gov unit 4

Racial Profiling

the act of suspecting or targeting a person of a certain race on the basis of observed or assumed characteristics or behavior of a racial or ethnic group, rather than on individual suspicion.

Blue State

State that usually favors Democrats.

Red State

State that usually favors Republicans.

The Donkey

Official symbol of Democratic Party

The Elephant

Official symbol of Republican Party

The Grand Old Party (GOP)

Reference to Republican Party

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

Roe v. Wade (1973)

the landmark abortion case; no state can ban abortion until after the first trimester (3 months) of a pregnancy

Libertarians

believe in a very limited role of government in your life

Authoritarians

believe in a strong and active government

Radicals

can be either far-left or far-right of the political spectrum

Revolutionaries

to the far-left of the political spectrum

Reactionaries

to the far-right of the political spectrum

Social Secuirity

a federal insurance program that provides benefits to retired people and those who are unemployed or disabled

Euthanasia

the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma

Pro-choice

Generally support a woman’s right in certain situations to have an abortion

Pro-life

Generally opposed to abortion

Conservatives

a little to the right on the political spectrum

Liberals

a little to the left on the political spectrum

School vouchers

an element of “school choice”

Welfare

government aid to people in need of support

Affirmative action

government programs that encourage minority hiring

Individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, the rule of law

What are the core beliefs and attitudes of U.S. citizens about the role of government? (I,E,F,T)

Liberal ideologies

more government regulations in the marketplace

Conservative ideologies

fewer government regulations in the marketplace

Libertarian ideologies

Little or no government regulatins in the marketplace

Fiscal policy

Consists of actions taken by Congress and the president to influence economic condition and includes Keynesian and supply-side economics

Monetary policy

Consists of actions taken by the Federal Reserve to influence interest rates which affect broader economic conditions.

Federal Reserve

An independent agency which seeks to achieve maximum employment and price stability

Keynesian economists

They want the government to take action in economic tough times; the government should do something (stimulus checks, bail out financial industry, new cut taxes, increase government spending); monetary manipulation; regulated market economy

Opinion, Benchmark, Tracking, Exit

Different ways of collecting public opinion data (O,B,T,E)

Benchmark polls

taken at the beginning of a candidate’s run

Tracking polls

conducted over time usually with the same people and usually on the same issue

Exit polls

Polling people at polls after they have voted. There are also entrance polls.

Accurate sampling methods, neutral framing of questions, accurate reporting

Elements of a scientific poll (S,F,R)

Representative, random

Accurate sampling methods require the sample to be _____ and ______

Neutral framing of questions

Questions are neither leading nor confusing; effects of closed vs. open-ended questions

Conservative

Burning the American flag as a form of political protest should NOT be protected free speech

Conservative

People on welfare are generally lazy and not trying to find work.

Conservative

In general, affirmative action programs do more harm than good.

Conservative

In general, more money should be spent on national defense than on domestic programs.

Conservative

Universal health care for all US citizens should NOT be funded by the national government (our tax dollars).

Conservative

It should be legal and constitutional to say a prayer at the beginning of assemblies in public schools.

Conservative

Persons receiving the death penalty should be limited in the number of times they can appeal. The sentence should be carried out in a shorter period of time than it is now.

Conservative

I agree with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) Supreme Court decision which overturned Roe v. Wade (1973), which had guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.

Conservative

Parents should be able to send their students to any school they choose—even a religious one—AND tax money should be used to help fund these schools.

Conservative

The federal government should be required to have a balanced budget (the government can’t spend more than it brings in) regardless of programs that might have to be cut.

Conservative

Laws should NOT be passed that limit the sale of certain types of weapons that are used for hunting and other legitimate sporting purposes.

Conservative

Sex education should NOT be included in the curriculum of any public school.

Conservative

Student lockers should be searched by police or school officials on a random basis for illegal materials.

Conservative

There should NOT be a minimum wage law in the United States

Conservative

There should be laws that make it illegal for public employees—such as firefighters, police officers, and teachers—to go on strike.

Conservative

Public schools should be required to teach biblical creationism in all classes that teach the theory of evolution.

Conservative

Evidence that is obtained unconstitutionally—but honestly and unintentionally—should be admissible in court and used against a suspect.

Conservative

Requirements for any military duty, including combat, should be based partially on gender.

Conservative

If two equally qualified persons apply for a job and one of them is a minority, race should NOT play a role in the hiring.

Conservative

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and similar groups that take many cases to court claiming “constitutional rights have been violated” usually cause more harm than good.  

Conservative

Using nuclear energy and constructing nuclear power plants—despite their risk—is necessary for potential energy sources.

Conservative

The death penalty is NOT “cruel and unusual punishment” and should continue to be practiced in the United States.

Conservative

Sexual harassment is NOT a problem in the workplace; only the most blatant cases should be enforced by the US legal system.

Conservative

Prisons should punish criminals, not rehabilitate them.

Conservative

The FBI and CIA should be able to wiretap the phones and read the mail of any suspected criminal.

Conservative

The federal government must place business’s importance above that of the environment.

Conservative

The US must limit the flow of immigrants into the country.

Conservative

The United States does NOT need to consider the opinion of other countries around the world when launching a military attack.

Conservative

Higher tax rates on high income earners would decrease their incentive to work.

Conservative

Government regulation almost always causes more harm than good.

Conservative

Trade should be completely free and open with essentially no government regulation (e.g. allow trade with nations that have poor labor/wages and/or environmental practices).

Conservative

It remains uncertain whether any warming is human caused (vs. natural earth cycle); or that the effects would be catastrophic. No new laws/regulation are appropriate at this time.

Conservative

Physician assisted suicide should remain illegal.

Conservative

Profanity and sexually-oriented material on the internet should be outlawed by federal and state governments.

Conservative

Our government should continue to conduct (and potentially expand) operations around the globe to preserve our interests and assist our allies.

Conservative

Taxpayers should not be expected to prop up any theaters or museums that cannot survive on a commercial basis.

Conservative

Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society's support.

Conservative

Charity is better than social security as a means of helping the genuinely disadvantaged.

Conservative

Same sex couples should NOT be able to adopt children.

Conservative

Overall, I think that President Obama's policies did more harm than good for the United States.