Political Ideologies and Socialization

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to U.S. political ideologies, socialization, public opinion, and policy.

Conservative

Favors traditional American values, respect for authority, law and order, and national defense.

Liberal

Favors an active government role in regulating the economy and promoting equality.

Libertarian

Favors very limited government, promoting individual freedom unless it impedes on another person's rights.

Political Ideology

A consistent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government.

Political Compass

Deciding factors for presidential candidates including economics and equality.

American Political Culture

The distinctive way Americans think about politics and government, including democratic ideals and core values.

Core Values

Beliefs that define American political culture such as individualism, equality of opportunity, and limited government.

Individualism

The principle that individuals should take responsibility for themselves and their decisions.

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that all people should have an equal chance to succeed.

Free Enterprise

An economic system that allows individuals to choose what to buy, sell, and produce with minimal government regulation.

Rule of Law

The principle that all people, regardless of power, are subject to the law.

Limited Government

The idea that governmental power is not absolute and is restricted by the constitution.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors.

Family

The main source of political socialization.

Globalization

The process by which American culture and values spread throughout the world.

Generation Effects

Experiences shared by people of a common age that influence political ideology.

Life Cycle Effects

Experiences encountered by a person during different life stages that affect political beliefs.

Impressionable-Age Hypothesis

The theory that most people forge their political attitudes between ages 14-24.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on political issues.

Opinion Polls

Surveys that measure public opinion based on varying issues.

Benchmark Polls

The first poll taken by a campaign to assess a candidate's standing before campaigning begins.

Tracking Polls

Continuous polls used to monitor a candidate's support over time.

Exit Polls

Polls conducted as voters leave polling places to gauge voting behavior.

Sampling Error

A polling error arising from using a non-representative sample of the population.

Margin of Error

The range within which the true value of the population is expected to fall.

Stratified Sample

Dividing the population into subgroups and weighting based on demographics.

Push Poll

Biased campaign information presented as a poll to influence opinions.

Focus Groups

Small groups of citizens gathered to discuss issues or candidates for deeper insight.

Random Sample

A sampling method where every individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Poll Neutrality

The need for unbiased polling to maintain integrity and validity.

Democratic Party Coalition

A coalition consisting of younger voters, racially diverse groups, women, LGBTQ, and urban populations.

Republican Party Coalition

A coalition consisting mainly of older white male voters, evangelical Christians, and rural populations.

Social Security

A federal program that provides financial assistance to retirees and disabled individuals.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation aimed at ending discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Medicare and Medicaid

Government programs that provide healthcare to individuals over 65 and low-income individuals.

Fiscal Policy

Economic policy that involves government spending and tax measures to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

Policy intended to control the money supply and interest rates in the economy.

Keynesian Economics

The theory that government should stimulate the economy during recessions through spending.

Supply-Side Economics

The theory that economic growth is most effectively fostered by lowering taxes.

Federal Reserve

The central banking system of the United States responsible for monetary policy.

Interest Rates

The cost of borrowing money, influenced by the money supply and Federal Reserve policy.

Social Policy

Government policies aimed at addressing social issues such as education and healthcare.

Defense Spending

The portion of the budget dedicated to maintaining and equipping the armed forces.

Vouchers

Government funds that allow families to pay for private school education.

Victimless Crimes

Acts that are illegal but do not directly violate or threaten the rights of another individual.

Church-State Separation

The principle that government must maintain an impartial stance on religion.

Civic Engagement

The participation of citizens in political processes and discussions.

Budget Deficit

Occurs when government spending exceeds tax revenue in a single fiscal year.

National Debt

The total accumulative amount of money borrowed by the federal government.

Entitlement Programs

Federal programs that guarantee benefits to a specific group of people who meet eligibility requirements.

Mandatory Spending

Budget expenditures required by law that do not need annual congressional approval.

Discretionary Spending

Spending categories that are subject to the annual budget process and congressional debate.

Progressive Tax

A tax system where higher-income earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.

Regressive Tax

A tax that takes a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income earners.

Flat Tax

A tax system where all individuals pay the same fixed percentage of their income.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in one year.

Inflation

A general increase in prices over time, resulting in a decrease in the purchasing power of money.

Unemployment Rate

The percentage of the labor force that is jobless and actively seeking employment.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services.

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to increase opportunities for groups that have faced historical discrimination.

Political Efficacy

The belief that an individual's participation in politics can influence the government.

Census

An official population count conducted every 10 years used to determine representation in Congress.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes after the Census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to ensure equal population across districts.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing legislative boundaries to provide an unfair political advantage to a specific party.

Moderate

A political view that avoids extreme positions and typically seeks compromise between ideologies.

Reactionary

An individual who opposes political or social reform and wishes to return to a previous state of affairs.

Radical

A person who advocates for fundamental or revolutionary changes in the existing political system.

Welfare State

A government system that undertakes to protect the social and economic well-being of its citizens.

Balanced Budget

A financial plan where total estimated revenues equal total planned expenditures.