| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conservative ideology | A political ideology that generally favors less national government involvement in addressing social issues, with more responsibility left to state governments. |
| individual liberty | The fundamental right of individuals to make personal choices and act freely within constitutional limits. |
| liberal ideology | A political ideology that generally favors more national government involvement in addressing social issues such as education and public health. |
| libertarian ideology | A political ideology that generally favors minimal government involvement at both national and state levels, except to protect private property and individual liberty. |
| national government involvement | The extent to which the federal government takes responsibility for addressing social issues and policy matters. |
| policy trends | Patterns in government decisions and laws that reflect shifts in political ideology and priorities. |
| political ideology | A comprehensive set of beliefs and values about the proper role of government and the organization of society. |
| private property | Individually or privately owned possessions and assets that libertarian ideology seeks to protect from government interference. |
| same-sex marriage | The legal union of two people of the same gender, recognized by government as a valid marriage. |
| school vouchers | Government-funded programs that allow parents to use public money to pay for private school tuition. |
| social issues | Policy matters affecting society such as education, healthcare, marriage, and reproductive rights. |
| state governments | The governments of individual states that retain powers not delegated to the federal government under the Constitution. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| core values | Fundamental beliefs held by U.S. citizens that shape their attitudes about government and their relationships with one another. |
| equality of opportunity | A core American value asserting that all people are given an equal chance to compete. |
| free enterprise | A core American value in which the market determines prices, products, and services. |
| individualism | A core American value emphasizing that each person has the ability to shape their life and destiny through the choices they make. |
| rule of law | A core American value establishing that every person, even those in power, must follow and is accountable to the same laws that govern all. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| civic organizations | Groups and institutions focused on community service and civic participation that contribute to political socialization. |
| democratic ideals | Core principles and values fundamental to democracy, such as popular sovereignty, equality, and individual rights. |
| globalization | The process of increasing interconnection and interdependence among countries, leading to the exchange of ideas, values, and cultural influences. |
| political attitudes | Individual beliefs and opinions about specific political issues, leaders, or policies. |
| political culture | The shared attitudes, beliefs, and values of citizens that shape how they view government, politics, and public policy. |
| political socialization | The process by which individuals develop political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors through various social influences. |
| religious organizations | Faith-based institutions that serve as agents of political socialization by influencing members' values and political perspectives. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| generational effects | Shared political and social experiences common to people born during the same time period that shape their political ideology. |
| life cycle effects | Changes in political ideology that occur as individuals progress through different life stages and encounter new experiences. |
| political ideology | A comprehensive set of beliefs and values about the proper role of government and the organization of society. |
| social factors | Elements of society and social experience that influence the development of political beliefs and attitudes. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| political attitudes | Individual beliefs and opinions about specific political issues, leaders, or policies. |
| political events | Significant occurrences or developments in the political sphere that can shape how individuals view and understand politics. |
| political ideology | A comprehensive set of beliefs and values about the proper role of government and the organization of society. |
| political socialization | The process by which individuals develop political beliefs, values, opinions, and behaviors through various social influences. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accurate reporting | The clear and honest presentation of poll data and conclusions that are directly supported by the data collected. |
| benchmark poll | A type of scientific poll that establishes baseline views and initial measurements of a candidate's support at the beginning of a campaign. |
| exit poll | A type of scientific poll that collects data from voters immediately after they vote to determine why they voted the way they did. |
| margin of error | A statistical measure that indicates the range of uncertainty in poll results due to sampling variation. |
| neutral framing | The practice of wording poll questions in a specific and unbiased manner to avoid influencing respondent answers. |
| opinion poll | A type of scientific poll that measures public opinion on various political issues and topics. |
| polling methodology | The systematic procedures and techniques used to conduct scientific polls, including sampling methods, question design, and data reporting. |
| sampling methods | The techniques used to select a representative subset of the population for a poll to ensure accurate results. |
| scientific polling | A systematic method of collecting public opinion data using rigorous sampling techniques and statistical analysis to measure attitudes on political topics. |
| tracking poll | A type of scientific poll that follows and measures how public views of a candidate change over the course of a campaign. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| credibility | The degree to which public opinion data and claims based on it are trustworthy and worthy of belief. |
| public opinion data | Information collected through surveys and polls that reflects the attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a population on political issues. |
| reliability | The consistency and dependability of public opinion data in producing similar results when measured repeatedly under similar conditions. |
| scientific polling | A systematic method of collecting public opinion data using rigorous sampling techniques and statistical analysis to measure attitudes on political topics. |
| veracity | The accuracy and truthfulness of public opinion data in reflecting genuine attitudes and preferences of respondents. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conservative ideology | A political ideology that generally favors less national government involvement in addressing social issues, with more responsibility left to state governments. |
| Democratic Party platforms | The official positions and policy proposals adopted by the Democratic Party. |
| liberal ideology | A political ideology that generally favors more national government involvement in addressing social issues such as education and public health. |
| policy debates | Discussions and disagreements about specific government policies and their implementation. |
| political ideology | A comprehensive set of beliefs and values about the proper role of government and the organization of society. |
| Republican Party platforms | The official positions and policy proposals adopted by the Republican Party. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| assimilation | The process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits and values of the dominant society. |
| democratic ideals | Core principles and values fundamental to democracy, such as popular sovereignty, equality, and individual rights. |
| individual liberty | The fundamental right of individuals to make personal choices and act freely within constitutional limits. |
| multiculturalism | A policy approach that recognizes and values the cultural diversity of a society's different groups. |
| political culture | The shared attitudes, beliefs, and values of citizens that shape how they view government, politics, and public policy. |
| public policy | Official government decisions and actions designed to address public issues and achieve specific goals. |
| stability and order | The government's role in maintaining social peace, security, and predictable conditions for society. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conservative ideology | A political ideology that generally favors less national government involvement in addressing social issues, with more responsibility left to state governments. |
| economic conditions | The overall state of an economy, including factors such as employment, inflation, growth, and interest rates. |
| Federal Reserve | The independent central banking system of the United States responsible for implementing monetary policy and regulating financial institutions. |
| fiscal policy | Actions taken by Congress and the president, such as taxation and spending decisions, to influence economic conditions. |
| interest rates | The percentage charged on borrowed money; a key tool used by the Federal Reserve to influence economic activity. |
| Keynesian economics | An economic approach that emphasizes government intervention through fiscal policy to manage economic cycles and achieve full employment. |
| liberal ideology | A political ideology that generally favors more national government involvement in addressing social issues such as education and public health. |
| libertarian ideology | A political ideology that generally favors minimal government involvement at both national and state levels, except to protect private property and individual liberty. |
| marketplace regulation | Government policies and rules that control or influence economic activity and business practices in the market. |
| maximum employment | One of the Federal Reserve's primary goals, referring to the lowest sustainable level of unemployment in the economy. |
| monetary policy | Actions taken by the Federal Reserve to influence interest rates and affect broader economic conditions. |
| political ideology | A comprehensive set of beliefs and values about the proper role of government and the organization of society. |
| price stability | One of the Federal Reserve's primary goals, referring to maintaining a low and stable rate of inflation. |
| property rights | Legal protections that give individuals and businesses ownership and control over their possessions and assets. |
| supply-side economics | An economic approach that emphasizes reducing taxes and regulations to stimulate production and economic growth. |
| voluntary trade | Economic exchanges between parties that occur freely without government coercion or mandate. |