AP Government and Politics Unit 2 Vocabulary

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32 Terms

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Sample
A group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion. Accurate with mass survey of around 1,500
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Polling
A means to assess public opinion on issues or a candidate. George Gallup is the Founding Father of modern day polling (Gallup Polls)
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5 Core American Values
Individualism, Equality of Opportunity, Free Enterprise, Rule of Law, Limited Government
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Free Enterprise
The belief in the right to compete freely in a market government by supply and demand with limited government involvement
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Rule of Law
The principle that government is based on a body of law applied equally and fairly to every citizen, not on the whims of those in charge, and that no one is above the law, including the government
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Limited Government
A political system in which there are restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights and liberties
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Political Socialization
The process in which a citizen acquires one's sense of political identity
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Generational/Life Cycle Events
The significant political, social, economic events that one goes through such as a war, an epidemic, or even a depression, that may cause one to have a specific political attitude
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Public Opinion
The attitudes, perceptions, and viewpoints of individuals shared by some portion of the adult population
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Efficacy
A person's belief that one can make a difference by voting, expressing a political opinion, and acting politically. They believe their political involvement matters
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Straw Poll
An unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion. Since there s no use of sampling, they are NOT accurate
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Random Sample/Selection
A method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not over or under-represent any group of the population
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Representative Sample
A sample that reflects the demographics of the population
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Sampling Error
The margin of error in a poll which is usually calculated to plus or minus three percentage points
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Push Polls
Are used for negative campaign tactics meant to skew teh respondent's opinion of a candidate
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Opinion Poll
Interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population
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Benchmark Poll
Generally the first poll taken (i.e. in a campaign). Can be used as the benchmark for a tracking poll
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Tracking Poll
Researchers ask people the same or similar questions over time to "track" the path of public opinion
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Horserace Poll
Polls that simply tell you who is ahead (in an election), but do not tell you why or give any other substantive information
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Political Ideology
A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government that shapes a person's views
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Liberal Ideology
Political and/or moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law
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Conservative Ideology
A political and social philosophy based on a belief in limited government, individualism, traditionalism, republicanism, and limited federal governmental power
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Libertarianism
Political belief that says the government should have less control over people's lives. It is based on the idea of maximum liberty
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OMB
Office of Management and Budget: charged with overseeing the budget process on behalf of the president
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CBO
Congressional Budget Office: provides an independent analysis of the President's budget -- a check on the OMB
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GAO
Government Accountability Office: is a congressional watchdog agency that ensures money is spent as prescribed by law
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Fiscal Policy
Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget (including taxes, spending, and borrowing) has on the economy. Affects the economy by making changes in government's methods of raising money and spending it
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Monetary Policy
Refers to the regulation of the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates
Controlled by the "Fed" or Federal Reserve Board
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Entitlements
Government programs that guarantee certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population. Examples: Social Security, Medicare, veteran benefits and pensions...
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Federal Reserve Board
Established by Congress in 1913 with the primary role of regulating the nation's money supply. Priority is placed on limited the rate of inflation and preventing recessions
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Keynesian Economics
Philosophy of British economist John Maynard Keynes which suggested that government could manipulate the economic health of the economy through its level of spending. In hard times, the government should increase spending (even if it means running large deficits) to stimulate economic health. In inflationary "boom" times, the government should decrease spending to "cool down" the economy
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Supply Side Economics
Cuts in taxes will produce businesses investment that will compensate for the loss of money due to the lower tax rates. Tax rates will be lower, but business will boom, unemployment will go down, incomes will go up, and more money will come into the Treasury
Most associated with the Reagan Administration (1981-1989)