American Political Ideologies and Beliefs Test Review

Political Socialization,

How are American beliefs formed and how do they evolve over time?

Demographics, Political Socialization, Generational Effects, Life-Cycle Effects, Cultural change

How do political ideology and core values influence government policy making?

Ideologies, Core Values of American Political Culture, Policy-making impact

Core beliefs & attitudes

Americans differ on the role of government (liberty vs. equality). Liberals prefer more government action; conservatives prefer less.

Cultural factors & socialization

Family, education, peers, and media teach political norms and behaviors.

Scientific polling

Reliable polls use random samples, neutral wording, and appropriate sample size.

Quality of data

Credibility depends on sample size, question wording, timing, and margin of error.

Ideologies of parties

Democrats → Keynesian economics, equality; Republicans → supply-side economics, traditional values.

Political culture effects

Beliefs shape what issues people prioritize and how they expect the government to act.

Decline in trust

Trust has dropped since Vietnam/Watergate due to scandals, polarization, misinformation.

Economic ideology differences

Keynesian = government spending boosts economy; Supply-side = tax cuts drive growth.

Social issue ideology

Liberals favor government solving social issues (e.g., healthcare, climate change); conservatives prefer private or local solutions.

Demographics

Characteristics of a population (age, race, gender, income) used to study voting behavior.

Free Enterprise

Economic system based on private ownership and limited government interference.

Political Attitudes

Opinions and preferences about government, policy, and political leaders.

Benchmark Polls

Benchmark: initial poll before campaign

Tracking Polls

Tracking: measures changes in opinion over time.

Identification of Respondents

Process of determining who is answering a poll (to ensure representativeness).

Reliability

The consistency of polling results when repeated under the same conditions.

Liberal

Ideology favoring active government in economy and protection of individual rights.

Libertarian

Ideology favoring minimal government interference in both economic and social life.

Keynesian Economics

Government should increase spending during recessions to stimulate demand.

Gender Gap

Difference in political preferences between men and women.

Generational Effects

Long-term effects of major events on a generation’s political views.

Individualism

Emphasis on personal freedom and responsibility.

Rule of Law

All individuals, including government officials, are subject to the law.

Political Socialization

Process by which individuals form political beliefs.

Entrance Polls

A survey taken before voters cast their ballots, usually as they enter polling places. To find out why people are voting a certain way and predict outcomes based on early trends.

Exit Polls

A survey taken immediately after voters leave polling stations. to analyze actual voter behavior, such as who they voted for, their demographics, and key issues that influenced them.

Mass Survey

A large-scale poll measuring the opinions of a big group (often thousands) of people.

Focus Group

A small, diverse group of people brought together to discuss opinions or reactions in depth.

Veracity

The truthfulness or accuracy of data, especially in public opinion polling.

Republican Party

One of the two major U.S. political parties, generally supporting limited government, free markets, and conservative social values.

Ideology

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

Supply-Side Economics

The theory that lower taxes and deregulation encourage businesses to produce more, boosting economic growth.

Citizens

Legal members of a nation who have rights, responsibilities, and participation in its political process.

Life Cycle Effects

The way people’s political beliefs and participation change as they age or experience major life events (marriage, parenthood, retirement).

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that all individuals should have the same chance to succeed, regardless of background.

Limited Government

The idea that government powers are restricted to protect individual freedoms.

Opinion Poll

A survey used to measure public opinion on political issues or candidates.

Sampling Error

The margin of difference between poll results and actual population opinions.

Democratic Party

One of the two major U.S. political parties, generally supporting social equality, environmental protection, and government involvement in the economy.

Conservative 

A person who favors traditional values, limited government, and free-market economics.

Marketplace

The arena in which political ideas, candidates, or policies compete for public support (“marketplace of ideas”).

Minority-Majority 

A situation in which minority groups collectively make up more than half of a population.

Electorate

All eligible voters in an election.