Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

ideology

consistent set of ideas and beliefs

valence issues

consistent ideas across ideologies

wedge (or position) issues

divide the public; high saliency

Fiscal conservatives

want less taxation and government spending

Political socialization

the process by which one develops political beliefs

Benchmark polls

track general information about views and concerns

Tracking polls

ask similar questions over time to compare results

Entrance and exit polls

on Election Day, predicting and comparing outcomes

Push polling

swaying opinions through biased and targeted questions

Culture War issues

Religion, Abortion, Immigration, Drugs

American political culture

Liberty, Individualism, Capitalism, Equality of opportunity and before the law, Democracy

Agenda

list of potential policy, ideas, or bills

Fiscal policy

economic policy about government spending and taxation

Multiplier effect

spending money creates more economic growth than money spent

Progressive tax

tax increases as one’s income increases

Monetary policy

how the government manages supply and demand of currency

Discount rate

interest rate the US loans dollars to commercial banks