APGOV UNIT 4 VOCAB + EZPZ DEFINITION!!!!!!!!!!

Political Culture

The set of attitudes that shape political behavior

Shared values and beliefs that influence political behavior

Laissez-Faire or Free Enterprise

A economic system in which a "invisible hand" guides the interactions of producers and consumers.

Businesses operate mostly free from the government

Rule of Law

The principle of a government that establishes laws that apply equally to all members of society and prevents the rule and whims of leaders who see themselves as above the law.

The law applies to everyone equally

Political Socialization

Process by which people develop political beliefs

How political views are developed in a person

Political Ideology

Beliefs and opinions that help guide political action and shape public policy

Beliefs about how a government should be organized

Generational Effect

The differing voting patterns and ideology caused by differing generations

Ideologies change depending on generation

Focus Group

a small group of citizens who are gathered to hold conversations about issues or candidates.

Small group that discusses about political stuff

Representative Sample (Kinda defined in not really AMSCO)

A sample that would be used to analyze data and draw appropriate conclusions

A sample of people or subjects that reflect the population. For example, if 50% of the population is white, the sample would have close to 50% white people

Weighting

Manipulating the sample to compensate

Altering the data from a sample to better represent the public.

Sampling Error

The difference between poll results

The results from a poll can and will be a little or a lot different from the actual population

Exit Poll (Not word for word from AMSCO)

A poll taken after the voters casted their votes

Benchmark Poll

Poll used to measure support for a candidate and gather information about the issues that people care about

A baseline about what the candidate may do initially

Tracking Poll

A poll that ask people questions to measure how prospective voters feel about an issue and how they may vote on election day.

Poll that reflects the shift in public opinion

Question Order (Not word for word from AMSCO)

The order in which questions are asked. A way that can affect the results.

Question-Wording (Not word for word from AMSCO)

The way a questions is worded, this can be caused by emotions. A way that can affect the results.

(Party) Ideology

A comprehensive and mutually consistent set of ideas among a political party.

A common ideas that the political party have

Conservatism (Kinda defined in AMSCO)

A political belief in following tradition and having reverence (deep respect) for authority

Commitment to tradition and stability

Liberalism (Kinda defined in AMSCO)

A approach that prioritizes citizen freedom, free flow of ideas, free marker, fewer laws, and fewer restrictions)

Prioritize freedom

Libertarianism

Ideology opposing government intervention or regulation

Freedom from the government; the government doesn't have a lot power to intervene in the public people stuff

Fiscal Policy

A part of economic policy that is concerned with government spending and taxation

Government's use of taxes and spending that influences the economy

Monetary Policy

How the government manages the supply and demand of its currency and thus the value of the dollar

How the government manages the economy

Medicare

A government-run health insurance program for citizens over 65 years old.

Governmental health insurance program for elders

Medicaid

A health care program for the impoverish who cannot afford necessary medical expenses

Program that provides health care/insurance to impoverish people

Valence Issue

Concerns or policies that are viewed in the same way by people with variety of ideologies

An issue most people agree with but different ways of solving it

Wedge Issue

Opposite of valence issues: Used by political groups in strategic ways to gather support

An issue that political parties disagree on. Used to strengthen a party

Saliency

Importance

How important a question is to the public