ap gov unit 4 study guide

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Conservative

A political ideology supporting limited government, free markets, traditional values, and strong national defense.

Liberal

A political ideology favoring active government involvement in the economy, social equality, and protection of individual rights.

Libertarian

A political ideology that emphasizes individual liberty, free markets, and minimal government involvement in both economic and social issues.

Individualism

The belief that individuals should be independent and responsible for their own decisions with limited government interference.

Equality of Opportunity

The idea that all people should have the same chance to succeed, regardless of background or identity.

Free Enterprise

An economic system where businesses operate competitively with little government interference, allowing private ownership and consumer choice.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals, including government officials, must follow the law equally and fairly.

Limited Government

The idea that government powers should be restricted by laws and a constitution to protect individual freedoms.

Political Socialization

The process through which people develop their political beliefs, shaped by family, media, education, and life experiences.

Family (in political socialization)

The strongest influence on political beliefs, often passing down views through tradition and discussion.

Media (in political socialization)

Shapes political opinions by providing information, framing issues, and sometimes reinforcing biases.

Religious/Civic Institutions (in political socialization)

Teach moral values and encourage civic engagement, shaping political attitudes.

Location (in political socialization)

Geographic regions influence ideology; urban areas tend to be liberal, rural areas conservative.

Political Events

Major events like wars, protests, or recessions that shift how people view government and issues.

Globalization

Exposure to global ideas and trade, which can shift attitudes on immigration, economy, and foreign policy.

Generational Effect

Differences in political views among age groups due to the events and experiences unique to their time.

Representative Sample

A group that accurately reflects the population being studied in a poll or survey.

Random Selection

A polling method where everyone has an equal chance of being chosen to avoid bias.

Sampling Error

The margin of difference between poll results and actual public opinion due to sample limitations.

Mass Survey (positives)

Collects large-scale data, showing overall public opinion with statistical accuracy.

Mass Survey (negatives)

May be shallow or generalized, not offering detailed insights into individual opinions.

Focus Group (positives)

Provides deeper understanding of opinions through discussion and qualitative feedback.

Focus Group (negatives)

Small and not representative, so results are not generalizable to the whole population.

Why polling question wording matters

Poorly worded questions can mislead participants and produce biased or inaccurate results.

How polling data is used

Gauges public opinion, predicts elections, shapes campaigns, and informs policy decisions.

Party Platform

A written statement of a political party's goals and policy positions to attract and inform voters.

Democratic Party Ideology

Supports strong government involvement in social programs, economic regulation, and civil rights protections.

Republican Party Ideology

Favors limited government, lower taxes, traditional values, and free-market capitalism.

Libertarian Party Ideology

Supports maximum individual liberty, minimal government, and free-market solutions to all issues.

Fiscal Policy (Democrats)

Favor increased government spending and higher taxes on the wealthy to reduce inequality.

Fiscal Policy (Republicans)

Support lower taxes and spending cuts to promote personal responsibility and economic growth.

Fiscal Policy (Libertarians)

Advocate for minimal government spending and taxation, with no welfare or entitlement programs.

Monetary Policy (Democrats)

Support central bank interventions to reduce unemployment and stimulate growth.

Monetary Policy (Republicans)

Prefer less government influence and more market-based control over money supply.

Monetary Policy (Libertarians)

Favor minimal or no government involvement, often supporting a return to the gold standard.

Welfare (Democrats)

Support safety net programs to reduce poverty and help disadvantaged populations.

Welfare (Republicans)

Support reducing welfare to encourage personal responsibility and self-sufficiency.

Welfare (Libertarians)

Oppose government welfare, believing charity and private markets should help the poor.

Social Security (Democrats)

Support preserving and expanding Social Security benefits for retirees and disabled.

Social Security (Republicans)

Support reforming Social Security, sometimes suggesting private options or means-testing.

Social Security (Libertarians)

Oppose Social Security as a government program and support individual retirement accounts.

Education (Democrats)

Favor public education, more funding, and efforts to reduce inequality in schools.

Education (Republicans)

Support school choice, vouchers, and charter schools to create competition in education.

Education (Libertarians)

Favor privatizing education and removing government involvement altogether.

Difference between conservative and liberal

Conservatives prefer limited government and traditional values, while liberals support active government and social progress.

Keynesian Theory

Advocates for increased government spending during economic downturns to boost demand and reduce unemployment.

Supply-Side Economics

Emphasizes tax cuts and deregulation to encourage production, investment, and economic growth.