Political Ideologies
Course
Political
Science I
Unit II
Political
Ideology
Essential
Question
What are the
major political
ideologies in
society today
and how have
they changed
over time?
TEKS
§130.183(c)
(3)(A)(B)
Prior Student
Learning
None
Estimated Time
7 to 9 hours
Rationale
There are several different political ideologies in society today. Students
should be able to identify the foundations of each political ideology and
differentiate between the liberal and conservative political ideologies in
American society. An awareness of these ideologies is imperative for a
person working in the field of politics.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Analyze the three major categories of political ideologies in American
society.
2. Identify the political parties that affiliate with these ideologies.
3. Understand the process of how citizens gain their attitudes and
opinions of the political ideologies in society.
4. Examine the progression of political ideologies in society throughout
history.
5. Identify other political ideologies in American society that are typically
associated with Third Parties.
Engage
Lead a class discussion about the political spectrum. Have students identify
what they know about the liberal and conservative ideologies in American
society. At the end of the discussion have the students take a political
spectrum quiz to assess their personal political ideologies (i.e.
http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/). Use the Discussion Rubric for
assessment.
Key Points
I. What is the difference between the liberal and conservative ideologies in
America?
A. Political Ideology
1. The coherent set of values and beliefs people hold about the
purpose of government in the action of individuals
2. Two key components of various ideologies are the extent to which
adherents believe that the government should have a role in
people’s everyday lives and how much government should
promote economic equality in society
3. Ideologies are sets or systems of beliefs that shape the thinking of
individuals and how they view the world around them:
a) Race
b) Nationality
c) The role and function of government
d) Relationships between men and women in society
e) Human responsibility to the environment
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4. According to political scientists, there are four functions in which
political ideologies are turned into action
a) Explanation – ideologies can provide Americans with reasons
for why social and political conditions are the way they are,
especially in time of a crisis
b) Evaluation – ideologies can provide the standards for
evaluating social conditions, political institutions, and events.
c) Orientation – ideologies provide individuals with an orientation
towards issues and a position within the world
d) Political Program – ideologies help people to make political
choices and guide their political actions
5. Religious, philosophical, and cultural beliefs can become cohesive
ideologies that create natural groups within society and lead to
political conflict
6. In American society, the most notable natural groups are
considered to be the conservatives, liberals, and moderates
7. Political ideologies can be identified by two categories:
a) Fiscal – center around money and the economy
b) Social – center around the people and the rights of citizens in
the United States
B. Conservatives
1. Believe that government is best when it has little involvement in
individuals’ lives
2. Believe that government should play a limited role in regulating
business and the market forces
3. Believe that the private sector is better equipped to deal with
domestic issues and economic issues
4. Are more likely to live in rural areas
5. Often favor the traditional Christian values
a) A majority of Evangelicals, Protestants, and Roman Catholics
b) Very few Muslims and Jews
6. Fiscal Conservatives favor
a) Less government involvement in business
b) Less government regulation of the economy
c) Local and state action over federal involvement
d) The importance of fiscal responsibility
e) Balanced budgets
f) Private sector handling of domestic problems
7. Social Conservatives
a) Are voters who have strong religious ties and increasingly
affect the political process and policies in the US
b) Favor government intervention to regulate sexual and social
behavior
c) Favor restricting abortion
d) Favor banning same-sex marriage
e) Favor stricter regulations on immigration
C. Liberals
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1. Are associated with the ideas of liberty and political equality
2. Advocate change in social, political, and economic realms to
protect the equality of individuals in society
3. Emphasize the importance of civil liberties outlined by the Bill of
Rights
4. Believe that the overall role of government in society is to promote
opportunity both economically and politically
5. Are more likely to live in urban areas
6. Fiscal Liberals favor
a) Government-funded social welfare programs like Social
Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
b) Government involvement in economic affairs
c) Government regulation of business and workplace conditions
d) Government-supported access to free, public education
7. Social Liberals
a) Continue to support political equality by advocating
contemporary movements that promote political rights for the
disenfranchised
b) Favor a clear separation of church and state
c) Favor rights for gays and lesbians
d) Favor fair workplace conditions
e) Favor a woman’s right to choose
f) Favor affirmative action
D. Moderates
1. Take a relatively “centrist” view on political issues
2. Identify with both conservative and liberal ideologies on political
issues
a) Believe that the role of government is to balance the wants of
workers and businesses
b) Believe government should foster stability in American society
c) Advocate nondiscrimination in opportunities offered to
American citizens
d) Advocate protection of economic freedoms, security, and
