Unit 4: American Political Ideologies & Beliefs

This is the belief that citizens understand politics (political culture) and can influence politics; this is also the amount of faith citizens have in their government.

• political socialization
• political efficacy
• political culture
• political ideology

What is political socialization?

• All the people who might be interest group members because they share the same common interest.
• The process through which an individual acquires his/her particular orientations - his/her knowledge, feelings, and evaluations regarding his/her political world.
• How similar cases have been decided in the past.
• The distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues.

The most important factor that influences gain our basic attitudes that shape our political opinions is

• the media
• church
• friends
• family

Which person probably has the most political efficacy?

• A person who never votes
• A person who votes early
• A person who votes early and donates money to candidates
• A person who votes on election day if it isn't raining

"Taxes are too high! The government should be smaller and taxes should be lower!"

• Liberal
• Conservative

"Corporations can't be trusted to treat people fairly they need to be regulated in order to protect workers."

• Liberal
• Conservative

"It is vital that the United States have a large military in order to protect all Americans from threats by terrorist groups."

• Liberal
• Conservative

A set of ideas, beliefs... about how government should operate and how much government should be involved in our day to day lives.

• Political Ideology
• Political Party
• Political Spectrum
• Two Party System

Most Americans fall here on the Political Spectrum sharing ideas from both political parties.

• Liberal
• Moderate
• Conservative
• Communist

Which of the following is a sign of an inaccurate poll?

• clear wording
• 3% margin of error
• confusing interpretation
• representative sample