Unit 4 Complete Review: Political Ideologies, Beliefs, and Policy

Individualism

A belief in the fundamental worth and importance of the individual, emphasizing self-reliance and personal responsibility.

Equality of Opportunity

The belief that all people should have the same chance to succeed based on their own effort and ability.

Free Enterprise

An economic system where private businesses operate in competition and largely free of state control.

Rule of Law

The principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law and that laws apply equally to everyone.

Limited Government

The government is restricted by the Constitution and is limited in its powers to create order and protect rights.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and attitudes.

Agents of Socialization

Factors that influence political socialization, including family, education, peers, media, and religion.

Selection Bias

A polling issue occurring when certain groups are excluded, leading to unrepresentative samples.

Sampling Error

The margin of error that indicates the accuracy of a poll's results.

Generational Effects

Long-term views shaped by historical events experienced during formative years (ages 14–24).

Lifecycle Effects

Political views that change as a person ages and reaches different life stages.

Benchmark Polls

The first polls taken in a campaign, used to gather baseline information about a candidate.

Tracking Polls

Continuous surveys that track a campaign's daily rise or fall in support.

Entrance/Exit Polls

Polls conducted outside polling places to predict election outcomes and analyze voter demographics.

Focus Groups

Small discussions that provide qualitative data to gauge public opinion on specific issues.

Random Sampling

A polling method ensuring every individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Stratified Sampling

A sampling method where the population is divided into subgroups to ensure demographic representation.

Neutral Wording

The principle that poll questions should be objective and free of emotional bias.

Saliency

The importance of an issue to a specific group.

Intensity

The strength of feelings people have about an issue.

Stability

The consistency of opinions over time.

Liberal Ideology

A political ideology that supports government intervention in the economy and personal liberties.

Conservative Ideology

A political ideology that favors laissez-faire economics and traditional values.

Libertarian Ideology

A political ideology that advocates for maximum individual freedom and minimal government intervention.

Populist Ideology

A political ideology that supports protectionism and traditional values, generally appealing to the working class.

Fiscal Policy

The use of the federal budget (taxing and spending) to influence the economy.

Keynesian Economics

An economic theory proposing government spending to stimulate the economy during recessions.

Supply-Side Economics

An economic theory advocating for tax cuts and deregulation to spur economic growth.

Monetary Policy

The management of the money supply and interest rates by the Federal Reserve to control inflation.

Reserve Requirement

The amount of cash banks must hold in reserve, as mandated by the Federal Reserve.

Discount Rate

The interest rate set by the Federal Reserve for lending to banks.

Open Market Operations

The buying and selling of government bonds by the Federal Reserve to regulate the money supply.

Monetarism

The economic theory that emphasizes controlling inflation through managing the money supply.

Social Policy

Government policies aimed at improving social welfare and addressing social issues.

Civil Rights

The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment under the law.

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency of respondents to provide socially acceptable answers rather than their true opinions.

Bradley Effect

The phenomenon where respondents give misleading responses to appear less prejudiced.

Echo Chambers

Situations in social media where users are exposed to beliefs and opinions that reinforce their own.

Civic Organizations

Groups that influence political beliefs and policy views through community engagement.

Critical Mass

The threshold of support needed for a consensus or significant action to take place.

Political Ideology

A consistent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.

Margin of Error

The range within which the true value in a population is expected to fall based on poll results.

Affirmative Action

Policies that aim to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

Civic Duty

The responsibilities of citizens to engage in and contribute to their political system.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals regarding political issues.

Issue Publics

Groups of people who care deeply about specific issues.

Ideology and Policy Making

The relationship between political ideologies and the formulation of public policies.