stability
3. 35% of Americans consider themselves Moderate (O’Conner,
2011)
a) The number of citizens that identify themselves as moderates
has steadily been declining since 1974
4. Are identified as being “split-ticket” voters, meaning they vote for
both Republican and Democrats on a voting ballot
5. Many political scientists believe that moderate ideologies are
better than extreme ideologies when dealing with the role of
government in society
E. Problems with Ideological Labels
1. It is not uncommon for a person to have both conservative and
liberal ideologies on different political issues
2. The range in ideological issues have caused the American public
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to have a declining trust in the government since 1960
a) Polarizing issues in the 1960s that drained public support
were those that addressed issues with racial inequality and
foreign policy
(1) The Vietnam War
(2) The Civil Rights Act of 1964
b) The first time American’s asked themselves, “Is big
government the solution for social and economic struggles?”
F. Political Culture
1. Defined as commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values
about how government should operate
2. Emphasizes values of
a) Liberty
b) Equality
c) Popular Consent
d) Majority Rule
e) Individualism
f) Religious Freedom
3. As a society, although Americans fundamentally disagree about
economic and social issues, all citizens believe in political equality
and freedom of political expression
II. Which political parties are associated with the Liberal and Conservative
political ideologies?
A. Political Parties
1. An organized effort by office holders, candidates, activists, and
voters to pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising
power through the electoral process
2. Have broad platforms which are focused on many issues
3. Are the formal statement of the party principles and policy
objectives
4. Have these goals:
a) Win an election for public office
b) Spread the message about the party’s ideology and issues
c) Gain support from American voters
5. Run candidates in the hope that they will win seats in Legislative
and Executive branches, thus allowing parties to govern in a way
that would favor their own partisan agenda
6. Political scientists have described political parties as consisting of
three separate but related entities:
a) The office holders who organize themselves and pursue policy
objectives under the party label
b) The workers and activists who make up the party’s formal
organization structure
c) The voters who considered themselves allied or associated
with the party
B. The Organization of American Political Parties
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1. The formal party apparatus, including committees, headquarters,
conventions, party leaders, staff, and volunteer workers
a) In the U.S. party organization is the most visible at the local
level
b) They operate separately from the national party, except during
a presidential election year
2. Resembles a pyramid, with a broad base of support at the bottom,
while power flows up to smaller groups at the state and national
levels
3. The National Parties
a) Meet every four years at the national convention to determine
their party’s nominee for President
b) At the national convention the party activists adopt rules and
develop a party platform which outlines positions on certain
issues
c) The national party committees are responsible not only for the
party’s national convention, but they are also responsible for
the daily operations of the party
(1) DNC – Democratic National Committee
(2) RNC – Republican National Committee
d) Money donated to the national parties is often redirected to
the state and local parties to help win elections and mobilize
voters
4. The State Parties
a) Act as the intermediaries between the national and local
parties
b) Receive funds from the national and local parties
c) Have become increasingly significant since the 1960s
d) Are responsible for party building activities such as voter
registration and get-out-the-vote efforts (GOTV)
e) Are typically made up of a few members from each county or
geographic region of the state
f) Operate according to the limits set by their own state
legislature
5. County and Local Parties
a) The foot soldiers of the political parties (i.e. they help raise
campaign funds and mobilize voters)
b) Play a key role in shaping community engagement and
individual participation in the political process
c) Most participation at the local level is done on a volunteer
basis
C. The Republican Party
1. Advocates for smaller government that performs fewer social
welfare functions
2. Believes that the government should play a stronger role in
regulating traditional moral values
a) Restore the traditional Christian values that the United States
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was founded upon
b) Support the ban of some social issues like gay marriage and
abortion
3. Are more assertive when it comes to foreign affairs since the 9/11
terrorists attacks by emphasizing military action
4. Believe the federal government should a have decreased
responsibility when it comes to the economy and social welfare
programs. The larger role should be placed on the states
5. Includes predominately small business owners, citizens who
identify themselves as very religious and the upper-middle class
6. The Republican Party Platform
a) Abortion – pro-life and the 14th Amendment should protect the
life of an unborn child
b) Taxation – taxes can be paid by doubling exemptions for
dependents, reducing the corporate tax rate, eliminating the
federal death tax, and giving tax credit for medical expenses
c) National Security – the U.S. must be equipped to quickly
respond to acts of bioterrorism and WMD’s
d) Education – a large sum of federal money is being spent on a
failing education system. New innovations to education like
year-around school, school vouchers, and charter schools can
