AP Gov Chapter 12 & 13 Vocab

conservative

one who favors more limited and local government, less government regulation of markets, and more social conformity to traditional norms and values

limited government

The federal government's powers are restricted through separation of powers principle

liberal

Someone who favors more government regulation of business and support for social welfare but less regulation of private social conduct

benchmark polls

The first type of poll used in an election, often before a potential candidate has declared his or her intentions to see how he rates compared to other candidates

public opinion polls

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

non-response bias

Occurs when certain groups of people are more likely to refuse to participate in a survey, leading to a skewed sample of respondents

equality of opportunity

The principle that individuals should be treated fairly and have the same opportunities and access to education and employment, regardless of their race, gender, or other personal characteristics

free enterprise

Capitalistic Economy in which competition is allowed to flourish with a minimum of government interference. The ability of individual people and businesses to make money with minimal interference by the government

individualism

The principle of valuing a person's rights over those of the government, with a strong emphasis on each person's initiative and responsibility

laissez-faire

Theory that opposes government intervention in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property

Political culture

The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors regarding government and politics that develop over time through the process of political socialization. The set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments, which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system

rule of law

All citizens and government institutions are subject to the law and the justice system. An example would be that in a democratic system, all citizens and government institutions are subject to the law, and the justice system ensures that the law is applied fairly and impartially

Globalization

the process of an ever-expanding and increasingly interactive world economy

political socialization

the process through which an individual learns a set of political attitudes and forms opinions about social issues. Families and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process

Baby Boomers

a person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate

Generation X

the generation born after that of the baby boomers (roughly from the early 1960s to late 1970s), typically perceived to be disaffected and directionless

generational effects

Decisions made by one generation reverberate across time, either amplifying or mitigating challenges for subsequent generations

lifecycle effects

Changes in opinions or patterns of behavior that occur among most people at major points of their lives like marriage, parenthood, or retirement

Millennials

A person born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s. People under the age of 35, tending to be more accepting of same-sex marriage, weed legalization, second chances in the criminal justice system. Another name for this generation is "Generation Y."

Silent Generation

The generation of people born before that of the baby boomers (roughly from the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s), perceived to tend toward conformism or restraint in their outlook and behavior

Great Depression (1929-1933)

The longest and deepest setback the American economy has ever experienced. It began with the stock market crash on Black Tuesday and lasted for over 10 years

New Deal Coalition

A bloc of people and regions that supported the Democratic Party beginning in 1932. They are named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic plan

Iraq invasion (2003)

The United States and its Allies attacked this country to depose its ruler and the Ba'athist government that ruled the nation

Great Recession (2007-2012)

A long, sustained economic downturn resulting in business failure, increasing unemployment, and a shrinking GDP; worst economic crisis since the Great Depression

approval rating

a percentage determined by polling which indicates the percentage of respondents to an opinion poll who endorse a particular person or program. If the endorsement is high they increase the president's power and likelihood of legislative success.

entrance polls

A survey that is taken before voters have cast their votes at the polling stations

exit polls

A poll of voters taken immediately after the have exited the polling stations and cast their votes

focus group

A research technique used to collect data through group interaction. The group comprises a small number of carefully selected people who discuss a given topic

push polling

An interactive marketing technique, most commonly employed during political campaigning, in which a person or organization attempts to manipulate or alter prospective voters' views under the guise of conducting an opinion poll

random-digit dialing

A method for selecting people for involvement in telephone statistical surveys by generating telephone numbers at random

random sample

a method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected. Anyone can get chosen

representative sample (universe)

a group of people meant to portray the views of the large group in question

sampling error (margin of error)

when the results discovered in a study do not represent the population as a whole

sampling techniques

the process of studying the population by gathering information and analyzing that data. It is the basis of the data where the sample space is enormous. Several ways are used

tracking polls

They ask people the same or similar questions over time to "monitor" the path of public opinion

weighting (stratification)

Allowance or adjustment made in order to take account of special circumstances or compensate for a distorting factor

bandwagon effect

Where people vote for the candidate who appears to have the most support because they want to be part of the majority

Bradley Effect

A discrepancy in polls and actual voting that overestimates the white vote for black candidates because some white voters might falsely report that they intend to vote for an African American candidate. Named after the 1982 California gubernatorial candidate

social desirability bias

the tendency for people to say what they believe is appropriate or acceptable. Say something that sounds politically correct