American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Vocabulary flashcards covering core American values, political socialization, public opinion polling, political party platforms, and economic and social policy ideologies.

Individualism

The core American value holding that each person has the ability to shape their life and destiny through the choices they make.

Equality of Opportunity

The core American value that all people are given an equal chance to compete.

Free Enterprise

An economic core value emphasizing the pursuit of self-interest, competition, efficient allocation of resources, and limited government regulation of the market, as espoused by Adam Smith in writings such as The Wealth of Nations.

Rule of Law

The principle that every person, even those in power, must follow and is accountable to the same laws that govern all.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors, influenced by agents such as family, schools, peers, media, and social environments.

Generational Effects

Experiences shared by people of a common age that contribute to the development of a person's political ideology.

Life Cycle Effects

Experiences a person encounters during different life stages that contribute to the development of a person's political ideology.

Opinion Polls

Scientific polls designed to measure public opinion on various issues.

Benchmark Polls

Scientific polls used for creating baseline views of a candidate.

Tracking Polls

Scientific polls that follow how views of a candidate change during a campaign.

Exit Polls

Scientific polls used to collect data on why people voted the way they did.

Democratic Party (D or DEM) Platform

Political party platform that generally aligns more closely to liberal ideological positions.

Republican Party (R or GOP) Platform

Political party platform that generally aligns more closely to conservative ideological positions.

Fiscal Policy

Actions taken by Congress and the president to influence economic conditions, which include Keynesian and supply-side positions.

Monetary Policy

Actions taken by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to influence interest rates, which affect broader economic conditions.

The Federal Reserve (the Fed)

An independent agency that seeks to achieve maximum employment and price stability through monetary policy actions.

Liberal Economic Ideology

A political ideology that favors more governmental regulation of the marketplace.

Conservative Economic Ideology

A political ideology that favors fewer regulations of the marketplace.

Libertarian Economic Ideology

A political ideology that favors little or no regulation of the marketplace beyond the protection of property rights and voluntary trade.

Liberal Social Ideology

A political ideology that generally favors more national government involvement to address social issues such as education and public health, with less responsibility left to state governments.

Conservative Social Ideology

A political ideology that generally favors less national government involvement to address social issues such as education and public health, with more responsibility left to state governments.

Libertarian Social Ideology

A political ideology that generally favors little national or state government involvement except when protecting private property or individual liberty.