AP GOV ideologies

Liberal ideology

-Government has an important role to play in society. 

-The government should regulate the economy in order to 

ensure that efficiency is maximized and noneconomic interests are protected. 

-Government should refrain from regulating moral issues in most cases. Issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, marijuana, and other private matters should be left up to individuals. 

-Government should spend money to assist citizens with social 

services, such as housing, food, and healthcare. 

-The Democratic Party is closely aligned with liberal ideology. 

Conservative Ideology

-Government should play only a minimal role in society. 

-The government should engage in minimal regulation of the economy; market forces maximize efficiency and solve most problems. 

-Government has an important role to play in regulating moral issues. The government should regulate moral issues in order to uphold traditional moral beliefs. 

-Government funding of social goods should be limited. Citizens should not be restrained and should be expected to provide for themselves. 

-The Republican Party is closely aligned with conservative ideology.

Economy (Liberal)

-Increased government regulation of business to protect workers and the enviornment

-Markets need regulation to function efficiently

-Favors taxation of businesses and the wealthy to support spending on public goods

Economy (Conservative)

-Government should minimally regulate the economy

-market forces operate to produce efficiency and productivity in markets

-Favors reduced taxation of businesses and the wealthy in order to stimulate the economy

Federalism (Liberal)

-Favors federal power

Federalism (Conservative)

-Favors states rights

National security (Liberal)

-Favors reducing military spending

-Supports involvement in global affairs, diplomacy, and foreign aid

National security (conservative)

-Favors increasing military spending

-supports limitations on foreign aid, limited involvement with foreign nations, and military strength

Social welfare programs (Liberal)

Increased funding of social welfare programs

Social welfare programs (Conservative)

Reduced spending to social welfare programs

Education (Liberal)

Increased funding of public education

Education (Conservative)

Vouchers and support for private and religious education

Immigration (Liberal)

-Supports legal immigration and citizenship path for certain groups of undocumented immigrants

Immigration (Conservative)

-Reduced legal immigration and opposes citizenship path for undocumented immigrants

Abortion rights (Liberal)

-Favors abortion (Pro-choice)

Abortion rights (Conservative)

Opposes abortion rights (Pro-life)

Civil rights (Liberal)

-Favors expanded civil rights protections

-Favors affirmative action

Civil rights (Conservative)

-Favors limited civil rights protections

-Opposes affirmative action

Environmental protection (Liberal)

-Favors regulations to protect the environment and combat climate change

Environmental protection (Conservative)

-Opposes government action to regulate businesses

-Views climate change as an insignificant problem

Gun Control (Liberal)

-Favors restrictions on gun purchases and ownership

Gun Control (Conservative)

-Opposes restrictions on gun purchases and ownsership

Healthcare (Liberal)

-Supports expended access and government involvement in healthcare

Health care (Conservative)

-Favors private sector, free market healthcare system with minimal government involvement

Libertarian Ideology

-Libertarian ideology shares beliefs with both liberal and 

conservative ideologies. 

-Libertarian ideology opposes government regulation of both 

economic activity and personal choices. For libertarians, individual liberty is the highest value, and government should exist only to protect private property rights. 

-Libertarians are consistent in their view of the proper role of 

government in society, believing: 

-The government should not regulate the economy, but allow the market to function freely according to the decisions of its participants. 

- The government should not involve itself in people's personal decisions. Government interference in choices involving marriage, sex, drugs, gambling, and other issues is a violation of personal liberty. 

Political culture

shared set of political values, beliefs, and norms held within a society. 

Political socialization

process by which individuals within a society acquire their political values and opinions. Agents of socialization include family, education, and the media. 

Political ideology

a coherent set of political ideas held by an individual or organization. Note that party affiliation is related to, but different from, political ideology. Members of political parties may not share the party's ideology in its entirety.