create a system which makes K-12 more college and
workforce ready
7. Identifies closely with both the fiscal and social conservative
political ideologies
D. The Democratic Party
1. The oldest political party in the United States
2. Has a platform that closely resembles the one of Franklin Delano
Roosevelt’s during the New Deal Era
a) The government should provide a safety net for the nation’s
economy in order to prevent economic collapses like the one
that caused the Great Depression
b) The platform also advocated for the expansion of social
welfare programs
3. Expanded its platform to include rights for women, gays, and the
environment
4. Advocates for diplomacy over military action since 9/11
a) Without military intervention, federal funds can be used
towards domestic social welfare programs which more directly
impact the American citizens
5. Includes prominently women, ethnic minorities, and working class
voters
6. The Democratic Party platform
a) Abortion – strongly supports the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court
decision and a woman’s right to choose
b) Taxation – eliminate corporate loopholes, provide tax cuts
immediately to the middle class, and eliminate the Bush-Era
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tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 a year
National Security – bring war to an end in Iraq and shut down
Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. America will invest
more in human intelligence for deployed operatives
d) Education – a quality education should be available to all
children by continuing to fund public school education. Higher
education will be readily available to students by doubling Pell
Grants and lowering college tuition
7. More closely aligned with both the fiscal and social liberal political
ideologies
E. What makes a political party successful?
1. Parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for
governing the nation
2. Each party’s candidates must be committed to its program and
have the internal cohesion and discipline to carry out its program
3. The majority party must implement its programs, and the minority
party must state what it do if it were in power
4. The majority party must accept responsibility for the performance
of the government
c)
III. How do American citizens gain a political understanding?
A. Political Socialization
1. The process through which young people acquire political
orientations as they grow up, based on inputs from parents,
teachers, the media, and friends
2. Increases with age: people’s political orientations grow firmer
3. Usually done informally, by either family, friends, or the media
4. Occasionally learned formally via education
5. A much more subtle process in the U.S., unlike that of
authoritarian regimes
B. Agents of Political Socialization
1. Family
a) Has a central role because of two crucial resources
(1) Time
(2) Emotional commitment
b) How a majority of young people will vote can be predicted
simply by knowing the political leanings of their parents
c) Political activism is passed from one generation to the next
d) Parental influence has long-lasting effects on a person’s
underlying political attitudes
2. Mass Media
a) Considered to be the “new parent” of political socialization
because as a child gets older, the media replaces parents as
the main source of information
b) Children are spending more time watching television than they
are spending at school each week
c) Television has a tremendous impact on how people view the
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government; it is the most used outlet of mass media
d) Studies have shown that younger generations prefer cable
news channels rather than network channels (Edwards, 2011)
e) Cable news channels often provide a skewed opinion about
policy because they are owned by a private company and are
supposed to appeal to certain viewers
f) Network news is often considered to be unbiased and meant
to serve as an information outlet for all citizens
g) Other media outlets such as online magazines and blogs are
tremendously skewed because they are not regulated by a
bureaucratic agency like the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)
3. School
a) The only formal institution for political socialization
b) Most American schools promote national loyalty and support
for basic American values (i.e. the day begins with the Pledge
of Allegiance)
c) Through the school system the government also educates
students about the virtues of capitalism and democracy
d) Political socialization often changes once a student reaches
college because courses are designed for students to think
more critically about political consequences
e) Studies have shown that when children are old enough to
leave home and attend college, they begin to question their
political decisions (O’Conner, 2011)
f) Better-educated citizens are more likely to vote and exhibit
more knowledge about politics and public policy
4. Religion
a) The broadest agent of political socialization because it varies
greatly from person to person
b) Can be a defining element in the development of a person’s
political beliefs; for others, religion is irrelevant
(1) Those who regularly attend religious services are likely to
share conservative ideologies and/or support Republican
candidates (Harris, 2011)
(2) White Protestants are the most likely group to vote
Conservative, more than any other religious group (Harris,
2011)
c) Often the reason people make political decisions based on
social issues, like abortion and gay marriage
C. Political Learning Over a Lifetime
1. Politics is a lifelong activity that does not stop when people
graduate from school or move out of their parents’ house
2. Politics is a learned behavior
3. Americans learn to vote, pick a political party, and evaluate
political events in the world around them
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IV. How have political ideologies changed over time?
