Glossary
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
A comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in 2010, aimed at expanding health insurance coverage, reducing healthcare costs, and improving healthcare quality.
Example:
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act led to millions of previously uninsured Americans gaining health coverage, though it faced significant political opposition.
Conservative Ideology
A political philosophy that emphasizes traditional values, social order, and often supports government intervention to promote morality and stability.
Example:
Adherents to Conservative Ideology often support government initiatives that promote traditional family structures or restrict certain types of entertainment deemed immoral.
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
A 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned *Roe v. Wade*, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and returning the authority to regulate or ban abortion to individual states.
Example:
The immediate aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling saw many states enact 'trigger laws' to ban or severely restrict abortion.
Drug Policy
Government regulations and laws concerning the production, distribution, and consumption of psychoactive substances.
Example:
The ongoing debate about the legalization of cannabis in various states is a prime example of evolving Drug Policy influenced by differing ideological perspectives.
Laissez-faire Capitalism
An economic system characterized by minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing free markets and private enterprise to operate with little regulation.
Example:
Advocates of Laissez-faire Capitalism would argue against government subsidies for specific industries, believing that market forces should determine success or failure.
Liberal Ideology
A political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, personal privacy, and advocates for minimal government intervention in personal matters.
Example:
A supporter of Liberal Ideology would likely advocate for policies that protect an individual's right to choose in matters of healthcare, such as abortion access.
Libertarian Ideology
A political philosophy that advocates for minimal government intervention in both personal and economic affairs, prioritizing individual liberty and private property rights.
Example:
Someone with a strong Libertarian Ideology would likely oppose government mandates on mask-wearing during a pandemic, viewing it as an infringement on personal freedom.
Obergefell v. Hodges
A landmark 2015 Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, ruling that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Example:
The celebration following the Obergefell v. Hodges decision marked a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights advocates across the United States.
Policy Trends
Observable shifts in the general direction or emphasis of government actions and legislation over time, often reflecting the dominant political ideology.
Example:
The move towards deregulation in the financial sector during the 1980s represented a significant Policy Trend reflecting a shift towards conservative economic principles.
Religious and Educational Freedom
The constitutional protection against government interference in an individual's religious practices and the right to choose educational paths.
Example:
A court case challenging a public school's requirement for students to recite a specific prayer would involve questions of Religious and Educational Freedom.
Reproductive Rights
The legal right to make decisions about one's own body, particularly concerning reproduction, including access to contraception and abortion.
Example:
Debates over funding for Planned Parenthood often center on the concept of Reproductive Rights, with different ideologies holding opposing views on government's role.
Roe v. Wade
A landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, based on the right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Example:
Before its overturning, Roe v. Wade served as the legal precedent protecting abortion access nationwide, shaping reproductive rights for nearly 50 years.