Unit 4 Vocabulary AP GOV

1. Public opinion- a total of public expression regarding a specific issue or event

EX. A group of American citizens have a strong desire for a more effective economic policy to control inflation and its rising prices.

2. Individualism- a theory maintaining the political and economic independence of the individual and stressing individual initiative, action, and interests

EX. Having individual and independent ideas, personal independence 

3. Core values- the deeply ingrained principles that guide all of a company's actions, serving as cultural cornerstones.

EX. If a core value is being respectful, you could be a good listener, understand others point of view, and acknowledge what others do well.

4. Equality of opportunity-  the idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life

EX. Offering free public education so every child has a chance to have a academic education

5. Free enterprise- an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control.

EX. Businesses have the right to freely start and run their own businesses to produce and sell goods and services and make profits.

6. Rule of law- all citizens and government institutions are subject to the law and the justice system. 

EX. Environmental laws and regulations that tell us what we are allowed to put into the ground, air, and water.

7. Ideology- the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group 

EX. A political ideologies 

• Liberalism

  • Individual rights 

  • Social equality

  • Government intervention to address social issues

• Conservatism

  • Limited government

  • Individual responsibility

  • Prioritizing economic freedom

• Socialism

  • Collective ownership

  • Government intervention to reduce economic inequality

8. Liberal ideologies- Tend to believe that the government should intervene in the economy and provide a broad range of social services to ensure well-being and equality across society. 

EX

• Liberals usually believe that the government should not regulate private sexual or social behaviors. 

• They are said to fall on the "left wing" of the axis of political beliefs

9. social issues such as education and public health, with less responsibility for these issues left to state governments 

EX.

10. conservative ideologies- Conservatives tend to believe that government should be small, operating mainly at the state or local level. 

• They favor minimal government interference in the economy and prefer private sector-based solutions to problems.

• Conservatives are said to fall on the "right wing" of the axis of political beliefs 

11. libertarian ideologies- Emphasize individual freedom, personal autonomy, and minimal government intervention in both personal and economic matters.

• Advocate for civil liberties and free markets, opposing excessive state control and promoting the idea that individuals should have the right to make their own choices without interference. 

• This philosophy deeply influences social policies and policy-making 

12. political socialization- Complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize) 

EX. Your parents influencing your political beliefs

13. Globalization- the speedup of movements and exchanges (of human beings, goods, and services, capital, technologies or cultural practices) all over the planet.

EX. Companies like Amazon and Apple producing goods and selling them worldwide

14. generational effects- Significant historical or cultural events that can permanently affect the political attitudes of the people who lived through them. 

EX. The Great Recession (2008) shaped their economic views as they became more supportive of government intervention and progressive policies.

15. life cycle effects-Fluctuations in political beliefs that can occur as a result of life events that commonly occur at particular points in a typical lifespan 

EX. 

16. Population- the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region 

EX.

17. Sample- a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or group especially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality 

EX.

18. Sampling error- the difference between an estimate for a population based on data from a sample and the 'true' value for that population which would result if a census were taken

opinion polls 

EX.

19. benchmark polls- Generally the first poll taken in a campaign. 

• It is often taken before a candidate announces their bid for office, but sometimes it happens immediately following that announcement after they have had some opportunity to raise funds

EX.

20. tracking polls- a type of poll repeated periodically with the same group of people to check and measure changes of opinion or knowledge.

EX.

21. exit polls- Polls based on interviews conducted on Election Day with randomly selected voters  

EX.

22. Ideological polarization- the increasing ideological distance and division between political groups, particularly within the context of partisan politics. 

EX.

23. fiscal policy- Using government spending and taxation to influence the economy. This includes decisions on how much the government spends on various programs, how much it collects in taxes, and how it manages its budget

EX.

24. Keynesian economics- supports an active role of the government in regulating the marketplace. 

Ex. Joe Biden giving US citizens stimulus checks to provide economic relief to those affected by the pandemic.

25. supply-side economics- supports a limited role for the government in regulating the marketplace. 

EX.

26. Federal Reserve (the Fed)- consisting of twelve Federal Reserve districts, the Fed facilitates exchanges of cash, checks and credit; it regulates member banks; and it uses monetary policies to fight inflation and deflation

EX.