Political Beliefs and
Behaviors
Political Ideology and You!
Political ideology- set of general beliefs about the role and
purpose of government
Quick Write (5 minutes):
What role should government play in people’s lives?
What role should the government play in the economy?
To what extent do politicians represent your interests?
To what extent do you trust the government?
What factors influence what you think about government and
politics?
Test your predictions at http://www.peoplepress.org/quiz/political-typology/group/d4c7651.
Vocabulary Note Structure
Vocabulary Word
Definition
Example/Explanation
Political Ideology
set of general beliefs
about the role and
purpose of government
Liberalism,
conservatism, populism,
libertarianism
NOT to be confused
with political parties
Political Ideology: Vocabulary
Political Efficacy (adapted from Wikipedia): an individual’s
faith and trust in government and his/her belief that they
can understand and influence political affairs
Political Ideology: set of general beliefs about the role and
purpose of government; consistent pattern of political
attitudes
Economic liberals: the government has a duty to create a
more equal society; the government should do more to assist
people who have difficulty meeting their economic needs on
their own
Political Ideology: Vocabulary
economic conservatives government intervention
undermines personal liberty and initiative; those who
believe the government tries to do too many things that
should be left to markets (laissez-faire).
social liberals those who believe it is not
government’s role to buttress traditional values at the
expense of unconventional or new values
social conservatives those who believe government
power should be used to uphold traditional values
Political Ideology: Vocabulary
Liberals-Those who believe government should do more to solve the
nation’s problems but reject the notion that government should favor
a particular set of social values
Conservatives-Those who believe government does too many things
that should be left to firms and individuals but look to government to
uphold traditional values
Libertarians-Those who believe government tries to do too many
things that should be left to firms and individuals and who oppose
government as an instrument of traditional values
Populists-Those who believe government should do more to solve the
nation’s problems and look to the government to uphold traditional
values
Political Ideology: Quick Facts
According to Gallup in 2012
23% of Americans identified themselves as liberals
38% of Americans identified themselves as
conservatives
34% of Americans identified themselves as moderates
Exit Ticket
•
Classify yourself as either a liberal, conservative,
populist or libertarian. Defend your choice with
evidence of your beliefs.
•
Things to think about are:
•
•
Whether you are an economic liberal or economic
conservative. How do you know?
Whether you are a cultural liberal or cultural
conservative. How do you know?
Candidate One
Arizona should be a place of opportunity. As governor,
my first priority is a strong economy so everyone who
wants a job can find one. My economic plan is to
create jobs by reducing taxes, eliminating regulation,
and helping small businesses grow Creating a better life
for Arizona families includes improving schools for our
children. More choices for parents, higher standards
for students, and ensuring money is actually spent in
classrooms are parts of my plan to improve Arizona’s
schools. Regarding border security, the federal
government has let us down on its most basic
responsibility.
Candidate Two
This is the perfect time to take bold steps toward Arizona’s
future prosperity. I will respect our constitution, by
eliminating all personal income and property taxes; opting
for a uniform retail transaction tax of 9.9%. Many
businesses are searching for a stable political and tax
environment to startup, relocate, or expand manufacturing
jobs. They’ll find it in Arizona with a single, “corporate veil
fee” of 4% on gross receipts, replacing the confusing myriad
of taxes that force businesses to waste resources. I’ll work for
better schools, and a worldclass mass transportation project.
I believe our State Government is too large, too expensive,
and too intrusive; if you do, too; I’m asking for your
support.
Candidate Three
Right now, too many of our children aren’t getting a good enough
education and half of our high schools send almost no kids to
college. Meanwhile, Arizonans who were crushed by the recession
haven’t been able to find a new job, or their new one pays less
than the one they lost. At the same time, politicians at the capitol
are getting free tickets to ball games, free meals, and free flights. As
governor, I’ll reinvest in our kids’ schools, and tie that investment
to performance, to improve the quality of education for all of
Arizona’s children. While the rest of the country has regained all
of the jobs lost during the recession, Arizona has recovered just
more than half. I’ve got a detailed blueprint to create jobs and get
our economy moving forward again by connecting our colleges
with local industries, investing in 21st century industries, and
providing tax relief to small businesses. I hope I can earn your
support.
Political Socialization and You!
Political Socialization: the process by which individuals
acquire their political opinions