Unit 4 Vocab (chap 12, 13, & 14) AP Gov

Agents of Socialization

social institutions and people that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values

Ex: family, school, media, and location

Conservatism

a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and a limited government

Entitlements

Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law

included in mandatory spending

Fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

Federal Reserve Board

7 “governors” appointed by the President and approved by the Senate

sets monetary policy by buying and selling bonds (AHHHH ECON), regulating money reserves at commercial banks, and setting interest rates

Gender Gap (political)

The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.

Women also vote in higher numbers

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (boooo)

The branch of the U.S. Treasury Department in charge of collecting taxes

Liberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes allowing the government to act flexibly and expand beyond established constriants

Keynesian Economics ECOONNNN

An economic theory advocating for increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the economy out of recession (and opposite if too high of inflation occurs)

More liberal

Medicaid

Federal program that provides medical benefits for low-income persons.

Medicare

Government managed/guaranteed healthcare for the elderly

Monetary Policy

the Federal Reserve's actions in managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates

(used to decrease unemployment and stabilize prices)

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

lifted barriers among the 3 largest North American countries (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

“Obamacare”

health care reform law passed in 2010 that includes incentives and penalties for employers providing health insurance as a benefit

Focuses on reform of the private health insurance market (conservatives don’t want the government having control over healthcare)

Political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

Political Ideology

a set of beliefs held by an individual

Political Socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Progressive tax System

Tax rates increase as one’s income increase

(currently our national income tax)

Public Opinion Polls

interviews or surveys used to estimate what an entire group thinks about an issue by asking a smaller sample of the group for its opinion

Reapportionment

Reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census.

Sixteenth Amendment

authorized Congress to enact a national income tax.

Social Security

Government retirement benefits

Supply-Side economics

The government should leave as much of the money supply with the people, letting the laws of economics, such as supply and demand, govern the marketplace

laissez-faire

more conservative

What is the relationship between the core beliefs of U.S. citizens and attitudes about the role of government

Free enterprise: Dems: want regulation Republicans: Support

Limited Government: Dems: stronger national Republicans: dislike

How do generational and life cycle events influence political attitudes?

Millennials: more liberal, care more about environmental protection, rely more on college and medical care relief

Silent Generation: More conservative, care about financial aid for the elderly, international involvement, many disliked counterculture

As people age they tend to lean more towards conservatism—wanting a similar society and government to the one they grew up in