AP Government and Politics Unit 2 Vocabulary

Sample

A group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion. Accurate with mass survey of around 1,500

Polling

A means to assess public opinion on issues or a candidate. George Gallup is the Founding Father of modern day polling (Gallup Polls)

5 Core American Values

Individualism, Equality of Opportunity, Free Enterprise, Rule of Law, Limited Government

Free Enterprise

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

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

Limited Government

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

Political Socialization

The process in which a citizen acquires one's sense of political identity

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

Public Opinion

The attitudes, perceptions, and viewpoints of individuals shared by some portion of the adult population

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

Straw Poll

An unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion. Since there s no use of sampling, they are NOT accurate

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

Representative Sample

A sample that reflects the demographics of the population

Sampling Error

The margin of error in a poll which is usually calculated to plus or minus three percentage points

Push Polls

Are used for negative campaign tactics meant to skew teh respondent's opinion of a candidate

Opinion Poll

Interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

Benchmark Poll

Generally the first poll taken (i.e. in a campaign). Can be used as the benchmark for a tracking poll

Tracking Poll

Researchers ask people the same or similar questions over time to "track" the path of public opinion

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

Political Ideology

A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government that shapes a person's views

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

Conservative Ideology

A political and social philosophy based on a belief in limited government, individualism, traditionalism, republicanism, and limited federal governmental power

Libertarianism

Political belief that says the government should have less control over people's lives. It is based on the idea of maximum liberty

OMB

Office of Management and Budget: charged with overseeing the budget process on behalf of the president

CBO

Congressional Budget Office: provides an independent analysis of the President's budget -- a check on the OMB

GAO

Government Accountability Office: is a congressional watchdog agency that ensures money is spent as prescribed by law

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

Monetary Policy

Refers to the regulation of the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates Controlled by the "Fed" or Federal Reserve Board

Entitlements

Government programs that guarantee certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population. Examples: Social Security, Medicare, veteran benefits and pensions...

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

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

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)