Unit 4: AP Government

Key vocabulary terms are listed on pages 419, 439, and 476. Chapters 12-14

Equality of Oppertunity

Everyone should have an equal chance to succeed in life.

Free Enterprise

An economic system with minimal government interference and competition for profit.

Individualism

A theory favoring individual freedom over state control.

Laissez-Faire

The government should minimize interference in the economy.

Limited Government

The idea is that the government should have restrictions to protect citizens' natural rights.

Political Culture

A shared set of values within a society.

Rule of Law

No one is above the law

Globalization

Global actions or processes that make something worldwide in scope.

Political Socialization

The development of our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.

Lifecycle Effects

A variety of physical, social, and psychological changes that people go through as they age

Generational Effects

Historical events can shape people's political attitudes.

Great Depression

A time of utter economic disaster started in the United States in 1929.

Iraq Invasion

1. Triggered by a false claim of a pro-Iraqi uprising against Kuwait's Amir.

2. Kuwait was taken over within hours.

3. Amir and the ministers fled to Saudi Arabia.

New Deal Coalition

Alliance of Southern Conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities supporting the Democratic Party for 40 years.

Great Recession

Severe economic downturn that lasted from late 2007 through mid-2009.

Approval Rating

The amount of public support for an official, such as a president

Benchmark Polls

Poll on a candidate and key issues for campaign strategy comparison.

Entrance polls

Public opinion surveys taken before voters cast their ballots

Exit Polls

Polls are conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day.

Focus Group

A group led by a consultant to discuss and gather opinions on candidates and issues.

Push Polling

A biased survey designed to influence respondents.

Random-Digit Dialing

A method pollsters use to randomly call both listed and unlisted numbers for surveys.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Representative Sample (Universe)

A group of people meant to represent the large group in question

Sampling Error

Confidence in a public opinion poll increases with the number of people interviewed.

Tracking Polls

Continuous surveys that enable a campaign to chart its daily rise or fall in support

Weighting (Stratification

Making sure that demographic groups are properly represented in a sample.

Bandwagon Effect

A shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

Bradley Effect

Polls show favor with candidates from minority groups, but election results do not always reflect that.

Non-Response Bias

Bias is introduced into survey results because individuals refuse to participate.

Social Desirability Bias

A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.

Ideology

A system of social or political ideas

Populist

A supporter of the rights and power of the people

Progressive

Going forward to something considered better

Saliency

Importance of an issue to a specific individual or group (e.g., social security = high salience for seniors).

Valence Issues

Issues on which most voters and candidates share the same position

Wedge Issues

Issues that sharply divide the public.

Agenda

Plan of action; purpose

Majoritarian

A political theory that in a democracy, the government should act according to the majority's wishes.

Progressive Tax

A tax where higher-income individuals pay a larger percentage of their income than lower-income individuals.

Supply Side Economics

An economic theory from the Reagan era that fiscal policy should stimulate goods supply through tax cuts

Trade Balance

The gap between exports and imports

Bonds

Certificates of debt that carry a promise to buy back the bonds at a higher price

Discount Rate

The interest rate on the loans that the Fed makes to banks

Federal Reserve Board

A seven-member board that sets reserve requirements, controls the discount rate, and makes economic decisions.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy that manages the economy through taxation and spending control.

Flat Rate

Standard rate with no discount allowance

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices

Internal Revenue Service

A branch of the U.S. Treasury Department that collects taxes

Monetary Policy

Government policy aimed at managing the economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates.

Multiplier Effect

An economic effect where increased spending results in a larger rise in national income and consumption.

Reserve Requirement

The percentage of deposits that banking institutions must hold in reserve

Sixteenth Amendment

Income tax

Entitlements

Policies where Congress commits to pay specific benefits to a set number of recipients, such as Social Security.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by existing laws that is "locked in" the budget

Social Welfare

Programs to help certain groups of people

Medicaid

A program providing health care services for those who can't afford them.

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The health care reform law, passed in 2010 that includes incentives and penalties for employers providing health insurance as a benefit

Social Security Act

Implemented a tax on workers and employers to fund monthly pensions for retirees.