AP GOV UNIT 4

Political Ideologies & Beliefs → The values and attitudes people have about government, politics, and the role of individuals in the system.

Competing Policymaking Interests → Different beliefs about the role of government shape policy preferences and political behavior.

Methods of Political Analysis → Political science uses polling, data, and research to understand public opinion and guide policymaking.

Political Socialization → The lifelong process through which people form political beliefs, shaped by family, peers, education, religion, media, and civic institutions.

Demographic Characteristics → Attributes like age, gender, race, region, income, and education that influence political attitudes and voting behavior.

Lifecycle Effects → How political beliefs change with age and life circumstances.

Generational Effects → When historical events shape the political beliefs of an entire generation.

Globalization → Growing interconnectedness of the world, influencing American politics, economy, and values.

Public Opinion → The distribution of people's views on government and policy.

Benchmark Poll → A poll taken early in a campaign to measure name recognition and initial support.

Tracking Poll → Repeated polling to measure changes in public opinion over time.

Exit Poll → A survey taken immediately after voting to predict results and analyze voter demographics.

Sampling Techniques → Methods for selecting a group that represents the population being studied.

Random Sample → Every individual has an equal chance of being selected; essential for accurate polls.

Representative Sample → A sample that reflects the population's demographics.

Sampling Error (Margin of Error) → The range in which poll results might be inaccurate; a smaller margin means more reliable results.

Poll Reliability Factors → Variables such as question wording, sample size, timing, and neutrality that determine poll legitimacy.

Push Poll → A poll designed to influence rather than measure opinion; considered unethical.

Ideology → A consistent set of beliefs about the proper role of government.

Liberal Ideology → Supports active government, social welfare, civil rights protections, environmental regulation, and progressive taxation.

Conservative Ideology → Supports limited government, free markets, traditional social values, lower taxes, and strong national defense.

Libertarian Ideology → Advocates for minimal government involvement in both social and economic matters.

Authoritarian/Statist Ideology → Supports strong government control over economic and social policy; opposite of libertarianism.

Keynesian Economics → Belief that government should increase spending during recessions to stimulate the economy.

Supply-Side Economics → Belief that cutting taxes and regulations encourages investment, production, and economic growth.

Fiscal Policy → Government decisions about taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy → The Federal Reserve’s control of the money supply and interest rates to stabilize the economy and control inflation.

Inflation → A rise in prices across the economy; the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates to reduce inflation.

Consumer Confidence Index → A measure of how optimistic consumers are about the economy; impacts spending and elections.

Welfare Policy Preferences → Ideological differences in opinions about government social programs.

Foreign Policy Ideology → Liberals tend to favor diplomacy; conservatives tend to favor military strength.

Environmental Policy Preferences → Liberals favor more environmental regulation; conservatives prefer cost-focused, limited regulation.

Political Culture → Shared national values such as individualism, rule of law, and equality of opportunity.

Individualism → Belief that individuals should be responsible for their own success.

Equality of Opportunity → The idea that everyone should have a fair chance to succeed.

Free Enterprise → Economic system with limited government involvement; markets determine prices.

Rule of Law → Principle that everyone, including government leaders, must follow the law.

Limited Government → Government powers are restricted by the Constitution.

Linkage Institutions → Structures that connect citizens to government, such as elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Partisanship → Loyalty to a political party.

Political Efficacy → Belief in one’s ability to influence the political process.

Party Platforms → The official policy goals and positions of a political party.

Ideological Sorting → Voters are increasingly aligning with the party that matches their ideology.

Wedge Issues → Controversial issues used to split or attract specific groups of voters.

Valence Issues → Issues most people agree on, though they may differ on solutions.

Public Policy → Government actions addressing issues, including laws, court rulings, and regulations.

Marbury v. Madison (1803) → Established judicial review; allowed courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Schenck v. United States (1919) → Limited free speech when it creates a “clear and present danger.”

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) → Struck down school segregation; violated the Equal Protection Clause.

Engel v. Vitale (1962) → School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) → Protected student symbolic speech in schools.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) → Allowed Amish students to be exempt from compulsory schooling under the Free Exercise Clause.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) → Incorporated the Second Amendment right to bear arms to the states.

Federalist No. 10 → Argued that factions are inevitable but can be controlled by a large republic.