APGOV Unit 4 Review

Flashcards on American Political Ideologies

Individualism

Belief that places value on a person's independence and self-reliance.

Rule of Law

Belief that every citizen is equal under the law.

Limited Government

Belief that government needs well-defined limits and restraints.

Equality of Opportunity

Belief that every American should have equal rights.

Free Enterprise

Belief that government should allow forces of supply and demand to govern the marketplace.

Political Socialization

The process by which American citizens come to believe in conservative or liberal ideologies.

The Silent Generation

Defined by 1928-1945, grew up in the Great Depression and WWII, high value on religion, generally conservative.

The Millennial Generation

Defined by 1981-1996, more ethnically diverse and more highly educated, value cooperation and diplomacy, generally more liberal.

Life Cycle Effect

A person's political beliefs will change depending on what's most important to them in a given stage of life.

Political Ideology

An interlocking set of ideas that form the basis for political decision making and tend to fall along the spectrum of conservative and liberal.

Democratic Party Ideology

Aligns with liberal ideology, advocating for policies such as protecting abortion rights, equal rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community, and healthcare for the poor.

Republican Party Ideology

Aligns with conservative ideology, supporting policies like cutting taxes, an America-first trade policy, and anti-regulation for businesses.

Libertarianism

Highlights the need for the smallest, least intrusive government possible, especially economically.

Opinion Poll

A poll used to get a feel for the public’s feelings on certain candidates or policies

Benchmark Poll

A poll taken at the beginning of a candidate’s run and used to measure them against in future polls

Tracking Poll

A poll conducted over time, usually the same people, to see how feelings change over time on a given issue

Exit Poll

A poll conducted after a voter leaves their polling location asking how they voted

Entrance Poll

A poll conducted with people before they enter their polling place asking how they will vote

Representative Sample

A small portion of the larger population pollsters are seeking to measure, but has the same characteristics of the larger population.

Sampling Error

Acknowledgment of a small margin of error, which means that the results predicted by the poll were very close to the actual outcome.

Random Sample

Every member of the population must have an equal chance of being selected to participate.

Bandwagon Effect

The impulse for people to get behind the winning candidate in the polls and therefore impact their level of voter support and funding.

Social Desirability Bias

Individuals tend to provide responses that are socially acceptable or desirable, rather than reflecting their true beliefs or behaviors.

Non-Response Bias

Occurs when certain groups are more likely to decline or not participate in a poll, leading to a distorted representation of the population.