AP Government and Politics: Unit 4 Political Ideologies & Beliefs

Politics

The process through which people influence decisions that affect their community.

Right

A justified claim to freedom, protection, or treatment.

Obligation

A duty or responsibility to carry out something.

Moral Right

A claim about what people should be entitled to.

Legal Right

A right that is protected by law.

Moral Obligation

A duty based on beliefs about right and wrong.

American Political Culture

A dominant set of beliefs, defined by democratic ideals, principles, and core values.

Individualism

The belief that people have the ability to shape their lives and destines through the choices they make.

Free Enterprise

An economic system in which the market determines the prices and availability of products, services, and the gov't intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.

Rule of Law

The principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law, all are accountable and must follow the laws that govern society.

Equality of opportunity

The core American value that everyone should have an equal chance to compete.

Equality of result

The belief that government must ensure that everyone achieves the same economic and social outcome.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs, values, behaviors and opinions.

Public opinion

The sum of individual attitudes about gov't, policies and issue.

Representative Sample

A sample that reflects the demographics of the population.

Weighting

A procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of the population.

Scientific polling

A representative poll of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language.

Sample

A group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion.

Random sampling

A method of selection that gives everyone in a population an equal chance of being chosen.

Sampling error

The margin of error in the findings of a public opinion poll, generally calculated to plus or minus 3%.

Mass Survey

A survey designed to measure the opinions of the population, usually consisting of 1500 responses.

Random digit dialing

A polling method in which respondents are selected at random via telephone numbers.

Entrance Survey

A poll conducted of people coming to an event.

Exit poll

A survey conducted outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why.

Straw poll

An unofficial, non-scientific poll used to gauge general sentiment on an issue.

Benchmark poll

A survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign in order to gauge support for a candidate and determine which issues are important to voters.

Tracking poll

A survey determining the level of support for a candidate or an issue throughout a campaign.

Horserace journalism

Media coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on substantive policy issues.

Question Order

The sequencing of questions in public opinion polls.

Question Wording

The phrasing of a question in a public opinion poll.

Gatekeeper role of the media

The media's ability to determine which issues are considered newsworthy and presented to the public.

Watchdog role of the media

The media's role in investigating and exposing government corruption, scandals, and wrongdoings.

Liberal ideology

A political ideology favoring government intervention in the economy/businesses and support for social equality. Less gov't control over social behavior.

Conservative Ideology

A political ideology favoring free markets, limited government intervention, and traditional social values.

Libertarianism

An ideology favoring very little government regulation and intervention beyond protecting private property and individual liberty.

Political polarization

The divergence of political attitudes away from the center toward ideological extremes.

Lifecycle Effects

The impact of a person's age and stage in life on his or her political views.

Generational Effects

The impact of experiences shard by people of a similar age on their political ideology.

Market

A system where buyers and sellers exchange goods and services.

Markets: scarcity/supply/demand

Scarcity: Resources (money, workers, materials) are limited

Supply: What sellers are willing and able to offer at different prices.

Demand: What buyers are willing and able to purchase at different price points.

Business cycle

The regular boom and bust cycle of economic expansion and contraction.

Inflation

A general increase in prices across the economy.

Contraction/Expansion

The phases of the business cycle involving economic decline (contraction) versus economic growth (expansion).

Fiscal Policy

The use of government taxes and spending to influence the economy. Congress and the president make fiscal policy through laws and the federal budget. Shifts supply and demand.

Keynesianism

An economic theory that government should stimulate economic growth through increased spending during recessions. Demand-side economics. When the economy contracts, weak demand can lead businesses to cut production and jobs. Government can try to support demand by increasing spending or reducing taxes. When demand is pushing prices up, it can try to cool the economy by reducing, spending, or raising taxes. Tends to be democratic.

Supply-side policy

An economic theory advocating for increasing the economy's ability and incentive to produce, invest, and work. Lower taxes on businesses or investments and fewer regulatory barriers. Hopes to encourage production, long-term growth, and investment. Tends to be republican.

Monetary policy

The Federal Reserve's effort to influence the cost and availability of money and credit. Their mission is to increase employment and decrease inflation.

The Federal Reserve (The Fed)

The central bank of the United States responsible for conducting monetary policy. It is a board of governors, Federal Reserve Banks, and member banks responsible for U.S. monetary policy.

The Wealth of Nations (WoN)

Adam Smith's 1776 work advocating free markets, division of labor, and minimal government intervention. To limit power from business to serve their own interests over the peoples.

Command-and-Control Economy

Economic policy in which government dictates much of a nation's economic activity, including the amount of production and price for goods.

Political Ideology

An individuals set of beliefs about gov't, politics, and policymaking.

Party Ideology

A party's philosophy about the proper role of gov't and the party's set of positions on major issues.

Party Identification

An individual's attachment to a polical party.

Mixed Economy

Economic policy in which many economic decisions are left to individuals and businesses, with the government regulating economic activity.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods produced and services produced by an economy.

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older and ones who are disabled.

Medicaid

A federal program that provides healthcare for low-income Americans.

What are the different sources of political socialization, and how do each of these contribute to an individual's worldview?

Family, schools, peers, media, and religious/civic organizations shape individual political beliefs.

Describe the shared values of American political culture. How do these contribute to America's political ecosystem?

Individualism, rule of law, free enterprise, and equality of opportunity unite the political framework.

Balancing individual constitutional liberties and rights against civic and societal duties. In the vocab.

Be able to frame a given political issue/problem as a dynamic system of rights and obligations.

In a scientific poll, what considerations should be made when creating a sample population?

Must use random sampling, adequate sample size, and representative demographics to ensure accuracy.

What are the characteristics of strongly worded poll/survey questions?

Neutral phrasing, avoidance of bias, leading words, or double-barreled structures.

Generational and lifecycle effects, major crises, wars, and economic shifts shape political perspectives.

Describe the different historical effects that influence people's social/political worldviews.

Describe the different forces that create a business cycle, and explain how those forces shape people's political views.

Consumer spending, investment, government policy, and market shifts drive economic booms and busts. Supply and Demand.

Define fiscal policy, identify the institutions responsible, and describe taxation/spending approaches.

Managing the economy via taxation and spending; set by Congress and the President.

Define monetary policy, and how the Federal Reserve uses tools to stabilize prices and employment.

Controlling money supply and interest rates via open market operations, reserve requirements, and discount rates.

What are the main claims made by Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations? Describe the role of government.

Free markets, competition, division of labor, and minimal government intervention drive wealth.