AP Government Unit 4 Terms

Libertarianism

Favors little or no regulation of the marketplace beyond the protection of property rights and voluntary trade; generally favors little national or state government involvement except when national or state government is protecting private property or individual liberty.

Constituent

A voter and/or resident an elected official is responsible for representing.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination in public places, provides for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and makes employment discrimination illegal.

Equality of opportunity

Giving people an equal chance to succeed.

Rule of law

Where every person, even those in power, must follow and is accountable to the same laws that govern all.

Americans with Disabilities Act.

Demographics

Statistical characteristics of a population such as age, race, gender, income, education.

Free enterprise

A system where the market determines prices, products, and services.

Political socialization

Process by which one’s family influences one’s political views.

Political culture

A patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.

Individualism

Each person has the ability to shape their life and destiny through the choices they make.

Socio-economic status.

Liberal

Someone who is inclined to be open to ideas and ways of behaving that are not conventional or traditional.

Conservative

Someone that tends to or inclines to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions.

Tracking poll

A poll that follows how views of a candidate change during a campaign.

Exit poll

A poll based on interviews conducted on election day with randomly selected voters.

Social Security

A social insurance program funded by a payroll tax on current employers and employees to be redistributed to qualifying individuals for retirement, disability, or survivor benefits.

Opinion poll

A poll that measures public opinion on various issues.

Random sample

A selection made while choosing from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected.

Sampling error

The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time.

Question bias

The systematic distortion of public opinion data caused by the way in which survey questions are phrased, which influences how respondents answer them.

Gender gap

Difference in political views between men and women.

Silent majority

A large group of Americans who support political policies but do not express their opinions publicly through protests or vocal activism.

Medicare

A federal government-subsidized healthcare program for qualified elderly Americans.

Voter apathy

The lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern about politics that shows up as low voter turnout and disengagement.

Platform stances on issues

A party platform is a formal document (adopted at a national convention) that states a political party’s principles, policy goals, and specific stances on issues.