Gov

4.1 American Attitudes About Government and Politics

Political culture

Shared beliefs, values, and norms about politics and government / Explains why Americans value democracy, free speech, and participation.

Individualism

Belief that people can and should take care of themselves / Influences limited government policies, like minimal welfare.

Equality of opportunity

Everyone should have a fair chance to succeed / Drives debates on education access and anti-discrimination laws.

Free enterprise (laissez-faire)

Economy with minimal government intervention / Explains U.S. capitalist system; e.g., tech startups thrive with little regulation.

Rule of law

Everyone, including government officials, must follow the law / Basis for judicial review and checks on executive power.

Limited government

Government powers are restricted by law or constitution / Protects against tyranny; e.g., U.S. Constitution limits federal authority.

4.2 Political Socialization

Political socialization

How people develop political beliefs / Family, schools, and peers shape voting habits.

Political ideology

A set of beliefs about government and policy / Determines party support (liberal, conservative, libertarian).

Generational effect

People shaped by events in their youth / 9/11 generation favors stronger national security policies.

Life-cycle effect

Political views change as people age / Older adults may favor stability; younger adults may support change.

Globalization

Interaction with the world affecting beliefs / Influences opinions on international trade and foreign affairs.

Factors influencing political socialization

Family

Early influence on political values / Children often adopt parents’ party preferences.

Schools

Civic education encourages participation / Teaches voting and government structure.

Religious affiliation

Shapes moral and policy views / Affects opinions on social issues like abortion.

Civic organizations

Reinforces civic engagement / Membership in clubs or NGOs encourages activism.

4.3 & 4.4 Changes in Ideology / Influence of Political Events

Formative age

Teen and early adult years when political beliefs form / Beliefs formed in college or early voting years often last a lifetime.

Period effects

Events affecting all age groups politically / Great Recession influenced support for government regulation.

Partisan realignment

Large-scale shift of voters from one party to another / Southern states shifted from Democratic to Republican in late 20th century.

Events affecting party identification

Crises, scandals, or wars can change party support / Watergate scandal decreased Republican support in the 1970s.

Events affecting attitudes toward government

Major events can increase or decrease trust in government / 9/11 increased trust in national security institutions temporarily.

4.5 Measuring Public Opinion

Public opinion

The collective beliefs and attitudes of citizens about government and politics / Influences elections, policies, and party strategies.

Political knowledge

Awareness of political issues and processes / Low among younger and less-educated voters.

Ways to overcome knowledge issues

1. Use media coverage / 2. Discuss with informed peers / 3. Participate in civic education programs.

Types of polls

Focus group

Small, guided discussion to test reactions / Helps parties refine messaging.

Entrance survey

Poll of voters entering polling location / Shows early preferences.

Exit poll

Survey of voters leaving polls / Predicts election results.

Benchmark poll

Initial survey to gauge support / Helps campaigns plan strategy.

Mass survey

Large sample of public / Measures general opinion.

Tracking poll

Repeated survey over time / Shows trends in candidate support.

Push poll

Poll designed to influence, not measure, opinion / Often negative campaigning.

Elements of scientific polls

Sample

Small group representing population / Must reflect population diversity.

Random selection

Everyone has equal chance to be chosen / Reduces bias.

Representative selection

Sample matches demographics of population / Ensures accurate results.

Weighting

Adjusting sample to match population / Corrects over/underrepresented groups.

Sampling error (margin of error)

Range within which poll result may vary / ±3% is common.

Question order

Sequence can influence responses / Important to avoid bias.

Question wording

Wording can affect answers / Avoid leading or confusing questions.

Polling method issues

Phone polling

People may screen calls / Low response rates can bias results.

Internet polling

Not all have internet access / Skews sample.

In-person polling

Expensive, time-consuming / May intimidate respondents.

4.6 Evaluating Public Opinion Data

Gender differences (“The gender gap”)

Differences in opinion between men and women / Women tend to support Democrats more; men more Republican.

Racial and ethnic differences

Minority groups often vote differently than white majority / African Americans lean Democratic; Latinos show mixed trends.

Polls used by officials

Inform policy decisions / Politicians track opinion on healthcare or taxes.

Officials ignoring public opinion

Sometimes pursue long-term goals despite short-term disagreement / e.g., FDR during WWII.

4.7 & 4.8 Ideologies of Political Parties / Policy Making

Party ideology

Set of beliefs about the role of government / Shapes party policies; Democrats generally liberal, Republicans conservative.

Party identification

Loyalty to a political party / Influences voting and activism.

Libertarianism

Belief in minimal government in both economic and personal matters / Opposes regulation and restrictions on personal freedom.

Republican vs Democrat ideologies

Democrat ideology

Liberal / Greater freedom in social policy (e.g., abortion rights), greater order in economic regulation (supports minimum wage, social programs).

Republican ideology

Conservative / Greater freedom in economic policy (less regulation, lower taxes), greater order in social policy (traditional values, law and order).

4.9 Ideology and Economic Policy

Laissez-faire economy

Minimal government intervention / Encourages free markets and entrepreneurship.

Command-and-control economy

Government controls production and pricing / Rare in the U.S.; more common in socialist countries.

Mixed economy

Combines free market and government regulation / U.S. system; e.g., Social Security, taxes.

Recession

Period of economic decline / Leads to higher unemployment and lower GDP.

Inflation

Rising prices over time / Reduces purchasing power.

Keynesian economics

Government spending boosts economy in downturns / FDR’s New Deal policies.

Supply-side economics

Lower taxes stimulate production and growth / Reagan-era policies.

Economic indicators

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goods/services produced / Measures economic health.

Unemployment rate

% of labor force without jobs / Signals economic slowdown.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Tracks changes in price of goods/services / Measures inflation.

Fiscal policy

Government taxing/spending / Controlled by Congress & President / e.g., stimulus packages.

Monetary policy

Control of money supply and interest rates / Federal Reserve / Tools

4.10 Ideology and Social Policy

Medicare

Federal health insurance for 65+ / Democrat-supported expansion; ensures older adults get care.

Medicaid

Health insurance for low-income individuals / Federal and state program; supports vulnerable populations.