Political Ideologies and Beliefs Vocab

political culture

the shared beliefs, values, and norms that shape the political behavior and attitudes of citizens.

civic duty

the responsibility of citizens to participate in the political process.

political efficacy

the belief that one's actions can influence political processes and that individuals have the capability to make a difference 

individualism

a social and political philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual and advocates for personal independence and self-reliance

equality of opportunity

the belief that all individuals should have the same chances to succeed in life, regardless of their background, race, gender, or socioeconomic status

limited government

a political philosophy where the government's power is restricted by law, primarily through a constitution, to protect individual rights; the government can only exercise powers explicitly granted to it and cannot infringe on personal freedoms

free enterprise

an economic system where private individuals and businesses operate with minimal government intervention, driven by competition and consumer choice

political socialization

the process by which individuals form their political beliefs, values, and behaviors

public opinion

the collective views, beliefs, and attitudes of a population regarding political issues, candidates, or government policies

poll

a survey of a small sample of the public used to estimate public opinion on issues or predict election results.

random sample

a subset of a population where every individual has an equal chance of being chosen, which is crucial for creating representative and unbiased public opinion polls

sampling error

the difference between the results of a poll's sample and the actual characteristics of the entire population it represents

exit polls

a survey conducted by interviewing voters as they leave polling places to predict election outcomes

political ideology

a set of beliefs and values about the role of government, individual rights, and the economy that shape political behavior and opinions

liberal

someone who advocates for social equality, civil rights, and governmental intervention in the economy to promote welfare and reduce inequality

conservative

an ideology that emphasizes limited government intervention, particularly in the economy, while also supporting government action to uphold traditional social structures and morality

libertarian

an ideology emphasizing maximum individual liberty and minimal government intervention in both personal and economic matters

keynesian economics

an economic theory advocating for government intervention to stimulate demand and stabilize the economy, especially during recessions

supply side economics

an economic theory that advocates for lowering taxes and reducing regulation to stimulate production and economic growth

fiscal policy

the government's use of spending and taxation to influence the economy.

monetary policy

the process by which a central bank, such as the Federal Reserve in the United States, manages the money supply and interest rates to achieve specific economic goals like inflation control and stabilizing the economy

federal reserve

the central banking system of the United States. made to provide a stable monetary and financial system

mandatory spending

federal spending that is required by law, primarily for entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which occurs automatically and does not require annual approval from Congress

discretionary spending

The portion of the federal budget that is decided by annual appropriations bills, which includes funding for programs not required by law like education, defense, and transportation.

budget deficit

when a government's annual expenditures (spending) exceed its revenues (income) for a one-year period. This shortfall means the government must borrow money to cover the difference, which adds to the total national debt. 

national debt

the total amount of money the federal government owes to its creditors from all past borrowing (accumulates when the gov is in a budget deficit)

surplus

when government revenue, like taxes, exceeds government expenditures, or spending, over a specific period, usually a fiscal year

a government program that provides benefits or services to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as age, income, or disability (Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, etc.)