1. What is the relationship between core American values and disagreements over government policy?

2. How do conservatives and liberals differ in their views on government's role and the balance between order and liberty?

1. What is individualism and how does it relate to the Enlightenment philosophy that shaped American government?

2. How does self-centered individualism differ from enlightened self-interest?

3. What tension exists between individualism and other American values like the common good?

1. What did Thomas Jefferson mean by 'all men are created equal' in the Declaration of Independence?

2. How did the Fourteenth Amendment and civil rights legislation address inequality in both state and federal government?

3. Why do citizens disagree about how government should ensure equality of opportunity?

1. What is free enterprise and what did Adam Smith mean by the 'invisible hand'?

2. How do conservatives and liberals differ in their views on government regulation of business?

1. What is the rule of law and why is it a cornerstone of American government?

2. How do systems like public records, independent law enforcement, and a free press preserve the rule of law?

3. How can discretion in enforcing or interpreting laws both support and challenge the rule of law?

1. What is limited government and how does the Constitution reflect this principle?

2. How have the Democratic and Republican parties' views on limited government changed over time?

1. What factors influence where individuals fall on the political ideology spectrum?

1. Why is family considered the biggest influence on political socialization?

2. What does recent research reveal about the relationship between parental political influence and children's political beliefs?

1. How do teachers and peer groups influence political beliefs in K-12 schools?

2. What role does college play in political socialization, and how do different majors correlate with political affiliation?

3. What do studies show about the political attitudes of people with advanced degrees?

1. How does social conformity and peer pressure influence political beliefs and civic participation?

1. How has increased media exposure affected the relative influence of family on political socialization?

2. In what ways do news coverage and fictional media depictions influence political identity formation?

1. How do religious institutions influence political thought and voting behavior?

2. What is the relationship between specific religious affiliations and political party affiliation?

3. What are civic institutions and how do they influence political socialization differently?

1. How does geographic location influence political ideology and party affiliation?

2. What are the key differences between the political cultures of the Northeast, West, and South?

1. What is globalization and how has U.S. influence affected political cultures in other countries?

2. How have values from other countries influenced American political culture through immigration and globalization?

3. What is global identification and how do international events foster a sense of global citizenship?

1. What is the impressionable-age hypothesis and why is it significant for understanding political socialization?

2. How do the four major generational categories differ in their political attitudes and voting patterns?

1. What are the key characteristics of Millennials' political attitudes on social issues and diversity?

2. How do Millennials' views on foreign policy differ from older generations?

3. What are Millennials' economic views regarding government regulation, free trade, and government assistance programs?

1. How did the Silent Generation's experiences with World War II and the Cold War shape their foreign policy views?

2. What social and cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s influenced the Silent Generation's conservative political attitudes?

3. Why are seniors considered the most reliable voters and what issues are most important to them?

1. How do lifecycle effects shift political priorities and participation as people move through different life stages?

2. What issues are most important to college-age students and how might their priorities change as they age?

3. What are the major concerns of seniors and how do their life experiences shape their political attitudes?

1. How did the Great Depression and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal influence political attitudes toward government?

2. How did World War II and the Cold War shape the political attitudes of the older generation?

1. How did the Vietnam War create different political responses between the older generation and Baby Boomers?

1. What major political events and assassinations of the 1960s influenced Baby Boomers' political socialization?

2. Why did Baby Boomers shift from voting Democratic to Republican as they aged?

1. How did the September 11 attacks and subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq shape Millennials' views on foreign policy?

2. How did the Great Recession influence Millennials' attitudes toward government intervention in the economy?

3. What do voting patterns reveal about Millennials' political party affiliation compared to older generations?