Gov unit 4 flashcards

Unit IV – Political Ideology, Political Socialization, Political Participation & Public Opinion

  • Influences on American Political Beliefs
    • Shaped by:
    • Founding ideals
    • Core values
    • Linkage institutions (e.g., elections, political parties, interest groups, media)
    • Changing demographics

I. Citizen Beliefs About Government

  • Shaping Factors: Demographics, political culture, social change.
    • Core Beliefs:
    • Values of individualism, freedom, equality.
    • Limitation of government to protect personal liberties.
    • Cultural Influence:
    • Family, religion, education, ethnicity shape views.
    • Political socialization leads individuals to form political views.
    • Social changes (e.g., civil rights movements) can shift cultural attitudes and ideologies.

II. Public Opinion

  • Measurement:
    • Measured through scientific polling.
    • Polls influence public policies and institutions.
  • Elements of a Scientific Poll:
    • Random sample, clear unbiased questions, large sample size.
    • Data collection methods (phone/online surveys).
    • Includes a margin of error indicating potential discrepancies.
  • Evaluating Credibility:
    • Ensure sample representativeness, unbiased questions, relevant timing.
    • Consider sample size and margin of error for reliability.

III. Political Ideologies and Policy Debates

  • Influence of Party Ideologies:
    • Democrats: Advocate for larger government roles to regulate economy and address social issues.
    • Republicans: Favor smaller government, focusing on free-market policies and limited intervention.
    • These differences lead to debates on healthcare, taxation, etc.
  • U.S. Political Culture and Policy Formation:
    • Values of individualism, democracy, equality shape public policy.
    • Shifts in cultural attitudes lead to evolving policies (e.g., civil rights, economic regulations).
  • Economic Regulation Ideologies:
    • Conservatives: Minimal government market involvement.
    • Liberals: Support regulation for fairness and inequality reduction (e.g., progressive taxation).
  • Social Issues Regulation:
    • Liberals: Policies promoting equality (e.g., LGBTQ rights, affirmative action).
    • Conservatives: Focus on traditional family values, resistance to certain rights policies.

Political Ideology Terms

  • Political Ideology: Beliefs regarding government/society roles influencing actions and policy preferences.
  • Liberalism: Supports government intervention for social justice, civil rights, and environmental protection.
  • Conservatism: Emphasizes tradition, limited government, and free-market economics.
  • Communism: Advocates for a classless society with government control over production.
  • Socialism: Government/community control of production to reduce inequality.
  • Libertarianism: Minimal government involvement, prioritizing individual freedom.
  • Populism: Represents ordinary people's interests against elite groups.

American Political Characteristics

  • American Political Culture: Individualism, democracy, equality of opportunity, rule of law, capitalism.
  • Differences in Terminology:
    • Liberal: Ideology advocating for equality and justice.
    • Democrat: Political party of diverse views including liberals.
    • Conservative: Ideology prioritizing limited government.
    • Republican: Party primarily aligned with conservative values.

Political Socialization

  • Definition: Process of developing political beliefs via influences from family, peers, education, media, race/ethnicity, gender, and SES.
    • Factors:
    • Family: Primary influence on early beliefs.
    • Peers: Shape views through social interactions.
    • Education: Informs political knowledge and civic duties.
    • Media: Shapes public opinion.
    • Religion: Affects moral and governmental views.
    • Race/Ethnicity: Influences perspectives on rights.
    • Gender: Affects views on equality and policies.
    • SES: Higher status typically leans more conservative.

Political Participation

  • Political Efficacy: Belief in one's influence on political outcomes, crucial to engagement.
  • Participation Types:
    • Conventional: Voting, campaigning, attending meetings.
    • Unconventional: Protests, civil disobedience, online activism.
  • Voter Turnout Trends:
    • Lower in the U.S. (~50-60%) vs. Europe (often higher).
  • Factors Influencing Voter Turnout:
    • Positive: Engagement, competitive elections, education.
    • Negative: Apathy, registration complexities.
  • Voter Characteristics:
    • High Turnout: Older, educated, higher-income individuals.
    • Low Turnout: Younger, less educated, lower-income individuals.

Public Opinion Polling

  • Types of Polls:
    • Tracking polls measure public opinion over time.
    • Exit polls predict outcomes post-voting.
    • Random sampling provides equal selection chance.
    • Push polls aim to influence opinions.
    • Scientific Polling: Employs statistical methods for accuracy.
    • Benchmark polls set baseline data for campaigns.
  • Factors for Reliable Polls:
    • Random, representative samples; clear questions; sufficient size.
  • Poll Utilization:
    • By organizations for measuring opinion, by politicians for gauging support, and by media for reporting public perception.
    • Margin of Error: Indicates potential accuracy discrepancies.
  • Wording Impact: Question framing can bias responses.