AP GOV - UNIT 4 Terms

political ideology

consistent set of values and beliefs about purpose/scope of government

conservative ideology

favors: traditional American values, respect for authority, law and order, and national defense; little government intervention in businesses

liberal ideology

favors active government role in regulating economy and promoting equality; more government intervention; supports LGBTQ and women's rights

libertarian ideology

Favors limited government in businesses but is , promotes individual freedom that should only be limited when it impedes on another person's rights

Political Socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Lifecycle Effects

changes over the course of an individual's lifetime, which affect their political attitudes and participation

physical, social, psychological changes

Generational Effects

different voting patterns/beliefs for people in different generation

constant patterns

- influenced by major political events (9/11, wars)

Public Opinion Polls

surveys with samples of citizens used to estimate beliefs of entire population

Entrance/Exit Polls

polls conducted as voters enter/leave polls on election day

- used to predict election outcome, gain insight, analyze demographic

Opinion polls

a survey of public opinion using a sample of the population

Benchmark polls

initial, detailed survey of voter opinion before an election campaign begins designed to help political candidates craft their campaigns

Tracking polls

continuous surveys that enable a campaign to chart its daily rise or fall in support

Focus Groups

a small group of voters chosen by a political campaign for their demographic similarities who are brought together to gauge how the group they represent feels about the candidate

Margin of Error

a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll (within +/- 3% error = accurate)

Problems with public polling

- Sampling error/margin of error

- Push polling: "loaded questions"

- Bandwagon effect

- Bradley/Wilder effect: people answer as what is "socially desirable" but do something different

- Question format

Democratic Party Platform

aligns more LIBERAL

- decrease defense spending

- increase school spending

- increase social welfare programs

- increase taxes on rich

- gun control

- pro-choice

- support environmental regulations

Republican Party Platform

- increase defense spending

- decrease $ on social welfare programs

- decrease public school spending, increase private school

- cut taxes

- oppose gun control

- pro-life

- oppose environmental regulations

Liberal Economic Ideologies

- Increased government regulation of the marketplace

- Higher taxes for the rich

- Increased government spending to promote social and economic equality

- Favor social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Conservative Economic Ideologies

- Fewer regulations of the marketplace

- Lower taxes for middle/upper class

- Don't favor government spending to promote social and economic equality

- Lukewarm support for old-age programs and oppose support for the poor

Keynesian Economics

government should stimulate economy (during recessions) by SPENDING $$ to encourage growth

Supply-Side Economics

government should stimulate economy (during recessions) by CUTTING TAXES to encourage growth

Fiscal Policy vs. Monetary Policy

Fiscal Policy: Keynesian v Supply-side

- taxation

- government spending

Monetary Policy: Federal Reserve

- interest rates

- money supply

Monetary Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates

Inflation

Supply grows too quick; leads to price increases

Federal Reserve

the central banking system of the United States; in charge of monetary policy

Tools of Monetary Policy: Reserve Requirement

% of deposits banks are required to keep on grounds, cannot lend out

- prevents debts

Free Enterprise

Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

limited government

a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution; checks and balances

valence issues

issues on which most voters and candidates share the same position (freedom of religion)

wedge issues

a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party (abortion)

salient issues

issues about which most people have an opinion (important issues); like terrorism and the U.S. government's job to keep us safe

globalization

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale (US influences other countries around the world and vice versa)

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

bandwagon effect

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

candidate error

the percentage point difference in the poll´s estimate and the candidate´s actual share of the vote after the election

social desirability bias

A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions when being polled

majoritarian policy making

emerges from the interaction of people with government in order to put into place and carry out the will of the majority

referendum

A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment.

initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

grassroots movement

a political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

interest groups

private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy in government (National Rifle's Association or AARP)

Incumbent President

current president who wants to run again and will most likely be nominated by his/her party

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

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

Progressive Tax

A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes increases as income increases

Flat Tax

a tax system in which all people pay the same percentage of their income

Tools of Monetary Policy- Discount Rate

interest rate banks pay to borrow $$ from federal reserve

Government bonds

Certificates sold by the government to raise money with the guarantee that the purchaser will be paid back later (with interest)

Social Welfare

programs provided by the state for the benefit of disadvantaged citizens

Social Security Act

(FDR) 1935, guaranteed retirement payments for enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the handicapped, and public health

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Medicaid

A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.

Individualism

a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.