A. Party Eras in American History
1. Party Era – a long period of time that a majority of Americans
affiliate with a dominant political party
2. America is a two-party system, but minority parties have played a
role in shaping its political ideology
3. Party Realignment – a period when the majority party is replaced
by the minority party; this usually happens as a result of a national
crisis
a) The Civil War
b) The Great Depression
4. The Democratic Party is the oldest political party in the U.S.
B. 1796–1824: Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist (First Party System)
1. The Federalist Party was the first political party in the US
a) Federalist Ideology
(1) Closely centered around the basic principles of the U.S.
Constitution
(2) Supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
(3) Supported the creation of a national bank
(4) Supported a strong central government
b) Federalist Party members
(1) George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and others
(2) Typically lived in the northern colonies, resided in urban
areas and were more educated
2. The Anti-Federalist Party was a short-lived political party
a) Anti-Federalist ideology
(1) Did not believe in the creation of a strong central
government
(2) Believed that power should remain with the states
(3) Supported the ratification of the Articles of Confederation
(4) Favored slavery
b) Anti-Federalist members
c) Typically lived in the southern colonies: rural farm owners who
were uneducated and owned slaves
C. 1828–1856: Democrats vs. The Whigs
1. The Democratic Party
a) Had to broaden the political agenda from previous years
because of the expansion West and the number of immigrants
that came to America
b) Eliminated political elitism and mobilized the masses to
become involved in the political process
c) Andrew Jackson is considered the founder of the modern day
Democratic Party
2. The Whigs
a) Run by notable political figures such as Henry Clay
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b) Had two distinct wings
(1) The northern industrialists
(2) The southern farmers
c) Opposed the democratic ideologies that broadened the
political rights of citizens
D. 1860–1928: Two Republican Eras
1. Slavery became the political issue that dominated US society
2. The demise of the Whig Party led to the birth of the Republican
Party
3. The Republican Party rose in the late 1850s as the anti-slavery
party
4. The election of Abraham Lincoln was one of the reasons for the
South’s secession from the union
5. Following the end of the Civil War, the north remained heavily
Republican, while the south remained heavily Democratic for 60
years
6. At the turn of the 20th century, the Republicans and the Democrats
fought a bitter battle over the country’s economy
7. Republicans favored
a) The gold standard
b) Industrialization
c) High tariffs
8. Democrats favored
a) Changing to the silver standard
b) Prohibition of alcohol
9. The Republicans reigned for the next three decades until the crash
of the stock market in 1929
E. 1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition
1. The Great Depression led to the end of the Republican-dominated
era
2. The Republican president during the 1929 stock market crash was
Herbert Hoover
3. The new leader of the Democrats became Franklin Delano
Roosevelt (FDR)
4. FDR enacted several social welfare programs to help stimulate the
economy and to fix the economic depression
5. This era of the Democratic Party is the origin of today’s liberal
ideology
6. The basic elements of the New Deal Coalition
a) Urban dwellers – many urban areas were staunchly
Republican before the realignment of the New Deal Era
b) Labor unions – FDR supported the formation of labor unions
c) Catholics and Jews – became strongly Democratic during the
FDR presidency
d) The poor – supported FDR’s economic assistance programs
e) African Americans – supported the coalition because of the
movements towards civil rights
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7. The US remained heavily Democratic until the election of Richard
Nixon
F. 1968–Present: Southern Realignment
1. Richard Nixon formulated the “Southern strategy” which
emphasized support for state’s rights, law and order, and a strong
military posture in the US
a) This was highly effective in the south
b) The south began to realign with the Republican Party and its
conservative ideologies
c) The Democrats officially lost their hold in the south during the
late 1980s
2. The liberal and conservative ideologies of the New Deal Era are
