Ap Gov 1

• What is the essential question of Chapter 10 American Political Culture?

  How do beliefs shape political choices?
• What are the core political beliefs in American political culture?

  • Individualism: Responsibility for oneself
  • Equality of Opportunity: "All men created equal"
  • Free Enterprise: Private success
  • Rule of Law: Law applies to everyone
  • Limited Government: Controlled by laws and checks
• What does political ideology refer to?

  A set of beliefs about government interference in lives.
• What are the characteristics of liberal political ideology?

  • Left wing
  • Supports government assistance programs
  • Likes regulation of business
  • Associated with Democrats
  • Aims to change the status quo
• What are the characteristics of conservative political ideology?

  • Right wing
  • Prefers small government
  • Opposes government assistance programs
  • Dislikes regulation of business
  • Associated with Republicans
  • Prefers the status quo
• What are valence issues and wedge issues?

  • Valence Issues: Generally agreed upon (e.g., strong economy)
  • Wedge Issues: Cause disagreement (e.g., abortion)
• What is political socialization?

  • The process of developing political beliefs
  • Influenced by:

  1. Family
  2. School/College
  3. Peers
  4. Media
  5. Social Environment
• What is the life cycle effect in political beliefs?

  Changes in beliefs due to aging and life experiences.
• What is the generational effect in political beliefs?

  Changes in beliefs influenced by historical events experienced by a generation.
• What is the definition of policy in government?

  Any action taken by the government.
• What does GDP stand for?

  Gross Domestic Product.
• What does a recession indicate in economic terms?

  A period of temporary economic decline identified by two consecutive quarters of GDP decline.
• What is the definition of inflation?

  The rise in prices of goods and services.
• What is the Keynesian model of economic policy?

  Government should spend money to stimulate the economy during a recession.
• What is the supply-side model of economic policy?

  Reducing taxes to give businesses more money to produce goods.
• What is suffrage?

  The right to vote.
• What was the voting history in the United States from 1789 to 1868?

  Voting was primarily a state right with limited suffrage for African American men and women.
• What are the Franchise Amendments related to voting rights?

  • 15th Amendment: Voting cannot be denied based on race.
  • 17th Amendment: Senators elected by the people.
  • 19th Amendment: Voting cannot be denied based on sex.
  • 23rd Amendment: Suffrage for Washington D.C. residents.
  • 24th Amendment: Poll taxes outlawed.
  • 26th Amendment: Voting age set to 18 years.
• What factors influence voter turnout?

  Legal factors, demographic factors, and individual beliefs.
• What are the legal factors that shape voter turnout?

  • Voter registration laws
  • Disenfranchisement rules
  • Proof of residency requirements
  • Same-day registration availability
• What is the National Voter Registration Act of 1993?

  A law allowing voter registration when obtaining a driver's license.
• What demographic factors influence voter turnout?

  • Socioeconomic Status (SES)
  • Political efficacy
  • Age
  • Race
  • Gender
  • Political affiliation
• What is rational choice voting?

  Voting based on the candidate's platform and who serves the voter's best interest.
• What is party-line voting?

  Voting for candidates based on their political party affiliation.
• What is prospective voting?

  Voting based on a candidate's promises for the future.
• What is retrospective voting?

  Voting based on a candidate's past record.
• What are campaign contributions?

  • Donations to support candidates
  • Protected under the 1st Amendment as freedom of speech
• What is the role of the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?

  • Monitors campaign activity
  • Regulates hard money contributions
• What is hard money in campaign finance?

  Contributions directly to candidates regulated by the FEC.
• What is the limit for individual contributions to candidates?

  $3,300.
• What is the significance of Buckley v. Valeo?

  It limited individual contributions but allowed candidates to use their own money.
• What is soft money in campaign finance?

  • Not regulated by the FEC
  • Can be used indirectly for candidate support
• What is dark money in campaign finance?

  • Money from nonprofits not required to disclose sources
  • Cannot be given directly to candidates
• What was the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)?

  • Attempted to close the soft money loophole
  • Restricted campaign ads by independent groups before elections
• What is the role of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)?

  To decide if government actions are constitutional and if rights were violated.
• Who is the petitioner in a Supreme Court case?


  The person or group asking the Court to decide if their rights were violated.
• Who is the respondent in a Supreme Court case?

  The person or group who won in the lower court.
• What is a precedent in the context of the Supreme Court?

  Prior rulings that set rules for future similar cases.
• What is the holding in a Supreme Court case?

  The final decision of the Court.
• What is a majority opinion in a Supreme Court case?

  The reasons why the majority of justices agree on a decision.