AP Gov Unit 2 Test - Political Parties

American political culture

a dominant set of beliefs defined by democratic ideals, principles, and core values

individualism

the beliefs that people can shape their lives and destinies through the choice they make (alexis de tocqueville)

equality of oppurtunity

core american value that everyone should have an equal chance to compete (decleration of indepdence preamble, social status should be based on effort, political equality)

free entreprise

an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control.

rule of law

principle that no one is above the law and that every person even those in power is accountable and must follow the laws that govern society 

how republicans view - rule of law

crime associated with immigrants & liberals soft on crime 

how democrats view - rule of law

executive overreach (power of the president)

how republicans view - individualism

Laissez faire approach to economics

how democrats view - individualism

individual choice (pro-choice)

how republicans view - equality of oppurtunity

prioritization of merit over equality and DEI

how democrats view - equality of oppurtunity

level the playing field for all (affirimitive action)

how republicans view - free enterprise

less regulations & taxes

how democrats view - Free enterprise

private & public partnership (subsidies)

how republicans view - limited government

lower presence of government in markets/regulation, entitlement, spending

how democrats view - limited government

media are being censored (censoring ideas)

political socialization

process by which individuals develop their political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors

political ideology

individuals coherent set of beliefs about government and politics

party identification

degree to which an individual identifies with and supports a particular political party

how do family schools and peers impact political beleifs

shape childrens political values, families are chlidrens first source of political information (news, comments, controversy)

generational effect

impact of experiences shaped by people of a similar age on their political ideologies

life cycle effect

the impact of a persons age and stage in life on their political wants

laissez-faire economy

governments intervene as little as possible in the economic transactions between citizens and businesses

command-and-control economy

economic policy in which governemnt dictates much of a nations economic activity,

mixed economy

economic policy in which many economic decisions are left to individuals and businesses, with the government regulating economic activity

gross domestic product(GDP)

total value of g/s produced by an economy

economic recession

a period of decline in economic activity, typically defined by two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth

unemployment rate

percentage of people who are actively looking for work but cannot find a job

inflation

rise in the prices of g/s (small amount is normal)

consumer price index

The cost of a fixed basket of g/s over time is used to measure the cost of living (If CPI goes up, social security recipients may receive benefits)

keynesianism

Idea established by john maynard keynes, supported by liberals, an economic theory that advocates for government intervention to stabilize a market economy, especially during recession (example is the new deal)

Supply-side theory

established by Arthur Laffer and Robert Mundell, proposes lower taxes on individuals and businesses as the most effective tool to combat economic downturns, trickle-down economics

Fiscal Policy

government use of taxes and spending to attempt to lower unemployment, increase economic growth, and stabilize the economy . (based on principles of keynesianism/supply-side)

What do liberals want to do with government and taxes?

increase government involvement and increase taxes, especially for the upper class

What do republicans want to do with government and taxes?

decrease government involvement and decrease taxes

monetary policy

A set of economic policy tools designed to regulate the amount of money in the economy. a policy that makes more money, → lead to inflation. Government should try to match access  to money to the growth in economic productivity

The federal reserve system

a board of governors and. member bank responsible for U.S. monetary policy (appointed by the president and confirmed by Senate, 14-year non-renewable terms, chair serves 4-year terms, sets reserve roots that require banks to keep a certain amount of deposits in reserve, influences interest rates that banks pay to borrow money from the federal government

What do democrats believe

believe in civil rights and womens rights, government works to solve problems

What do republicans believe

against wasteful spending and for a strong government defense, laissez faire, and tradition

What are the aspects of the business cycle

peak ( causes GDP to increase, unemployment to decrease, and inflation increase. stock market increase), trough (GDP decrease, unemployment increase, inflation decrease, stock market decrease), free market line (more intense), fiscal policy (trends upward by pattern is less wild)

Laffer Curve

x axis is tax rate, y axis is tax revenue, Region I (tax rates are low), increases in tax rates lead to increases in tax revenue. 

Region II (tax rates are high) increases in tax rates decrease tax revenue. 

office of management and budget

the executive branch office that assits the president in setting, national spending priorities 

setting the federal budget

Step 1: the presidents proposed budget (congressional budget and impoundment and control act of 1979) Step 2: Congress act (produce a budget resolution that provides broad outlines for federal spending, set budget for department) 

entitlement program

a program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income (social security/ medicare)

mandatory spending

spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget

discretionary spending

spending for programs and policies. atthe direction of congress and the president

budget surplus

amount of money remaining when the government takes in more than it spends

budget deficit

the short fall when a government takes in less money than it spends

national debt

the total amount of money owed by the federal government

social security

program that continues to impact the federal budget (created programs to support vulnerable groups (unemployment insurance, old age insurance, old age assistance), entitlement programs (funded by pay roll taxes (no income based requirements))

what are the 4 ways public policy comes about

budget process, court rulings, congressional law, checks

What is the budget process

president submits budget to congress → house and senate mark up and pass budget → house and senate conference the budget resolution → spending bills passed by appropriations committees → reconciliation/authoritization → new fiscal year begin