still present in the political thinking of the US
3. Since the New Deal Era, the office of the Presidency and control of
congress has rotated evenly between Republicans and Democrats
4. In today’s society only 60 percent of Americans identify with either
the Democrats or Republicans (Edwards, 2011)
5. There are many factors that now play a role in shaping a person’s
ideology
a) Gender
b) Race
c) Age
d) Geographic region
6. This has resulted in several years of “divided government,” one
party controls the executive branch and the other party controls
one or both bodies of the legislative branch
V. How do other political ideologies affect American society?
A. Other Ideologies in American Society
1. Although Liberals and Conservatives dominate the political
landscape, other ideologies are present in American society
2. These ideologies can fall even farther to the left or the right on the
political spectrum
B. Socialism
1. An ideology that stresses economic equality
2. Wants the government to play a larger role in the means of
production
3. Lies farther left on the political spectrum than liberalism
4. Often uncommon in American society because of the economic
principle of “laissez-faire,” or governmental hands-off
5. The Socialist Party in America was at its peak in 1912 when
Eugene Debs ran for President of the US
C. Libertarianism
1. An ideology advocating that government should take a “hands-off”
approach in most matters
2. Believes that social issues should not be decided by government
and there should be total social freedom
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3. Believes in absolute economic freedom and supports the rights of
property owners and the capitalist economy
4. Believes that government is not the outlet for upholding traditional
values in America
5. Lies farther right on the political spectrum than conservatives
6. Identifies with the third-party movement known as the Tea Party
Movement
D. Neoconservativism
1. An ideology that advocates military over diplomatic solutions in
foreign policy
2. Differs from traditional conservativism in several ways
a) Traditional conservatives tend to advocate for “isolationist
foreign policy” while neoconservatives (neo-cons) advocate for
military action
b) Neo-cons believe in a unilateral approach to military action
rather than a collective coalition like conservatives
c) Neo-cons are less concerned with social policy and more
concerned with foreign policy
d) Neo-cons deeply oppose communism and the threat of
terrorism
3. Emerged in the early 1970s during the Cold War
4. Was also a powerful force during the George W. Bush
administration
Activities
1. The Right to Bear Arms. Divide the students into groups. Have the
groups consist of elected politicians, gun lobbyists (the NRA), Gun
Control Lobbyists (Coalition Against Gun Violence), gun-owning citizens,
and people who have been affected by gun violence. Have the students
assume their assigned role. Each side will hold a mock rally in which they
present their reasons for or against gun control in America. Use the Role
Play Rubric and/or the Debate Rubric for assessment.
2. Political Interview. Have the students interview a male and a female of
their parent’s generation and a male and a female of their grandparent’s
generation. The interview should focus on the adults political ideologies
and include questions that ask, “Why do you feel that way?” and, “Has
your opinion changed over time?” Then have the students use this
information to determine which factors create a person’s opinion and how
that opinion can change. Have the students use their own political
spectrum results from the class discussion to predict whether their
political opinions will change as they get older. Use the Research Rubric
for assessment.
3. Political Spectrum Survey. As a group, have the students conduct a
school-wide political spectrum survey in which students are asked what
political ideology they identify with. The results will be calculated and
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posted in the classroom. Then have the students conduct a similar
school-wide survey, in which they ask the same group to take a short
political spectrum quiz to identify their political ideologies. Have the
students calculate the results from the quizzes and post them with the
political spectrum survey results. Then have the students compare and
contrast the results of both surveys to see if ideology does match party
affiliation. Use the Peer Evaluation Rubric and the Discussion Rubric for
assessment.
