AP U.S. Government Unit 4 Vocabulary

individualism

belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and make their own choices

equality of opportunity

the idea that everyone should have the same chance to succeed

free enterprise

economic system where private businesses operate with little government interference

rule of law

principle that all people and government officials must follow the law

political socialization

the process of how people develop political beliefs

political culture

shared beliefs and values about how government should operate in a society

globalization

the process of increased worldwide connection and influence among countries

political ideology

consistent set of beliefs about the role of government

life cycle effects

the way people's political views change as they age

generational effects

how major events shape the political beliefs of a whole generation

demographics

characteristics of a population such as age race gender and income

benchmark polls

initial poll used at the start of a campaign to gauge support

exit polls

surveys taken after voters leave polling places to predict results

opinion polls

surveys asking people their views to estimate public opinion

tracking polls

polls repeated over time to measure changes in support

public opinion

what the public thinks about issues candidates or policies

veracity

accuracy or truthfulness of information

reliability

how consistently polling results stay similar when repeated

Democratic Party platforms

positions favoring more government involvement in the economy and progressive social policies

liberal

ideology supporting social equality government regulation of the economy and expanded civil liberties

Republican Party platforms

positions favoring limited government lower taxes and traditional social values

conservative

ideology supporting limited government free markets and traditional social values

libertarian

ideology supporting minimal government in both economic and social life

fiscal policy

government decisions on spending and taxes to influence the economy

supply-side economics

economic theory that tax cuts for businesses and high earners increase investment and growth

Federal Reserve (the Fed)

U.S. central bank that controls the money supply and interest rates

Keynesian economics

economic theory that government spending should increase during recessions to boost demand

monetary policy

Fed actions to control money supply and interest rates