Ideologies and Political Parties Quiz

Individualism

Individualism

This principle emphasizes the idea that every individual has the freedom and responsibility to determine their own course in life.

Equality of Opportunity

Everyone should have an equal opportunity to compete and thrive, regardless of their upbringing or circumstances.

Free Enterprise

The core principle of the American economic system is that prices, goods, and services should be set by the market, not the government, in order to promote competition and creativity.

Rule of Law

Based on the idea of equality before the law, this concept states that everyone is subject to the same legal requirements and should be held responsible for them, even those in positions of authority.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors. Process is influenced by various social institutions, including family, schools, peers, media, and civic or religious organizations.

Life-cycle Effects

The experiences encountered by individuals at different stages of their lives. As individuals progress through various life stages, such as adolescence, young adulthood, parenthood, and retirement, their priorities, perspectives, and political beliefs may evolve accordingly.

Generational Effects

Experiences shared by individuals of the same age cohort. Significant historical events, such as wars, economic crises, or social movements, can imprint lasting impressions on a generation's political outlook.

Globalization

The integration of world business and culture on an international scale—has not only reshaped the economic landscape but also impacted political cultures worldwide.

Loyalty and Globalism

1. Left Side: Individuals on the left side of the spectrum tend to prioritize loyalty to international organizations and view our allegiance as extending to the global community.

2. Right Side: Those on the right side emphasize loyalty to local communities or states, valuing the preservation of national sovereignty and autonomy.

Government Size and Intervention

1. Left Side: Advocates on the left typically support larger government involvement in economic affairs, advocating for higher tax rates, increased business regulation, and government mandates on issues like healthcare and environmental protection.

2. Right Side: Individuals leaning right generally advocate for smaller government, favoring limited intervention in economic matters and emphasizing individual freedom and free-market principles.

Social Issues

1. Conservatism: Conservatives prioritize the preservation of traditional values and institutions, advocating for stability and continuity in societal structures.

2. Progressivism: Progressives or liberals, on the other hand, advocate for social change and reform, challenging existing norms and institutions to promote equality and justice.

Republican Party

Known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, Republicans prioritize local loyalty, advocate for smaller government, and uphold conservative values on societal issues.

Democratic Party

Democrats emphasize international loyalty, advocate for larger government involvement, and align with liberal stances on social issues.

Libertarian Party

Libertarians advocate for minimal government intervention, prioritizing individual liberty and property rights above all else. They seek to limit government to essential functions such as protecting life and property.

Liberal Policies

• Social policies: Liberals generally advocate for increased national government involvement to tackle social issues such as education, public health, pro-LGBTQ legislation, stopping discrimination, etc. They often advocate for less responsibility for these issues to be left to state governments, preferring a centralized approach to address societal challenges. (Remember, they fall on the left of the loyalty/obligation part of the spectrum.)

• Economic policies: Liberals also tend to want more government involvement in the economy. This usually means higher taxes, more income redistribution, and more business regulation.

Conservative Policies

• Social policies: Conservatives typically favor less national government intervention in addressing social issues. They do, however, believe that government should be involved in social issues, such as defining marriage, regulating abortion, etc. But they believe that this is best done by state governments, not the federal government.

• Economic policies: Conservatives also tend to want less government involvement in the economy. They want an environment with lower taxes and fewer business regulations.

Libertarian Policies

The social and economic approach of libertarians is identical: they do not believe that government should be involved at all, either at the state or national level.

Fiscal Policy

Encompasses actions taken by Congress (either changing tax rates or government spending) to steer economic conditions. Has two different approaches.

Keynesian Approach

Advocates of Keynesian economics propose that during a recession, the government should increase spending to stimulate economic activity.

Supply-Side Approach

Proponents of supply-side economics argue that reducing taxes and regulatory burdens during a recession can spur economic recovery. By incentivizing investment and entrepreneurship, supply-side policies aim to stimulate production and innovation, ultimately fueling economic expansion.

Monetary Policy

Involves actions undertaken by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to influence interest rates, thereby impacting broader economic conditions. The basic idea here is that if the Fed can lower interest rates, then it is suddenly less expensive for people to buy cars, own houses, and get business loans, so lower interest rates can spur economic growth. If, on the other hand, we are in a period of inflation, the Fed can raise interest rates, slowing down the economy and bringing it back to a normal state.