Individualism: A social theory advocating for the moral worth of the individual over collective groups, emphasizing personal independence and self-reliance.

Equality of Opportunity: The belief that all individuals should have the same chances to succeed in life, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Free Enterprise: An economic system in which private business operates in competition and is free of state control, emphasizing minimal government intervention.

Rule of Law: The principle that all individuals and institutions are accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced.

Limited Government: A political system where the government’s powers are restricted by law to protect individual rights and freedoms.

Political Socialization: The process by which individuals learn and develop their political beliefs and values, often influenced by family, education, and media.

Agents of Socialization: Individuals or institutions that contribute to the socialization process, including family, peers, schools, and the media.

Globalization: The process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, often involving trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

Polling: The process of surveying public opinion by asking individuals their views or preferences regarding political issues or candidates.

Opinion Polling: The practice of measuring public sentiment on a specific issue or candidate by conducting surveys.

Tracking Polling: Continuous polling that measures changes in public opinion over time by repeatedly polling the same subjects.

Exit Polling: Polling conducted immediately after voters have cast their ballots, used to predict election outcomes and understand voter behavior.

Sampling: The process of selecting a representative group from a larger population to estimate characteristics or opinions of that population.

Sample Error: The error that arises from using a sample to estimate characteristics of a population, reflecting the difference between the sample result and the true population value.

Democratic Party Platform: The official stance and policy goals of the Democratic Party, characterized by progressive and liberal positions.

Liberal: A political ideology that generally advocates for social justice, environmental protection, and a more active role of the government in economic regulation and welfare.

Republican Party Platform: The official stance and policy goals of the Republican Party, often emphasizing conservative principles, free market policies, and limited government.

Conservative: A political ideology that favors traditional values, limited government, and a free market economy, often resistant to change.

Ideology: A set of beliefs and values that guide political behavior and policy preferences, encompassing a wide range of political thought.

Liberty vs. Order: The debate between the importance of individual freedoms and societal order, often assessing how much control government should exert over personal liberties.

Economic Regulation vs. Non-regulation: The spectrum of government involvement in the economy, debating the need for rules and oversight versus allowing free market forces to operate without interference.

Keynesianism vs. Supply-side Economics: Two contrasting economic theories; Keynesianism promotes government intervention to stimulate demand, while supply-side economics advocates for tax cuts and deregulation to spur economic growth.

Monetary Policy by the Federal Reserve: The actions taken by the Federal Reserve to influence the money supply and interest rates to achieve economic objectives such as stable prices and maximum employement.

Fiscal Policy: Government policy regarding taxation and spending to influence the economy's overall activity levels.

Personal Privacy: The right of individuals to keep their personal information and activities private from government and public scrutiny.

Libertarians: Advocates of political philosophy emphasizing individual liberty, free markets, and minimal government intervention in personal and economic matters.