AP U.S. Government and Politics Unit 4 Vocabulary Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms related to Unit 4 of the AP U.S. Government and Politics course.

Political Ideologies

A set of beliefs about politics and the role of government that influences opinions and actions.

Political Parties

Organized groups of people who share similar beliefs and seek to gain political power.

Political Spectrum

A system for categorizing political beliefs or ideologies along a continuum from left to right.

Political Compass (Grid)

A two-dimensional model that classifies political ideologies, considering both economic and social dimensions.

Liberal

A political ideology favoring social progress, reform, and more active government involvement in economic affairs.

Conservative

A political ideology emphasizing tradition, limited government, and free markets.

Authoritarian

A governing system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.

Libertarian

A political ideology that advocates for civil liberties and individual freedom, with minimal government interference.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals form their political beliefs and values.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on certain issues.

Opinion Polls

Surveys conducted to measure public opinion on various topics.

Exit Polls

Surveys taken immediately after voters leave polling places to predict election outcomes.

Margin of Error

A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll, indicating the range of potential variation.

Monetary Policy

Government policy that manages the money supply and interest rates to influence the economy.

Fiscal Policy

Government spending and tax policies used to influence the economy.

Supply-Side Economics

An economic theory that advocates reducing taxes and decreasing regulation to stimulate economic growth.

Keynesian Economics

An economic theory advocating for increased government spending and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the economy out of recession.

The “FED”

Short for the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States.