ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT UNIT 2 VOCABULARY EXAM REVIEW QUIZLET

Exit Poll

A survey conducted with voters immediately after they have cast their votes. Exit polls are used to predict the outcome of an election and to analyze voter demographics and behavior.

Fiscal Policy

Government policies related to taxation, spending, and borrowing. Fiscal policy aims to influence the economy by adjusting government budgets to either stimulate growth (through spending and tax cuts) or slow inflation (through austerity measures).

Focus Group

A small, diverse group of individuals selected to provide insights into their opinions, attitudes, and perceptions about political issues, candidates, or policies. Facilitated by a moderator, these groups provide qualitative data and help understand the reasons behind public opinions.

Generational Effect

The influence of historical events, cultural shifts, and political conditions on the political attitudes and behaviors of a particular generation. Major events such as wars or economic crises often lead to long-lasting changes in the political views of those who experience them.

Liberalism

A political ideology that advocates for government intervention in the economy to address social inequalities, promote welfare, and protect individual rights. Liberals tend to support policies like progressive taxation, social programs, and civil liberties.

Libertarianism

A political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Libertarians believe that people should be free to make their own decisions with minimal interference from the government, especially in economic and personal matters.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program in the U.S. that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families. Medicaid helps pay for medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and long-term care, based on income eligibility.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program in the U.S. primarily for people aged 65 and older, and for certain younger people with disabilities. Medicare helps cover healthcare costs, such as hospital visits, doctor services, and prescription drugs.

Monetary Policy

The management of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank (such as the Federal Reserve in the U.S.) to control inflation, stabilize the currency, and influence economic growth. It can involve actions such as raising or lowering interest rates or buying and selling government bonds.

Party Identification

A long-term psychological attachment to a political party, often influenced by family, social environment, and personal values. It reflects a person’s loyalty to a party and often guides voting behavior and political opinions.

Party Ideology

The set of beliefs and values that a political party holds regarding the role of government, the economy, and social issues. For example, Democratic Party ideology may emphasize social equality and environmental protection, while Republican Party ideology may focus on individual liberty and limited government.

Political Culture

The shared beliefs, values, and norms about how the government should operate, the role of citizens, and how authority should be exercised within a society. It shapes political behavior and expectations, influencing everything from voting patterns to political debates.

Political Ideology

A set of coherent beliefs and values about the role of government, economics, and society. Common political ideologies include liberalism, conservatism, and libertarianism. It provides a framework for understanding political issues and guiding political action.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political attitudes, beliefs, and values, typically influenced by family, education, media, and peer groups. It shapes how people think about politics and can influence political participation and party affiliation.

Question Order

The sequence in which survey questions are asked can influence the responses. Questions asked earlier may affect how respondents answer later questions, introducing potential bias or changing the perceived importance of issues.

Question-Wording

The way a survey or poll question is phrased can influence how people respond. Leading or ambiguous wording can result in biased answers. Clear, neutral phrasing is essential to obtaining accurate and reliable data.

Representative Sample

A subset of a population selected in such a way that its characteristics (such as age, gender, income, etc.) mirror the larger population. This ensures that the sample accurately reflects the diversity of opinions and behaviors in the entire population, making research findings more generalizable.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals, institutions, and entities, including the government, are subject to and accountable under the law. This ensures fairness, prevents abuse of power, and protects the rights of citizens.

Saliency (AMSCO)

The degree to which an issue is important to a particular individual or group. Salient issues are those that people care deeply about, often influencing their political behavior and voting patterns. Issues with high saliency often dominate elections and public debates.

Sampling Error

The difference between the results obtained from a sample and the true values for the entire population. It occurs because a sample is only a part of the population, not the whole. Smaller samples and poorly designed surveys can increase sampling error.

Tracking Poll

A series of polls conducted over a period of time to monitor changes in public opinion. These polls provide insight into trends, such as shifts in support for candidates or policy positions, and are often used during election campaigns.

Valence Issue (AMSCO)

An issue where there is broad agreement among the public on the desired outcome, but political parties may differ in their approach. For example, there is general agreement on the need for a strong economy, but different parties may offer different solutions.

Wedge Issue (AMSCO)

A divisive issue that splits the electorate, often exploited by political parties to drive a wedge between opposing voters. Wedge issues can be social, economic, or moral issues that cause significant polarization, like abortion or same-sex marriage.

Weighting

The process of adjusting survey or poll data to ensure that certain groups are represented in proportion to their actual presence in the population. It corrects for imbalances in the sample to improve the accuracy of the data.