AP GOV - Political socialization (chapter 12)

5 core values of the US

1. individualism

2. equality of opportunity

3. free enterprise

4. rule of law

5. limited government

political socialization

process by which citizens acquire a sense of political identity

generational effects

experiences shaped by people of common age

life-cycle effect

experiences a person encounters during different life stages

opinion poll

assessment of public opinion by the questioning of a representative sample of the population

benchmark poll

first poll taken, used to create a baseline view of a candidate

tracking poll

follows how views of a candidate changes during a campaign

entrance and exit polls

taken at polling places before and after voters cast their ballots. Used to estimate the outcome sooner

straw polls

unreliable poll type in which the same question is asked of by a large number of people

essentials to the scientific polling process

1. random sampling

2. clear question

3. includes a sampling error

4. large population size

libertarian

favors little to no national or state government except when it is to protect private property to individual rights

fiscal policy

actions taken by congress and the president to influence economic conditions