appropriations clause

mandates that no money can be drawn from the Treasury without a law passed by Congress, and requires a regular publication of the nation's receipts and expenditures (article 1, section 9, clause 7)

non-means tested

it can apply to anyone (social security, unemployment benefits, veteran disability benefits)

means tested

prove you are in need (medicare, temporary assistance for needy families)

scientific poll

a representitive poll of randomly selected respondents of a statistically significant sample size, who are asked questions using neutral language

sample

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

random selection

a method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not over or under represent any group of the population (ensures that it is the most reprentitive of the larger population)

representitive sample 

a sample that reflects the demographics. ofthe 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, which usually is calculated to plus or minus 3 percentage points

mass survey

a survey designed to measure the opinions of the population usually consisting of fifteen hundred responses 

enterance survey

a poll conducted of people as they come into an event

exit poll

a survey conducted outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why (used in news outlets and understanding patterns of voting)

benchmark poll

a 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 polls

a survey determining the level of support for a candidate or an issue throughout a campaign (media uses often)

question order

the sequencing of questions in public opinion polls

question wording

the phrasing of a question in a public opinon poll

What are the challenges of using polling to measure public opinon?

it can make false prdeictions depending on everything mentioned above

Deficit

economic conditions  that occurs when expenditures> revenues

debt

sum of annual budget deficits

When fiscal policies are put in place during an economic peak?

cutting government spending and increasing taxes (often dont happen because government officials make these choices and they are VERY unpopular)

When fiscal policies are put in place during an economic trough?

lowering taxes (republican favored) and increase government spending (Democrat favored)

When monetary policies are put in place during an economic peak?

increase interest rates and sell bonds (actually happens during peaks)

When monetary policies are put in place during an economic trough?

lowering interest rates and buying bonds (less common) 

What roles do political parties play?

Political parties recruit, nominate, and support candidates for political office, they provide labels that voters can use as shortcuts in identifying candidates closer to their own political ideologies, enacts the policy positions of its members and acts as an opposition to the majority party when it is in the minority

Why are political parties important? 

They are the linkage institutions that connect citizens with government and communicate to policy makers (a healthy party is a check on the opposition, promoting ideas and  candidates that differ from other party’s positions)

Parties as an organization

Made up a professional task-force focused on expanding party membership, financing the national convention and other party building avenues, and developing a party platform. Largely independent and held at the national, state, and local levels. 

The party in the electorate

The party members. Parties have no restrictions on who can members. More active members volunteer for the party, make donations, or even run for office. They may be lifelong members or just who the voter tends to side with on election day

Party in the government

Consists of the elected officials who belong to the party. These politicians are responsible for proposing, debating, voting on, and signing legislation that meets the party’s platform goals. (it is easier for a party to get policy passed with control over both houses of congress and the presidency but party platforms are not binding (officials from the same party dont always agree))

party identification 

the degree to which a voter is connected to and influenced by a particular political party 

straight ticket voting

voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one party

split ticket voting

voting for candidates from different parties in the election

party platform

An official set of positions and policy objectives of a political party. (creates great controversy)

recruitment

the process through which political parties identify potential candidates (parties control who runs for office, provide expertise and support for their candidates, hire political consultants to help raise money and refine their message, use polls to help their candidates win)

coalition

demographic groups of voters who support a political party over time (voting, people can shift parties)

realignment

when groups of people who support a political party shift their alliance to a different political party

critical election

a major national election that signals a change in the balance of power between the two parties (1968)

Divided government

when are party control one or both houses of congress and the president is from the opposing party (result of seperation of powers)

What is the main focus of modern American party politics

advertising the candidate well

How do political parties change and adapt

democrats and republicans have tried to remain dominant in an age of intense polarization

what is the impact of polarization

led voters to participate in politics out of intense dislike of the other side

How has the democratic party developed over time?

The democratic party was once a group of white supremacists who were supported by slave holding states and believed in protecting slavery. This group would expell native americans and supported Manifest Destiny. The rise of progressivism came about during the Gilded Age and began the switch from white supremacy to minority voters. 

solid south

When the south was solidly liberal and would not vote any way other than liberal

How has the Republican Party developed over time?

It began as the Whigs, who were divided over the topic of slavery which eventually led the party to collapse. When the republican party came about through abarham lincon, they were strongly anti slavery. They eventually gave up reforming the south and when roosevelt began expanding government power during the great depression, many of the business men came into the party because the republican party was against expanding power. This switch from minority voters to white voters is what reflects the party today

Dealignment

the process by which an individual loses their loyalty to a political party without developing loyalty to another party

political party machines

organized the voters for a specific candidate

How do you know if it is a critical election?

1. there was major party realignment

2. Significant event (civil war or great depression)

3. significant policy change (abolition/new deal)

4. era of party dominance (presidency, house, senate)

What are the two big critical elections

Lincoln and FDR

Two Party System

a system in which two polticial parties dominate politics winning almost all elections (no law requiring, been dominant for most of U.S. History)

Proportional representation system

an election system in which citizens vote for parties rather than individuals and parties are represented in the legislature according to the % of the vote they recieve