AP GOV Unit 4 vocab FINAL FINAL FOR SURE I THINK

Political Culture

Shared beliefs and values about government and politics within a society

Free Enterprise

An economic system where private businesses operate with minimal government regulation

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values

Political Ideology

A consistent set of beliefs about the role of government and public policy

Generational Effect

The impact of historical events on the political attitudes of a specific generation

Focus Group

A small group of people used to gauge public opinion on issues or candidates

Representative Sample

A subset of a population that accurately reflects its demographics

Weighting

Adjusting poll results to correct for demographic imbalances in the sample

Sampling Error

The margin of error that arises from using a sample to represent a population

Exit Poll

A survey conducted at polling places to predict election outcomes and analyze voter behavior

Benchmark Poll

An initial poll used to measure support and guide campaign strategy

Tracking Poll

A poll conducted repeatedly over time to measure changes in public opinion

Question Order

The sequence of questions in a poll that can influence how people respond

Question Wording

The phrasing of questions in a poll that can affect how respondents answer

Party Ideology

The collective beliefs and policy goals of a political party

Party Identification

An individual's loyalty or affiliation with a political party

Conservatism

A political ideology favoring limited government

Liberalism

A political ideology favoring government action to promote equality and social welfare

Libertarianism

A political ideology emphasizing individual liberty

Fiscal Policy

Government decisions about taxing and spending to influence the economy

Monetary Policy

Government regulation of the money supply and interest rates to stabilize the economy

Medicare

A federal program providing health insurance to people aged 65 and older

Medicaid

A joint federal-state program providing health coverage to low-income individuals

Valence Issue

An issue on which most voters agree

Wedge Issue

A controversial issue used to divide voters or weaken political opponents

Saliency

The importance or relevance of an issue to a particular group or individual