AP Gov: Chapter 6

Question 1

Conservative

Answer 1

averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values.

favoring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas.

Question 2

Liberal

Answer 2

relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.

Question 3

Political culture

Answer 3

The set of attitudes that shape polical behavior
- Individualism, equal opputities, free enterprise, rule of law, limited gov

Question 4

Individualism

Answer 4

A beleifs in the fundamental worth & important of the individual
- Ropted in enligt,ent
- Encourge pepople to purse their own best intreast

Question 5

Free enterprise

Answer 5

An economic system where private individual & businesses operate with miminal gov interenetion

Question 6

Rule of law

Answer 6

The priniple of a gov that established laws that apply equally to all members of society & prevents the rule & whims of leaders who see themselves as above the law
- Assures stability & certaintity

Question 7

Limited government

Answer 7

One kept under control by law & by checks & balances & the speration of powers

• Bill of rights
• Both parties embrace it
• Is key to civil liberites

Question 8

Political socialization

Answer 8

The lifelong process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs, attitudes, values, & behaviors
- family, school & college, peers, media, social life, geography

Question 9

Religious insitituions

Answer 9

organized systems of shared beliefs, practices, and communities (e.g., churches, synagogues, mosques) that influence political socialization, social norms, and public policy.

Question 10

Civic insitutions

Answer 10

non-governmental, community-based groups (like nonprofits, associations, and volunteer organizations) that promote social welfare, encourage political engagement, and facilitate citizen participation.

Question 11

Globalization

Answer 11

the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of nations, cultures, and economies, driven by rapid advancements in technology, communication, and trade.

Question 12

Generational effects

Answer 12

the lasting, shared political attitudes and ideologies developed by a specific age cohort due to major historical, cultural, or social events experienced during their youth (formative years).

Question 13

Lifecycle effects

Answer 13

changes in political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that individuals experience as they pass through different life stages.

Question 14

Great Depression

Answer 14

a severe global economic collapse that fundamentally shifted U.S. political ideology from laissez-faire to active government intervention. It created a belief that the federal government must manage the economy, ensure social welfare, and provide a safety net (e.g., Social Security, New Deal)

Question 15

New Deal coalition

Answer 15

a dominant voting bloc (1932–1960s) assembled by FDR, uniting diverse groups—labor unions, minorities, Southerners, and urbanites—under the Democratic Party. It supported a robust federal government, economic regulation, and social safety nets, establishing a lasting era of liberal political ideology and Democratic majority.

Question 16

Iraq invasion

Answer 16

a U.S.-led coalition military campaign starting March 20, 2003, designed to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, eliminate alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and end suspected terrorism support

• initial support then that declined

Question 17

Public opinion polls

Answer 17

scientific instruments used to measure the attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a population regarding political issues, candidates, or officials.

Question 18

Entrance polls

Answer 18

surveys conducted with voters immediately before they cast their ballots at polling stations.

Question 19

Exit polls

Answer 19

surveys conducted on Election Day at randomly selected polling locations, asking voters how they cast their ballot and for demographic information as they exit.

Question 20

Approval ratings

Answer 20

a percentage determined by polling that measures public support for a political figure (usually the president) or institution.

Question 21

Focus group

Answer 21

a small, moderated discussion involving 6–12 participants with similar backgrounds or demographics, used to gain in-depth, qualitative insights into public opinion on specific political candidates, policies, or issues.

Question 22

Sampling technique

Answer 22

The scientific methods used by pollsters to select a small, representative subset (sample) of individuals from a larger population to accurately measure public opinion.

Question 23

Representative sample

Answer 23

a small, accurately selected subset of the population (usually 400–2,000 people) that reflects the demographic, ideological, and socioeconomic characteristics of the entire population.

• Generalized to the whole group

Question 24

Universe

Answer 24

the entire group of people whose opinions or behaviors a poll aims to measure.

Question 25

Random sample

Answer 25

a polling method where every member of a population has an equal probability of being selected for a survey.

Question 26

Random-digit dialing

Answer 26

a survey technique used in AP Government to collect public opinion by calling randomly generated phone numbers, including unlisted ones. I

Question 27

Weighting

Answer 27

The statistical adjustment of poll results to ensure demographic groups (e.g., age, race, gender) in the sample accurately reflect their proportions in the actual population.

Question 28

Stratificiation

Answer 28

a scientific polling technique where the target population is divided into subgroups (strata) based on demographic characteristics—such as race, gender, age, income, or region—and then randomly sampled to ensure the final sample accurately reflects the population's composition.

Question 29

Sampling error

Answer 29

the predicted difference between the opinions expressed by a sample (the survey respondents) and the actual, true opinion of the entire population.

Question 30

Margin of error

Answer 30

A statistic measuring the accuracy of a poll, representing the range within which the true population opinion likely falls (usually 3-5 percentage points).

Question 31

Non-attitudes

Answer 31

the lack of stable, meaningful opinions held by citizens on many political issues, often resulting in random or inconsistent answers in surveys.

Question 32

Humans bias

Answer 32

a systematic, often unconscious inclination, prejudice, or favoritism for or against an individual, group, idea, or political position that interferes with impartial judgment.

Question 33

Push polling

Answer 33

a telephone marketing technique disguised as a legitimate opinion poll, designed to influence or "push" voter opinions rather than measure them.

Question 34

Bandwagon effect

Answer 34

the psychological phenomenon where voters, supporters, or members of the public adopt positions, behaviors, or support candidates simply because they appear to be gaining momentum or are popular.

Question 35

Social desirability bias

Answer 35

the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, rather than reflecting their true beliefs or behaviors.

Question 36

Bradley effect

Answer 36

A theory that some voters may tell pollsters there are undecided or likely to vote for a minority candidate to avoid appearing racist, but then vote differently in the privacy of the polling booth.