Ideologies

demographics
statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it. (sex, age, race, education level...)

political socialization
The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.

political ideology
a more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue

political culture
an overall set of values widely shared within a society

public opinion
the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues often measured through polling.

conservative
holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change, typically concerning politics or religion. Favors a smaller central government to protect individual freedom.

liberal
open to new behavior or opinions and willing to quickly discard traditional values. Favors a larger, more powerful central government to promote equality socially and economically.

Equity
the state or quality of being just, fair, or impartial; meeting communities where they are and allocating resources and opportunities as needed to create equal outcomes for all community members.

equality
the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities; the government treating all persons the same under the due process and equal protection clauses.

political opinion polls
Carried out by research organisations using a sample of typical voters. They are used mainly to establish voting intentions but can also beused to gauge leaders' popularity and the importance of specific issues.

exit polling
polls based on interviews conducted on election day with randomly selected voters outside the voting centers.

margin of error
the range of percentage points in which the sample accurately reflects the population; a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll.

benchmark poll
an initial poll on a candidate or an issue on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared

tracking polls
ongoing series of surveys that follow changes in public opinion over time

sample
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey to be representative of the whole. It must be of proper size and randomness for accuracy of a poll.

Individualism
the degree to which a person believes that people should be self-sufficient and that loyalty to one's self is more important than loyalty to a team, company, or even country. If all persons pursue their self interest, a country will be more prosperous, thus giving a higher standard of living to most.

Collectivism
the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it. Property and modes of production are owned by the people through the government.

Keynesian Economics
the belief the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there isinflation; manipulating the economy through fiscal policy.

supply-side economics
An economic philosophy that holds the sharply cutting taxes, decreasing regulations, and protecting free trade will increase the incentivepeople have to work, save, and invest. Greater investments will lead to more jobs, a more productive economy, along with more tax revenues for the government.

monetary policy
Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply in circulation by manipulating interest rates, buying and selling bonds in the Open Market, and regulating the reserves at American banks.

fiscal policy
Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending. (budgeting)

Federal Reserve System
The country's central banking system, which is responsible for the nation's monetary policy by regulating the supply of money and interest rates

Census
the official count of a population; used to do demographic analysis.

equal opportunity
The condition in which people, although not guaranteed equal rewards, expect to have comparable chances to compete for those rewards;focuses on a level playing field for individual progress

Equal outcome
individuals have some share of goods or services, not merely a chance to obtain them without hindrance; focused on results to measure realopportunities.

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

Rule of Law
the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws.

Polarized
Divided into sharply opposed groups. Example: Democrats become more liberal and Republicans become more conservative causing the parties to become __________________.