Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

22 terms. Say what each one means, then open the card to check.

• Political culture

  The beliefs and values about government and public life that most people in a country share and pass on.

  Example. Most Americans, whatever their party, say officials should obey the law and that people should have a fair shot at success.

• Individualism

  The belief that each person is responsible for his or her own choices and success, with as little outside control as possible.

  Example. A worker who says she owes her new business to her own effort, not to government help, is voicing individualism.

• Equality of opportunity

  The belief that everyone should get a fair chance to succeed, even though results will differ from person to person.

  Example. Free public schools give every child a chance to learn, though students still end up with different jobs and incomes.

• Free enterprise

  An economy in which private people and businesses own property and compete in markets with limited government control.

  Example. Two coffee shops on one street set their own prices and compete for customers without the city telling them what to charge.

• Rule of law

  The principle that everyone, including government officials, must follow the same laws and that laws are applied fairly.

  Example. A mayor caught speeding gets the same ticket and fine as any other driver in town.

• Political socialization

  The process by which people learn political beliefs and values, through agents such as family, school, peers, media and religious groups.

  Example. A teenager who hears her parents discuss elections at dinner and later joins their party shows family as an agent of socialization.

• Generational effect

  Shared views held by people who came of age during the same major events, which they tend to keep for life.

  Example. People who were young adults during a long economic depression may favor government job programs for the rest of their lives.

• Life-cycle effect

  A change in political views that comes as a person moves through stages of life, such as starting work, buying a home or retiring.

  Example. A renter who cared little about property taxes starts to oppose higher ones after buying a house in her forties.

• Globalization

  The growing flow of goods, people, money, ideas and media across national borders, which can shape what people think about policy.

  Example. A student who grew up chatting online with friends abroad may hold different views on trade and travel than her grandparents.

• Random sample

  A sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being picked, so the sample tends to look like the whole group.

  Example. A pollster uses a computer to pick 1,000 phone numbers at random from every area code in the country.

• Margin of error

  The range, in percentage points above and below a poll result, within which the true figure for the whole population probably falls.

  Example. A poll shows 52 percent support with a margin of plus or minus 3 points, so true support is probably between 49 and 55 percent.

• Tracking poll

  A poll that asks the same question of new samples again and again over time to show how opinion is changing.

  Example. A campaign polls voters every week in the final two months to see whether its candidate is gaining or losing ground.

• Exit poll

  A poll that questions voters right after they leave the polling place, used to study how groups voted and to project results.

  Example. On Election Day, interviewers outside a school gym ask voters who they chose and which issue mattered most to them.

• Focus group

  A small group of people led through a guided discussion so researchers can learn how they think and feel about a topic.

  Example. A campaign gathers ten undecided voters in a room to watch two ads and talk about which one they trust more.

• Push poll

  A campaign tactic dressed up as a poll, in which loaded questions spread negative claims about an opponent instead of measuring opinion.

  Example. A caller asks, "Would you still vote for Smith if you learned he skipped dozens of votes?" and records no real answers.

• Question wording effect

  A change in poll results caused by how a question is phrased, such as loaded words or a slanted framing.

  Example. More people say they favor aid to the poor than favor welfare, even though the two phrases describe similar programs.

• Nonresponse bias

  Error that creeps into a poll when the people who refuse or cannot be reached differ in their views from those who answer.

  Example. If busy younger workers rarely pick up the phone, a phone poll may overstate the views of older, retired adults.

• Liberal ideology

  A set of beliefs that generally favors a larger government role in the economy and social programs and less government control of personal choices.

  Example. A liberal voter backs a higher minimum wage and public health programs and opposes laws that limit private personal decisions.

• Conservative ideology

  A set of beliefs that generally favors lower taxes, less economic regulation and more support for traditional values and public order.

  Example. A conservative voter backs cutting business regulations and lowering income taxes and supports tough penalties for crime.

• Libertarian ideology

  A set of beliefs that wants very little government in both the economy and personal life, stressing free markets and individual liberty.

  Example. A libertarian voter wants lower taxes and fewer business rules and also wants the government out of adults' private choices.

• Keynesian economics

  The theory that government should raise spending or cut taxes during a downturn to boost demand and jobs, even if it runs a deficit.

  Example. During a recession, Congress funds new road and bridge projects so that construction workers are hired and spend their pay.

• Supply-side economics

  The theory that lower tax rates and lighter regulation encourage people and businesses to work, save and invest, which drives growth.

  Example. A plan cuts tax rates on business profits so firms will build new factories and hire more workers.