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CHAPTER 12
Terms 2-22
Conservative
A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom.
Equality of opportunity
a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Free enterprise
Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference
Individualism
a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.
Laissez-faire
Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs.
Limited Government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Liberal
open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.
Political socialization
The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.
Rule of Law
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
Globalization
the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
Political Socialization
process by which background traits influence one's political views
Baby Boomers
The 78 million people born during the baby boom, following World War II and lasting until the early 1960s
Generation X (Gen X)
generational cohort of people born between 1965 and 1976
Generational Effect (Cohort Effect)
the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views
Lifecycle Effects
As people become middle-aged, they become more politically conservative, less mobile, and more likely to participate in politics.
Millennials
People born between 1977 and 2000 and the children of the Baby Boomers.
Silent Generation
youth of the 50's that seemed to conform to middle class culture without question.
Great Depression
the economic crisis beginning with the stock market crash in 1929 and continuing through the 1930s
Iraq Invasion
- Bush Jr invaded Iraq because he believed that they were oppressing its own people, frustrating the weapons inspectors, developing nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction, and supporting terrorist groups
- a liberated Iraq would be a beacon of hope to the Islamic world
- Bush and Britain launched the invasion in 2003
- Saddam was driven from power
New Deal Coalition
coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930's to the 1960's. its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
Great Recession
severe economic downturn that lasted from late 2007 through mid-2012
CHAPTER 13
Terms 24-39
Approval Ratings
the percentage of respondents to an opinion poll who express approval of someone or something, typically a political figure.
Benchmark poll
an initial poll on a candidate and issues on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared
Entrance polls
voters asked about which candidate they are going to vote for and why before walking into a caucus
Exit Poll
public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
Focus Group
A small group of individuals who are led in discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to candidates and issues.
Push Polling
A type of survey in which the questions are presented in a biased way in an attempt to influence the respondent.
Random Digit Dialing
a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of 10-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample
Random Sample
method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected
Representative Sample
A sample that reflects the characteristics of the population from which it is drawn
Sampling Error (margin of error)
a statistical calculation of the difference in results between a poll of a randomly drawn sample and a poll of the entire population
Tracking polls
continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate's daily rise or fall in support
Weighting/stratification
adjustments to surveys during analysis so that selected demographic groups reflect their values in the population, usually as measured by the census
Bandwagon effect
"Copy-cat" behavior. People often do things just because other people do them. In primary elections, it is when people support the candidate everyone else seems to be supporting (poll leaders). Leads to Primary Frontloading (states want to have the most impact in the primary process)
Bradley Effect
the difference between a poll result and an election result in which voters gave a socially desirable poll response rather than a true response that might be perceived as racist
non-response bias
bias introduced to a sample when individuals selected to be in a survey either cannot be contacted or refuse to answer survey questions.
social desirability bias
the tendency for people to say what they believe is appropriate or acceptable
CHAPTER 14
Terms 41-75
conservative
A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom.
Ideology
a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Liberal
A political ideology that emphasizes the civil rights of citizens, representative government, and the protection of private property.
Libertarian
One who believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties
moderate
Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
Populist
A party made up of farmers and laborers that wanted direct election of senators and an 8hr working day
progressive
A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion
Saliency
Degree to which issue is important to a particular individual or group (social security = high salience for senior citizens)
valence issue
an issue on which everyone agrees, but the question is whether or not the candidate embraces that view
wedge issues
a divisive political issue, especially one that is raised by a candidate for public office in hopes of attracting or alienating an opponent's supporters.
agenda
The program for a meeting; a list, outline, or plan of things to be considered or done
Majoritarian
A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.
Globalization
Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.
progressive tax
A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes increases as income increases
supply-side economics (Reaganomics)
An economic philosophy that holds the sharply cutting taxes will increase the incentive people have to work, save, and invest. Greater investments will lead to more jobs, a more productive economy, and more tax revenues for the government.
trade balance
the difference in value of the goods that a country sells abroad compared to those it purchases from other countries
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. by lessening and eliminating tariffs
Bonds
A certificate issued by a government or private company which promises to pay back with interest the money borrowed from the buyer of the certificate: The city issued bonds to raise money for putting in new sewers.
discount rate
The interest rate on the loans that the Fed makes to banks
Federal Reserve System
The country's central banking system, which is responsible for the nation's monetary policy by regulating the supply of money and interest rates
fiscal policy
A government policy for dealing with the budget (especially with taxation and borrowing)
flat rate
a single percentage that applies to the entire tax base
Inflation
a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The branch of the U.S. Treasury Department in charge of collecting taxes
monetary policy
managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates
multiplier effect
An effect in economics in which an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent.
reserve requirement
This is the percentage of their deposits that member banks must keep available in a Federal Reserve Bank.
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax.
Entitlements (mandatory spending)
budget programs set by law that may not be altered
mandatory spending
spending on certain programs that is mandated, or required, by existing law
social welfare
A nation's system of programs, benefits, and services that help people meet those social, economic, educational, and health needs that are fundamental to the maintenance of society.
Medicaid
A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.
Medicare
A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
health care reform law passed in 2010 that includes incentives and penalties for employers providing health insurance as a benefit
Social Security Act
(FDR) 1935, guaranteed retirement payments for enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the handicapped, and public health
