American Political Ideology Unit 4/5 Vocab

benchmark/tracking poll

demographics

statistical characteristics of a population (age, race, gender, income, employment)

equality of opportunity

idea that all individuals shwould have the same changes to pursue success and achieve their goals

exit poll

survey conducted with voters immediately after they have cast their votes on Election day

Federal Reserve

the central banking system of the US, established to provide the country with safe, flexible and stable monetary and financial system

fiscal policy

government’s use of spending and taxation to influence the economy

focus group

small, diverse groups of people brought together to discuss and provide feedback on specific topics, ideas or products

free enterprise

economic system where private individuals or businesses operate with minimal government intervention, allow for competition and consumer choice to drive the market

globalization

the process by which businesses, cultures and governments become interconnected and interdependent across the globe

individualism

emphasizes the moral worth of the individual and advocates for personal independence and self-reliance

individual liberty

the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to each person, which are protected from government interference

Keynesian economics

economic theory that advocates for increased government expenditures and lower taxes to simulate global economy out of a recession

libertarianism

political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, personal responsibility and minimal government intervention in personal and economic matters

limited government

political principle that restricts the powers and authority of government, ensuring that it cannot infringe upon individual rights and freedoms

mass survey

scientific polling method designed to measure public opinion by interviewing a large, representative sample of the population (generalize findings)

monetary policy

the process by which a central bank manages the money supply and interest rates to achieve specific economics goals

opinion poll

surveys conducted to gauge the attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a specific population on various issues

political culture

the set of beliefs, values, and norms that shape the political behavior and attitudes of American citizens (broad)

political ideology

to a specific set of beliefs and values about the role of government, individual rights, and the economy that shape political behavior and opinions

political socialization

the process by which individuals form their political beliefs, values and behaviors

poll

surveys conducted to gauge the attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a specific population on various issues, including political candidates and public policy

public opinion

the collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on certain issues, policies, and political figures at a specific time

question bias

systematic inclination or prejudice that affects judgment and decision-making, leading to the distortion of information and perceptions

random sample

subsets of a population selected in such a way that each member has an equal change of being chosen

rule of law

principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government, are subject to and accountable under the law

sampling error

the discrepancy between the results obtained from a sample and the actual characteristics of the population

scientific polling

method of measuring public opinion through structured surveys that use statistical techniques to ensure accuracy and representativeness

supply-side economics

economic theory that emphasizes boosting economic growth by increasing the supply of goods and services