AP Gov U4 and U5 Political Ideologies, Beliefs, and Participation

Flashcards for key concepts related to political ideologies, beliefs, and participation.

Political Ideology

The set of values and beliefs a person has about the role and scope of government.

Income and Occupation

Historically, higher income individuals tend to be conservative and more likely to vote, while lower income individuals are more likely to be liberal and focus on union jobs.

Education

Generally, higher levels of education correlate with higher voter turnout and a liberal ideology, though this trend is evolving.

Sex and Gender

Women are generally more liberal and likely to vote Democrat, while men tend to be more conservative and vote Republican.

Age

Younger people are more liberal and less likely to vote, whereas older individuals tend to be conservative and more likely to vote.

Religion

Religious affiliation influences voting behavior; for example, Catholics and Black Protestants often vote Democrat, while White Protestants tend to vote Republican.

Race

Voting patterns show that White Americans lean Republican, while Asian, Black, and Hispanic Americans more often support Democrats.

Location/Region

Urban areas typically vote Democrat, while the South and Plains states are more inclined to vote Republican.

Family and Friends

A person's political ideology is often influenced by their family, with about 80% likelihood of adopting parents' beliefs.

Media

Different media sources can shape perceptions; older adults typically prefer newspapers and TV, while younger individuals often use social media.

Perceptions of Candidates

The personalities of candidates and how they come across can dramatically affect their appeal and who supports them.

Type of Election

About ⅔ of eligible voters participate in presidential election years; participation is lower in by-election years.

Engagement with Politics

Individuals who do not care about politics or do not feel their vote matters tend to not participate in elections.

Special Events or Issues

Impactful events can influence ideology and voting behavior.

Global Events

Foreign affairs can also shape ideology and voting behavior.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political values, beliefs, and attitudes.

Conservative

Favors limited government intervention in the economy and strong national defense.

Liberal

Supports government intervention for social and economic equality and typically favors progressive social policies.

Centrist/Moderate

Political views fall between liberal and conservative positions.

Libertarian

Advocates for maximum individual liberty in both economic and social matters.

Authoritarian/Statist

Supports strong centralized government with significant control over economic and social affairs.

Social Conservative

Advocates for traditional social values and moral standards.

Fiscal Conservative

Advocates for lower taxes, reduced government spending, and minimal government debt.

Populist

A politician who prioritizes the needs and wants of everyday people.

Party Identification

A person's psychological attachment to a political party.

Democratic Party

A major U.S. political party associated with liberal policies.

Republican Party

A major U.S. political party associated with conservative policies.

Third Party

Any political party that seeks to challenge the two major U.S. parties.

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

The main organizational body of the Democratic Party.

Republican National Committee (RNC)

The main organizational body of the Republican Party.

Platform

A formal statement of a party's positions and policies on major issues.

Party Machine

A political organization that controls a city or region through patronage and rewards.

Political Polarization

The division of political attitudes toward ideological extremes.

Voter Registration

The process where citizens sign up to be eligible to vote.

The Franchise

The legal right to vote in elections.

15th Amendment (1870)

Prohibits denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

17th Amendment (1913)

Established direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

19th Amendment (1920)

Granted women the right to vote nationwide.

24th Amendment (1964)

Banned poll taxes in federal elections.

26th Amendment (1971)

Set the national voting age at 18.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA)

Prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Act)

Designed to make voter registration easier.

Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA)

Improves election procedures and voter access.

Same-Day Voter Registration

Allows eligible voters to register and vote on the same day.

Extended Early Voting

Increases the time period for in-person voting before Election Day.

Mail-In Voting

Allows voters to submit ballots by mail.

Third-Party Ballot Dropoff

Allows others to deliver completed ballots to election offices.

Voter ID Requirement

Mandates specific identification forms for voting.

Voter Citizenship Requirements

Mandates proof of U.S. citizenship to register or vote.

Voting Rights for Felons

Policies governing felons' voting rights, which vary by state.

Voting Models

Ways people decide for whom they are voting.

Rational-Choice Voting

Voting based on perceived self-interest.

Prospective Issue Voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance by candidates.

Retrospective Issue Voting

Voting based on recent performance of the party or candidate in power.

Candidate/Issue-Specific Voting

Voting influenced by specific candidate qualities or issues.

Event-Specific Voting

Voting influenced by important events or situations.

Party-Line Voting

Voting for one party across all offices on a ballot.

Name Recognition

A baseline measure of how well a candidate is known.

Winner-Take-All System

The winning side gets full control, with no proportional allocation to others.