Assessments
Political Ideologies Quiz and Key
Debate Rubric
Discussion Rubric
Individual Work Rubric
Peer Evaluation Rubric
Research Rubric
Role Play Rubric
Materials
Political Ideologies computer-based presentation
Political Ideologies Key Terms
Resources
Edwards, George, Martin Wattenberg, and Robert Lineberry. Government in
America: People. Politics and Policy. 14th. New York City: Pearson
Education, Inc, 2009. Ch. 1, 15, 20 & 21. Print.
Harris, Jean, Brigid Harrison. American Democracy Now. 2nd. New York
City: McGraw Hill , 2011. Ch. 2, 16, 17 & 18. Print.
O'Conner, Karen, and Larry Sabato. American Government: Roots and
Reform. 10th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2009. Ch. 2, 4, 17 &
19. Print.
Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9th. New York City: McGraw
Hill Higher Education, 2009. Ch. 2, 17 &18. Print.
http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will create an organizational chart of how
citizens are politically socialized in American society. The chart will begin
with the first agent of socialization and progress through all of the other
agents of political socialization. The chart should include methods used to
socialize citizens and the role they play in shaping political opinion. Use the
Individual Work Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will write a 3–5 page research paper on a thirdparty in American society. The paper should identify the major ideologies of
that political party, both economically and socially. The paper should also
include the party’s organization and any leaders within the organized party.
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Use the Research Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits).
(3)
The student analyzes belief systems that claim to improve
society. The student is expected to:
(A)
define political ideologies such as feminism, Marxism,
Nazism, and capitalism;
(B)
coordinate the four elements of perception, evaluation,
prescription, and movement with political ideologies;
College and Career Readiness Standards
Social Studies Standards
I. Interrelated Disciplines and Skills
C. Change and continuity of political ideologies, constitutions, and
political behavior
1. Evaluate different governmental systems and functions.
2. Evaluate changes in the functions and structures of government
across time.
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Political Ideologies Key Terms
1. Political ideology – a coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of
government that is held by groups and individuals
2. Conservatism – an ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community
and family as mechanisms of continuity in society
3. Liberalism – an ideology that favors governmental involvement in the economy and in the
provision of social services and which takes an activist role in protecting the rights of women,
the elderly , minorities, and the environment
4. Split-ticket voting – a voter will cast a ballot for candidates of both the Republican and the
Democratic parties
5. Political party – an organized effort by office holders, candidates, activists, and voters to
pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral
process
6. Party platform – a political party’s statement of its goals and policies for the next four years.
The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are
chosen in rough proportion to each candidate’s strength. It is the best statement of what a
party believes in
7. Political socialization – the process by which we develop our political values and opinions
8. Party realignment – dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political
landscape
9. Divided government – the situation that exists when Congress is controlled by one party and
the presidency is controlled by the other
10. Laissez-faire – the hands-off stance of a government in regard to the marketplace. A French
term meaning “ to allow to do, to leave alone”
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Name________________________________ Date__________________________
Political Ideologies Quiz
1. _____ Liberals are likely to support all of the following except
A. Equality over other aspects of American political culture
B. Government involvement in the economy
C. Policies that correct past injustices
D. Prayer in schools
2. _____ A significant shift in party allegiances or electoral support is called
A. Populism
B. Realignment
C. Dealignment
D. Disalignment
3. _____ The formal statement of a party’s principles and policy objectives is called
A. Policy memo
B. Policy manifesto
C. Platform
D. Mission statement
4. _____ The situation that exists when Congress is controlled by one party and the
Presidency is controlled by the other is called
A. Party disorganization
B. Divided government
C. Bipartisan camaraderie
D. Executive/legislative split
5. _____ The situation in which voters vote for candidates from more than one party is
called
A. Ticket-splitting
B. Populism
C. Dealignment
D. Realignment
6. _____ All of the following influence the formation of individuals’ political beliefs except
A. Schooling
B. Family
C. Religion
D. Birthday
7. _____ Which of the following is not generally true of women’s political beliefs compared
to men’s?
