AP gov Unit 4 Vocab

WPHS

Political Culture

The dominant set of beliefs/customs/traditions/values that define the relationship between citizens and government.

Individualism

Belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make.

Laissez-Faire or Free Enterprise

An economic system in which the government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.

Rule of Law

The principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law.

Political Socialization

Experiences and factors that shape a person’s political values.

Political Ideology

An individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics.

Generational Effect

Impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views.

Life Cycle Effect

Impact of a person’s age/stage in life on his/her political views.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries in the world.

Outsourcing

When a company moves their business to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient.

Public Opinion

Sum of individual attitudes about government, policies, and issues.

Focus Group

A small group of individuals who assembled for a conversation about specific issues.

Scientific Poll

Representative poll of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language.

Sample

Group of individuals from a larger population used to measure a public opinion.

Random Selection

Method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not over or under represent any group of the population.

Representative Sample

Sample that reflects the demographics of the population.

Weighting

Procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of the larger population.

Sampling Error

The margin of error in a poll, usually calculated to ± 3%.

Mass Survey

Survey designed to measure the opinions of the population, usually consisting of 1,500 responses.

Entrance Survey

Poll conducted of people coming to an event.

Exit Poll

Survey conducted outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why.

Benchmark Poll

Survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign in order to gauge support for a candidate and determine which issues are important to voters.

Tracking Poll

Survey determining the level of support for a candidate or an issue throughout a campaign.

Random Digit Dialing

Use of telephone numbers randomly generated by computers to select potential survey respondents.

Question Order

The sequencing of questions in public opinion polls.

Question Wording

The phrasing of a question in a public opinion poll.

Right

Something guaranteed, that the government cannot take away.

Privilege

Something a person can obtain or receive, but that the government can take away.

Party Ideology

Party’s philosophy about the proper role of government and its set of positions on major issues.

Party Identification

An individual's attachment to a political party.

Conservatism

Ideology favoring more control of social behavior, fewer regulations on businesses, and less government interference in the economy.

Liberalism

Ideology favoring less government control over social behavior and more regulation of business/economy.

Libertarianism

Ideology favoring very little government regulation and intervention beyond protecting private property and individual liberty.

Laissez-Faire Economy

An economic system in which the government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.

Command-and-Control Economy

Economic policy in which government dictates much of a nation’s economic activity, including the amount of production and price of goods.

Mixed Economy

Economic policy in which many economic decisions are left to individuals and businesses, with the government regulating economic activity.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goods/services produced by an economy.

Economic Recession

Period of decline in economic activity, typically defined by 2 consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.

Unemployment Rate

% of people actively looking for work who cannot find jobs.

Inflation

Rise in good/service prices.

Consumer Price Index

Cost of a fixed basket of goods and services over time, used to measure cost of living.

Fiscal Policy

Government use of taxes and spending to attempt to lower unemployment, support economic growth, and stabilize the economy.

Federal Reserve System

Board of governors, Federal Reserve Banks, and member banks responsible for monetary policy.

Monetary Policy

Set of economic policy tools designed to regulate the amount of money in the economy.

Medicare

Federal program that provides health insurance to seniors and the disabled.

Medicaid

Federal program that provides healthcare for the poor.