AP Gov unit 5

Core political values of Americans

individualism, rule of law, free enterprise, equality of opportunity, and limited govt (not needed to know)

political culture

the dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship b/t citizens and govt

individualism

The belief that individuals are responsible for themselves and the decisions they make

Free Enterprise

An economic system where the govt intrudes as little as possible in economic transactions, like laissez-faire

Political socialization

the experiences and factors that shape an individual’s political values, attitudes, and behaviors, family is the biggest

Political ideology

an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about govt and politics

Generational effect

The impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views, events they lived through

Life-cycle effect

the impact of a person’s age and stage in life on his or hers political views

Rule of law

No one is above the law, even those that are govt officials

Public opinion

the sum of individual attitudes about govt, policies, and issues

Focus groups

Small group of invdividuals assembled for a convo about specific issues

Scientific poll

Representative poll with random selection, with a significant sample size, and neutral language

Sample

a subgroup of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion

Random selection

way of choosing poll respondents that doesn’t over or under represent any group

Representative sample

a sample that reflects the demographics of the population

Weighting

a procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of the larger population

Sampling error

the margin of error in a poll, usually calculated to around + or - percentage points

Mass survey

designed to measure the opinions of the population, usually 1500 responses

Entrance poll

poll conducted of people coming to an event

Exit poll

taken outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why

Benchmark poll

Survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign in order to gauge support for a candidate and determine which issues are important to voters

Tracking poll

survey determining the level of support for a candidate or issue throughout a campaign

Random digit dialing

Using telephone numbers randomly generated by a computer to select potential survey respondents

Question order

the sequencing of questions in public opinion polls

Question wording

the phasing of a question in a public opinion poll

Political ideology

A set of beliefs about desired goals and outcomes of a process of governance

Right

something guaranteed, that the gov can’t take away

Privilege

Something a person may obtain or receive, but the gov can’t take away

Party ideology

a party’s philosophy about the proper role of the gov and its set of positions on major issues

Party identification

an individuals’s attachment to a political party

Conservatism

republican, ideology that favors more gov control over social behavior and fewer regulations on businesses and the economy

Liberalism

Democrat, an ideology favoring less gov control over social behavior and more regulation of business and the economy

Libertarianism

ideology favoring very little gov regulation and intervention beyond protecting private property and individual liberty

Command-and-control economy

economic policy in which the gov dictates much of a nation’s economic activity, including the amount of production and prices for goods