AP Government: Political Ideologies, Parties, and Policies

Conservative

Beliefs include limited government intervention in economy, traditional social values (family, religion), strong national defense, and an emphasis on personal responsibility and free markets.

Liberal

Beliefs include that government has a role in solving social and economic problems, emphasis on civil rights, equality, and social justice, and support for environmental protection and labor rights.

Democrats

Ideology is center-left, liberal; base includes minorities, urban, younger voters, and labor unions; policy priorities include healthcare access, environmental regulations, social justice, and worker protections.

Republicans

Ideology is center-right, conservative; base includes older voters, rural, business interests, and religious groups; policy priorities include tax cuts, deregulation, free-market principles, and strong national defense.

Libertarians

Ideology is minimal government intervention in economy and maximal personal freedom; socially liberal and economically conservative; examples include legalization of marijuana and elimination of unnecessary regulations.

Fiscal Policy

Definition: Government's use of taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Tools of Fiscal Policy

Include government spending on infrastructure projects, education, defense, and social programs, and taxation strategies to influence economic activity.

Expansionary Fiscal Policy

Involves increasing spending and cutting taxes to stimulate economic growth.

Contractionary Fiscal Policy

Involves decreasing spending and raising taxes to slow inflation.

Keynesian Economics

Founded by John Maynard Keynes, it posits that government intervention can stabilize the economy.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

A 2009 stimulus aimed at boosting demand during a recession.

Political Culture

Definition: Shared values, beliefs, and norms about politics.

Liberty

Freedom of speech, religion, and press.

Equality

Political equality (voting rights) and legal equality.

Democracy

Popular sovereignty and participation.

Civic Duty

Obligation to participate in civic life.

Individual Responsibility

Belief that success or failure is due to personal effort.

Historical Examples of Fiscal Policy

New Deal (1930s) as expansionary spending during Great Depression; Bush Tax Cuts (2001-2003) as stimulus via tax reductions.

Policy Preferences of Conservatives

Lower taxes, deregulation, and opposition to expansive welfare programs.

Policy Preferences of Liberals

Progressive taxation, social welfare programs (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security expansion), and regulations on business for safety, environment, and labor.

Differences in Ideology and Party Alignment

Comparison of economic policy, social policy, role of government, and foreign policy among Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians.

Political Socialization

Process of forming political attitudes and beliefs

Agents of Socialization

Factors that influence the formation of political attitudes

Family

Primary and most influential factor in political socialization

Education

Provides civic knowledge, debate, and historical context

Peer Groups

Friends and colleagues that influence attitudes

Media

Includes news, social media, and political commentary

Religion

Shapes moral values and policy preferences

Life Events

Events like wars, economic crises, and social movements that influence political views

Generations and Political Tendencies

Different generations exhibit distinct political characteristics and tendencies

Silent Generation

Born 1925, loyal and disciplined, Republican-leaning conservative

Baby Boomers

Born 1946, civic-minded, historically Democratic, recent swing toward Republican

Generation X

Born 1965, independent, moderate, with libertarian tendencies

Millennials

Born 1981, tech-savvy, socially liberal, Democratic-leaning

Generation Z

Born 1997, digital natives, liberal, activist-oriented

Polling & Public Opinion

Study of how public opinion is measured and analyzed

Accurate Polls

Must be random, representative, and unbiased

Sample Size

Larger sample size leads to a smaller margin of error

Question Wording

Should avoid leading or confusing phrasing

Types of Polls

Different types of polls serve various purposes

Entrance Poll

Predicts election outcome before voting

Exit Poll

Analyzes how different groups voted

Push Poll

Attempts to influence opinions through biased questions

Tracking Poll

Follows opinion trends over time

Sampling Error

The expected range by which a sample may differ from the population

Sampling Error Formula

±(1/√n) where n = sample size

Federal Reserve

Central bank of the U.S. that controls the money supply

Expansionary Policy

Increases money supply to stimulate the economy

Contractionary Policy

Decreases money supply to curb inflation

Supply-Side Economics

Reducing taxes for wealthy/businesses to stimulate investment and economic growth