g., gun control or the death penalty).

progressive ideology

Often used interchangeably with liberal; some argue they advocate addressing past wrongs and systemic reform.

public opinion

What people think about issues, candidates, and public officials; measured with polls.

random sample

A random selection from a population.

representative sample

A subset that accurately reflects the broader population; typically 400–2,000 respondents.

Republican Party

One of the two main US parties; founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists; generally conservative.

right to privacy

The right to be free from government intrusion into private beliefs and behavior.

rule of law

Governments operate under law applied equally to all; no one is above the law.

sample

The group of people surveyed to gauge the population's opinion.

scientific polling techniques

Methods using a random, representative sample of about 1,500 people with margin of error ±3%.

social policy

Public policy related to health care, human services, criminal justice, education, and labor.

straw poll

Unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on issues.

supply-side economics

Economic philosophy advocating tax cuts and deregulation to promote growth.

The Federal Reserve (the Fed)

Independent federal agency that determines US monetary policy to stabilize banking and promote growth.

tracking polls

Polls conducted repeatedly with the same group to measure changes in opinion.

valence issue

An issue on which most voters agree, such as economic prosperity or elder care.