2A Vocab

Question 1

Public opinion

Answer 1

The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population

Question 2

Political socialization

Answer 2

The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs

Question 3

Scientific poll

Answer 3

A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected

Question 4

Opinion poll

Answer 4

Polls through interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

Question 5

Benchmark (tracking) poll

Answer 5

Polls in which researchers ask people the same similar questions over time to “track” the path of public opinion

Question 6

Entrance/exit polls

Answer 6

Polls conducted outside of polling places on Election Day to predict the outcome of an election

Question 7

Sampling error

Answer 7

Error in a statistic analysis arising from the unrepresentativeness of the sample taken (occurs simply because the researchers aren’t asking everyone)

Question 8

Margin of error

Answer 8

Maximum amount by which the sample results are expected to differ from those of the actual population

Question 9

Random sample

Answer 9

A type of sample where every individual has an unknown and random chance of being selected

Question 10

Public policy

Answer 10

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

Question 11

Political ideology

Answer 11

A consistent pattern of belies and attitudes about political values and the role of government

Question 12

Liberalism

Answer 12

A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity

Question 13

Conservatism

Answer 13

A belief in private property and free enterprise

Question 14

Libertarianism

Answer 14

An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a non interventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in moral, economic, and social life

Question 15

Free enterprise

Answer 15

Freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government beyond regulation necessary to protect public interest and keep the national economy in balance

Question 16

Keynesian economics

Answer 16

Developed by the British economist John Maynard Keynes during the 1930s in an attempt to understand the Great Depression. Keynes advocated increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the global economy out of the depression.

Question 17

Supply-side economics

Answer 17

An economic theory that states, by lowering taxes on corporations, government can stimulate investment in industry and raise production, which will bring down prices and control inflation. Focuses on increasing the supply of goods rather than stimulating demand by granting subsidiaries to the public. Influenced by the presidency of Ronald Reagan.