Chapter 10 Definitions APGov

Public opinion

What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time.

Green New Deal

A program to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy with the goal of generating 100 percent of the nation's electricity from these sources within ten years.

public opinion polls

Interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.

Straw Poll

Unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies.

sample

A subset of the whole population selected to be questioned for the purposes of prediction or gauging opinion.

push polls

Polls taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate.

population

The entire group of people whose attitudes a researcher wishes to measure.

random sampling

A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected.

stratified sampling

A variation of random sampling; the population is divided into subgroups and weighted based on demographic characteristics of the national population.

tracking polls

Continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate's daily or weekly rise or fall in support.

exit polls

Polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day.

margin of error

A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll within statistical parameters.

sampling error

Errors resulting from the size or the quality of a survey sample.

Political ideology

The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals.

conservative

One who favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs.

social conservative

One who believes that the government should support and further traditional moral teachings.

liberal

One who favors greater government intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services.

moderate

A person who takes a relatively centrist or middle-of-the-road view on most political issues.

libertarian

One who believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties.

political socialization

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Public Opinion

refers to how people think or feel about particular things

Supporters

argue that polling contributes to the democratic process by providing a way for the public to express its opinions

Critics

argue that polls turns leaders into followers

Pollster

Survey people and write reports on it

Census

Survey given to American people every decade to show what the American people are moving towards and away from

Poll

Best way for Americans to input their opinions on key issues, some politicians listen to these and others will not.

Political Ideology

a cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and role of government

Liberal (left-wing)

political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics

Conservative (right-wing)

promotes retaining traditional social institutions, less government and taxes.

A person who follows the philosophies of conservatism is referred to as a traditionalist or a conservative.

Moderate

an individual who is not extreme, partisan, or radical, more of a middle of the road voter who may have some beliefs of both ideologies

Independent

variously defined as a voter who votes for candidates and issues rather than on the basis of a political ideology to partisanship

More focused on the actual individual rather than parties/views

Libertarian

emphasizes freedom, liberty, and voluntary association without coercion. Libertarians generally advocate a society with a small government compared to most present day societies or no government at all

Liberalism

Supports:

Reproductive Rights, Women should have the right to healthcare, Right between women and doctors, no government involvement!!, Universal Healthcare Program, NO reason that Americans shouldn’t have free health insurance, Expanded programs for the poor, minorities, and women, Government regulation of the economy, Political and Social Reform, Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Movement, Gay rights (including marriage), Environmental rights, Raising taxes on the rich

Opposes:

Increase in military spending, They do not believe in cutting funding to other areas BUT they do believe in strong military, Committing troops to foreign war, School prayers, Separation of state and religion, Believe in strong public schooling system

Conservatism

Supports:

Expansion of American military power, Less government regulation of business, School prayer, Economic philosophy of prudence in government spending and debt, US is trillions of dollars in debt, but it’s only gotten worse since they went back into office, Death penalty, Ohio is a death penalty state, If you serve jury duty you might be the one to choose to put someone to death, Free-market solutions to economic problems, Supply and demand

Opposes:
Expensive social and welfare programs, No national health care system, should be state issue, Abortion/reproductive rights, Against all types of abortions, As of July 2024, the official Party platform has changed, Quote the 14th Amendment “no person can be denied life or liberty without due process”

Political socialization

the process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next

Family is biggest predictor of how we approach these topics

Leads us to vote or not vote eventually

Process never ends, will keep developing

Major Agents of Political Socialization

Family

Schools

Peers

Mass media

Religious beliefs

Social groups

Race & Ethnicity

Gender

Agents of Socialization

Family, Education, Social Groups, The Media