Key Concepts in Political Ideology and Public Opinion

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that each person should have the same opportunities to advance in society.

Free Enterprise

The belief in the right to compete freely in a market based on supply and demand with limited government involvement.

Individualism

The principle of valuing individual rights over those of the government; individual initiative.

Limited Government

A political system in which there are restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights.

Rule of Law

A principle based on a body of law applied equally to all citizens, where no one is above the law.

Demographic Characteristics

Characteristics such as age, race, gender, religion, marital status, occupation, and education level that influence people's political attitudes.

Globalization

The growth of an interconnected world economy and culture driven by lowered trade barriers, advances in communication technology, and the increase in U.S. influence globally.

Political Socialization

The process by which a person develops political values and beliefs, including interactions with family, friends, school, media, and religious groups.

Generational Effects

Political ideologies that emerge as a result of shared experiences among a generation (e.g., the Great Depression generation favoring New Deal policies).

Lifecycle Effects

Changes in a person's political attitudes as they age, marry, have children, buy a home, etc.

Period Effects

Major events or broad social trends that influence political attitudes across generations.

Formative Age

Ages 18-24 when many people develop lasting political attitudes.

Party Realignment

A sharp change in the issues or voter blocs that a political party represents.

Public Opinion

How people feel about issues, candidates, and public officials.

Polls

Tools used to measure public opinion.

Sampling Technique

The process by which pollsters select respondents to survey or the sample population for a poll.

Representative Sample

A relatively small group of respondents who accurately reflect the diversity of the population being surveyed.

Benchmark Polls

Polls conducted by a campaign at the beginning of a race to provide a basis for comparison with later polls.

Opinion Polls

Polls taken to predict election results or gauge public sentiment on an issue.

Tracking Polls

Surveys conducted repeatedly with the same people to measure changes in public opinion over time.

Exit Polls

Polls taken of voters as they enter or exit voting locations on Election Day to predict results.

Mass Survey

A large-scale survey that measures public opinion by interviewing a significant sample of the population.

Focus Group

A small, demographically diverse group of people assembled for in-depth discussion to study their reactions to an idea or candidate.

Random Sampling

A method of selecting respondents so that every individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Framing

The way in which media or pollsters present an issue or candidate to influence public opinion.

Margin of Error

The range of possible error in poll results based on sample size; larger samples tend to have a smaller margin of error.

Conservative Ideology

A political philosophy that favors a limited government, private-sector solutions to economic problems, and traditional values.

Liberal Ideology

A political philosophy that supports government intervention in the economy and policies to ensure societal well-being, while opposing regulation of private social behavior.

Progressive Ideology

A political philosophy focused on addressing past wrongs and reforming systemic issues that cause disadvantage.

Green Party

A political party that supports environmentalism, social justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy.

Libertarian Ideology

A political philosophy advocating for minimal government involvement in personal, social, and economic matters.

Nationalist

A political stance that promotes the interests of the nation and asserts its superiority over others.

Policy Mood

The overall preference of the public toward certain policies at a given time.

Position Issue

A political issue that divides voters, such as gun control or the death penalty.

Valence Issue

A political issue where most voters agree, such as the importance of economic prosperity or national security.

Fiscal Policy

Government decisions about taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

Government decisions about controlling the money supply and interest rates to influence the economy.

The Federal Reserve

The independent federal agency that determines monetary policy with the goal of stabilizing the banking system and promoting economic growth.

Keynesian Economics

An economic theory that suggests government spending is necessary to promote economic growth, particularly during recessions.

Supply-Side Economics

An economic theory that advocates for tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate economic growth by increasing the supply of goods and services.

Regulation

Government-imposed rules designed to affect the decisions made by individuals, groups, or organizations on social and economic matters.

Individual Liberties

Personal freedoms that the government cannot abridge.

Right to Privacy

The right to be free from government interference in one's private beliefs and behaviors.

Social Policy

Public policy related to healthcare, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor.