AP Gov unit 1 vocab (packet 1)

Political socialization

Term used to describe how a individual acquires their political opinions and beliefs.

Political Ideology

Term used to describe a consistent and predictable pattern of beliefs and values a person has and their opinion of the government’s role in promoting or protecting this values.

Conservative

In U.S. politics this term is used to describe a person who believes in less government regulation of the economy and businesses, less government spending and taxing (supply-side), and favors a stronger military and police, while also supporting social issues that often are backed by their religious beliefs (ie pro-life stance on abortion).

Economic Conservative

A person who prioritizes conservative economic policies, such as, spend less money, tax less, and regulate businesses less, over social issues.

Social Conservative

person who prioritizes conservative social policies like being pro-life, or in support of traditional marriage, over conservative economic issues.

Liberal

In U.S. politics this term is used to describe a person who believes in more government regulation of the economy and businesses, more government spending and taxing, and favors stronger social programs (Keynesian) while also supporting social issues such a being pro-choice, or in favor of legalization of drugs.

Economic Liberal

A person who prioritizes liberal economic policies, such as, government spending on social programs, more regulation of businesses, over social issues.

Social Liberal

A person who prioritizes liberal social policies like being pro-choice, or in support of same-sex marriage, over liberal economic issues.

Libertarian

A person who believes in smaller government. Less government to a libertarian means more individual liberty.

Socialism

Political ideology that government regulation and/or government ownership of private business is need to protect people from unregulated capitalism.

Free market Capitalism

Political ideology in the belief that the most efficient allocation of resources is in the free market. Free market means that less government regulation of the market place and that the free interplay between supply and demand and the business operator and the consumer will provide the best economic results.

Free press

Belief that the unregulated press will be able to hold the people in government accountable for their actions and be able to inform the voters of the policies and actions of the government.

Party Identification

Identification of an individual with a political party. If a person calls themselves a Republican and registers to vote as a Republican than the person is a Republican, even if they do not believe in or know the stances of the major parties.

Gender Gap

Trend in U.S. politics since the 1980s that men and women tend to support parties and candidates on different sides of the political ideology spectrum.

Supply-Side

Economic theory associated with conservatives and the Republican party that Congress’ best use of its fiscal powers to cut taxes to invigorate the economy by allowing people to keep more of their money and then spend it as consumers to fuel economic growth.

Keynesian

Economic theory associated with liberals and the Democratic party that Congress’ best use of its fiscal powers to increase spending to invigorate the economy creating business activity that would translate to more people spending more money as consumers which would fuel economic growth.

Political Culture

Learned pattern of beliefs and values that form a culture. In U.S. political culture the following are valued: individualism, rule of law, democratic institutions, pluralism, and limited government.

Liberal democracies

Liberal in this sense means free, liberty not as an ideology.

Illiberal democracy

Democracies that restrict speech, elections, press, political parties, promote less competition, more likely to violate principles of the rule of law, and more likely to make exceptions to the idea of equality of people under the law, more likely to support strong executive leadership and the party of the executive over many parties competing for power (less pluralistic)

Individualism

Political, economic, and social concept that emphasizes the worth, value, equality and freedom of the individual person in a society to make their own political, economic, and social choices.

Self determination

Power of an individual to determine the direction of their life by being empowered to makes personal and individual choices without interference from those in power.

Laissez faire

Economic theory that forms the foundation of capitalism promoted by Adam Smith in his work “The Wealth of Nations.” Policy calls for the government to adopt a “hands-off” approach to their dealings with businesses that own capital. Less government interference and regulation will allow the “invisible hands” of economic theory (laws or supply and demand) to more efficiently than with government regulation.

Rule of law

Principle in republican government theory that the primacy of the law is superior to the arbitrary decisions of individuals and select groups of people.

Arbitrary rule

Governments ruled by the opinions and whims and interests of the more powerful in the society. Processes for creating the laws and policies are flexible and can be bent to better serve the people in power. Policies are less likely to be made to benefit the people in the society and are more likely to lead to policies that limit political and economic freedom. ex; cronyism, kleptocracy, nepotism

Political parties

Organized groups of people who form to operate the government by winning elections in a republican government. The do this through campaigning, recruiting candidates, raising money and developing stances on policies to entice voters to select them over other political parties

Interest Groups

Unlike political parties, interest groups seek to influence those in power. Interest groups exert pressure on those in power through various techniques.

Linkage institutions

Institutions in a liberal democracy that allow the people to participate freely, communicate freely, organize freely to influence and participate in the creation of policies by the government.