A. They tend to be more likely to support spending on social services
B. They tend to oppose higher levels of military spending
C. They tend to be more likely to support Democratic candidates
D. All of the above
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8. _____ Emphasizing the importance of conserving tradition and relying on community
and family as mechanisms of continuity in society is known as
A. Communism
B. Conservatism
C. Liberalism
D. Libertarianism
9. _____ Which of the following are liberals most likely to endorse?
A. Increased aid to the poor
B. Military intervention
C. Free-market solution to public policy
D. Increased defense spending
10. _____ Which of the following statements is a reason why young Americans are typically
the least politically active?
A. They have little political experience
B. They spend too much time watching television news
C. They have been formally socialized at school to distrust the government
D. They pay higher taxes than older Americans
11. _____ Who is most likely to engage in ticket-splitting?
A. Nonvoters
B. Democrats
C. Republicans
D. Independents
12. _____ Members of which group are most likely to be Republican?
A. African Americans
B. Blue-collar workers
C. White Males
D. People under 25
13. _____ Which of the following statements is true about American political parties?
A. Their primary function is to promote ideological viewpoints
B. Their primary goal is to win office so that they can exercise power
C. Their primary goal is to ensure that supporters receive rewards for their party
support
D. Their role is clarified by 17th Amendment
14. _____ The process through which an individual acquires a particular political orientation
is known as?
A. Political acclimation
B. Political socialization
C. Public opinion
D. Political acquisition
17
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
15. _____ Approximately 35 percent of the American population today identifies as
A. Conservative
B. Liberal
C. Moderate
D. Libertarian
16. _____ Political culture refers to
A. The ideological breakdown of a population on the political spectrum
B. The commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how
government should operate
C. The set of assumptions about how the world works
D. The set of policies that an individual supports that are rooted in the
individuals beliefs about human nature
17. _____ Which best describes how attitudes compare between those in urban areas and
those in rural areas?
A. Those who live in urban areas are more conservative than those who live in
rural areas
B. Those who live in rural areas are more liberal than those who live in urban
areas
C. Urban and rural areas do not affect a person’s political ideologies
D. Those who live in urban areas are more liberal than those who live in rural
areas
18. _____ The outlet for formal political socialization in America is
A. Family
B. Public schools
C. Network television
D. Churches
19. _____ Social issues on a party platform deal with
A. The rights of American citizens
B. Levying taxes
C. Diplomacy
D. Campaign finance
20. _____ Socialist political ideologies are most likely to associate with which of the
following statements?
A. Healthcare will be provided to all US citizens by the federal government
regardless of their income
B. A free-market economy is the solution for economic struggles
C. Military intervention is more effective than diplomacy
D. Public education should no longer be operated by the federal government
but by private education companies
18
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Political Ideologies Quiz Key
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. B
5. A
6. D
7. D
8. B
9. A
10. A
11. D
12. C
13. B
14. B
15. C
16. B
17. D
18. B
19. A
20. A
19
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Your Name___________________________________ Your Group Number_______
Peer Evaluation
1) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
2) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
20
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
3) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
4) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
21
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
5) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
6) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
22
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________________
Debate Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Information
Clear, accurate and thorough
Facts, statistics and/or examples
used to support major points.
Communication
Respectful body language
Respectful responses
Focused/On-topic
Sarcasm avoided
Participation
Full participation
Attentive listening
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
23
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
24
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Individual Work Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Follows directions
Student completed the work as directed,
following the directions given, in order and to the
level of quality indicated
Time management
Student used time wisely and remained on task
100% of the time
Organization
Student kept notes and materials in a neat,
legible, and organized manner. Information was
readily retrieved
Evidence of learning
Student documented information in his or her
own words and can accurately answer questions
related to the information retrieved
*Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
25
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
26
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Role Play Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Relates to the audience
Provides fluent rendition of the
scenario
All required content is included
Acts with feeling and expression
Varies intonation
Presents characters appropriately
Gives the scenario its full range
Breaches are easily identified
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
27
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.