Unit 4: Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Which of the following best represents an example of the process of political socialization?

• As a result of his strongly conservative views, an individual limits his news sources to only those that have a conservative leaning in their reporting.

• A member of Congress makes her staff members available to provide capitol tours to her constituents and their families.

• An employee at the Department of Defense develops a strong working relationship with defense contractors that ultimately result in his receiving a job offer from the company.

• A high school student joins a Young Politicians club at her school and develops specific positions on a number of political issues.

In which of the following situations would public opinion polls most likely affect the way a member of the House of Representatives from California votes on legislation?

• Nationwide polling indicates that Americans overwhelmingly favor passage of the legislation.

• Polling within California indicates that voters support passage of the legislation.

• Public opinion polls within the member's California district reflect shifting opinions on the legislation.

• A public opinion poll in the member's California district indicates that voters oppose the legislation.

Which of the following represents a typical liberal viewpoint on the right to privacy?

• The right to privacy is not expressly outlined in the Constitution and should be overturned in future precedent.

• The right to privacy should apply to one's home and internet usage, but not to birth control or abortion.

• The right to privacy is implied in the Constitution and should be protected from birth control to cell phones.

• The federal government should be able to monitor a citizen's activity at all times through computers, cameras and phones.

Which of the following best represents a typical conservative viewpoint on environmental regulation?

• Those making environmental regulations should take more consideration to the impact on businesses and corporations.

• Environmental regulation is necessary to protect the environment from destruction at the hands of businesses.

• Environmental regulation should be handled by the corporations themselves and not something forced upon them.

• The United States should sign environmental regulation treaties to ensure that our policy is enforced by the international community.

Which of the following correctly describes conservative and liberal positions on social issues?

• Conservatives believe poverty can best be solved through private charity, while liberals believe government programs are needed to help fight poverty.

• Conservatives believe civil rights protections should be expanded to include homosexuals, while liberals believe civil rights legislation improperly increases the power of the federal government.

• Conservatives believe increased environmental protections are necessary to limit climate change, while liberals believe government regulations are overly burdensome on businesses.

• Conservatives believe abortion right should be protected, while liberals believe access to abortion should be restricted.

A political scientist is studying how groups of people come to obtain their political views. He has divided the group he is studying into younger and older. Which of the following will probably have a larger effect on the younger subjects than the older?

• Media

• Family

• Schools

• Peers

Political and social philosophy emphasizing the belief that the needs of each person are more important than the needs of the whole society or group.

• Individualism

• Socialism

• Free Enterprise

• Equality of Outcome

An economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control or government intervention.

• Individualism

• Socialism

• Free Enterprise

• Equality of Outcome

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

• Individualism

• Socialism

• Free Enterprise

• Equality of Outcome

Giving people an equal chance to succeed.

• Individualism

• Socialism

• Equality of Opportunity

• Equality of Outcome