AP US Government and Politics Unit 4

American Political Culture

The set of values that influence individuals’ attitudes and beliefs about the relationship between citizens and the federal government.

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that each person should have the same opportunities to advance in society.

Free Enterprise

The belief in the right to compete freely in a market governed by supply and demand with limited government involvement.

Ideology

The beliefs and ideas that help to shape political opinion and policy.

Individualism

The principle of valuing individual rights over those of the government, with a strong emphasis on individual initiative and responsibility.

Limited Government

The political system in which there are restrictions placed on the government.

Rule of Law

The principle that government is based on a body of law applied equally and fairly to every citizen, not on the whims of those in charge, and that no one is above the law, including the government. If you violate the law, you unfairly apply the law to some citizens.

Demographic Characteristics

The socioeconomic characteristics relating to the population, including age, race, income, education, and other factors that influence political behavior and public opinion.

Globalization

The growth of an interconnected world economy and culture, fueled by lowered trade barriers between nations and advances in communications technology. Globalization has influenced American politics by increasing the extent to which the United States influences, and is influenced by, the values of other countries.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals acquire their political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, often influenced by family, education, media, and social networks.

Generational Effects

The experiences shared by a group of people who came of age together that affect their political attitudes. Wars and economic recessions that hit one generation particularly hard have lasting effects on the political attitudes of that generation as its members progress through life. Those who came of age during the Great Depression and New Deal are Democratic.

Lifecycle Effects

Changes over the course of an individual’s lifetime, which affect their political attitudes and participation. As individuals develop from young age to adults to senior citizens, their concerns and values change. Younger Americans tend to be more liberal but less politically active than older Americans.

Period Effects

The major events and social trends that affect the political attitudes of the entire population. The terrorist attacks from 9/11 and the Watergate Scandal had lasting effects on the political attitudes of those who lived through them.

Formative Age

The period in an individual's life when they are most receptive to political socialization, typically during late adolescence to early adulthood. Experiences during this time can strongly shape an individual's political beliefs and party affiliations. Millenials who came of age during the Great Recession and the Silent Generation who came of age during the Great Depression are more fiscally conservative than other generations.

Fiscal Conservative

An individual who prioritizes reducing government spending and limiting taxes, favoring a balanced budget and fiscal responsibility.

Party Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in the political landscape, often resulting in the transformation of party coalitions and voter demographics. This occurs when a large group of voters changes their political allegiance, often in response to major political events or issues. 9/11 caused many Americans to shift to the Republican Party and the Great Depression caused many Americans to become Democratic.

Public Opinion

The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs about particular issues, candidates, or institutions within a society. Public opinion can significantly influence political decision-making and policy development.

Population

The total number of individuals inhabiting a particular area or country, which can affect electoral outcomes and public policy.

Sample

The group of people a researcher surveys to gauge the whole population’s opinion. Researchers study samples beause it is impossible to interview everyone in a population.

Sampling Technique

The process by which pollsters select respondents to a survey or the sample population for a poll. Samples should be random, otherwise pol results might not accurately represent the target population.

Sampling Error

The predicted difference between the average opinion expressed by survey respondents and the average opinion in the population. This is also called margin of error. As the sample size increases, the margin of error decreases.

Representative Sample

A relatively small number of respondents who accurately reflect the variety of opinions, demographics, etc. in the broader population. In political science, a representative sample is usually between 400 and 2000 respondents.

Benchmark Polls

Polls conducted by a campaign as a race for office begins. These polls provide the campaign with a basis for comparison for later polls, so that the candidate can see if their likelihood of winning the office is increasing or decreasing. A common problem with polls is biased questions and a small sample size.

Opinion Polls

Polls taken by sampling a small section of the public in an effort to predict election results or to estimate public attitudes on issues.

Tracking Polls

Surveys performed repeatedly with the same group of people to check and measure changes of opinion.

Entrance Polls

Performed on Election Day and are taken as voters enter their voting location.

Exit Polls

Performed on Election Day and are taken as voters exit their voting location. Media outlets often rely on exit polls to determine election results, even before the ballots have been counted.

Mass Survey

The most common type of survey. It is a way to measure public opinion by interviewing a large sample of the population.

Focus Group

A small, demographically-diverse group of people assembled for an in-depth focus of discussion. Researchers study the group’s reactions to an idea or candidate in order to gauge how the broader public might react.

Conservative Ideology

A political ideology that tends to believe that government should be small, operating mainly at the state or local level. They favor minimal government interference in the economy and prefer private sector-based solutions to problems. Social conservatives believe that the government should uphold traditional morality, and therefore should impose restrictions on contraception, abortion, and same-sex marriage. Conservatives are right wing.

Republican Party

One of the two main political parties in the United States. Founded in 1854, the Republican Party traditionally supports conservative positions on economic issues, advocates for limited government, and emphasizes individual liberties. They align with the conservative ideology.

Liberal Ideology

A political ideology that typically advocates for a larger role of government in economic regulation and social welfare. Liberals emphasize equality, social justice, and the protection of civil liberties, often supporting progressive taxation, universal healthcare, and expanded rights for marginalized groups. They believe that the government should not regulate private sexual or social behaviors. They fall on the left wing.

Democratic Party

One of the two main political parties in the United States. Founded in the early 19th century, the Democratic Party traditionally supports liberal positions on economic and social issues, advocating for a larger role of government in promoting social justice and equal rights. They align with the liberal ideology.

Progessive Ideology

A political ideology that emphasizes social reform, environmental protection, and the need for an active government to address issues like inequality and corporate power. Progressives seek to create a more equitable society through policy changes and regulations. While liberals believe in protecting disadvantaged groups, progressives want to reform systemic issues that caused them to be disadvantaged in the first place.

Communitarians

Tend to support legislation that emphasizes the needs of communities over the rights of the individual. They are likely to be economically liberal, but socially conservative.

Libertarians

Favor limited government intervention in personal, social, and economic issues. The Libertarian Party feels that the Republican and Democratic Party no longer represents their initial intentions.

Nationalists

Tends to promote the interests of their nation, and often believe in the superiority of their nation over others.

The Green Party

The fourth largest party in the United States. Founded in 2001, the party favors a strong federal government. Its candidates often run on a platform of grassroots democracy, nonviolence, social justice, and environmentalism.

Policy Mood

A measure of the public’s preferences toward policy choices.

Position Issue

An issue that divides voters, such as gun control or the death penalty.

Valence Issue

An issue that most voters will agree with, such as economic prosperity or caring for the elderly.

Fiscal Policy

Government decisions about how to influence the economy by taxing and spending.

Monetary Policy

Government decisions about how to influence the economy using control of the money supply and interest rates.

Federal Reserve

An independent federal agency that determines US monetary policy with the goal of stabilizing the banking system and promoting economic growth.

Keynesian Economics

An economic philosophy that encourages government spending through the creation of jobs or the distribution of unemployment benefits in order to promote economic growth. Government intervention and the principles of this type of economics were heightened during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Hayek Economics / Side Supply Economics

An economic philosophy that encourages tax cuts and deregulation in order to promote economic growth. Since the 1970s, less government involvement in the economy aligned with the ideas of conservatives and the theory of supply-side economics has flourished.

Government Intervention

Regulatory actions taken in order to affect decisions made by individuals, groups, or organizations regarding social and economic matters.

Individual Liberties

Personal freedoms that the government cannot abridge, particularly those guarantees found in the Bill of Rights.

Right to Privacy

The right to be free of government scrutiny into one’s private beliefs and behavior.

Social Policy

A public policy related to health care, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor.