unit 4: political ideologies

core values

an idea or belief that a person or group views as a main importance to them.

individualism

political philosophy which emphasizes independence and individual rights

equal opportunity

equal chance to succeed, regardless of background

free enterprise

econ system; private individuals and businesses operate w/ minimal government interference, thus determining supply, price, and demand.

rule of law

every person, even those in power, must follow and is accountable to the same laws that govern all.

political socialization

interactions w/ family, school, media, and social environments (including civic and religious organizations) contribute to developing an individual’s political ideologies.

united states political culture

democratic ideals, principles, and core values

political ideology

set of political beliefs on the role of government, individual rights, and economy.

generational effects

• experiences shared by people of a common age

• influences political ideology

life cycle effects

• experiences a person encounters during different life stages

• influences political ideology

scientific poll

survey of public opinion; random participant sample, representative sample, sufficient sample size.

opinion poll

type of scientific poll; measures public opinion on various issues

benchmark poll

illustrates general baseline views of a candidate or policy

tracking poll

follows trend of candidate approval during a campaign, or a policy overtime

exit poll

provides data on why people voted the way they did

polling methodology

• accurate & unbiased sampling methods

• standard deviation

• neutral framing of questions

public opinion

collective opinion on a topic or issue or voting intention relevant to society

conservatism

favor fewer regulations in the marketplace, generally favor less national government involvement to address some social issues such as education and public health, with more responsibility for these issues left to state governments

liberalism

favor more government regulation of the marketplace ;  generally favor more national government involvement to address some social issues such as education and public health, with less responsibility for these issues left to state governments

libertarianism

favor little or no regulation of the marketplace beyond the protection of property rights and voluntary trade ; generally favor little national or state government involvement except when national or state government is protecting private property or individual liberty

monetary policy

When a country's central bank (like the Federal Reserve) controls the amount of money and credit in the economy to influence economic growth and keep prices stable

fiscal policy

how the government allocates taxes and spending, in aims to influence the economy and its growth.