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.people-press.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 201223% 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 OneArizona 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 TwoThis 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 start up, re locate, 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 world class 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 ThreeRight 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