American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Robert King
8 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This AP US Government study guide covers political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism), political culture and socialization, public opinion and polling (random sampling, margin of error), and fiscal policy (Keynesian and supply-side economics). Key terms include Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and political platforms. The guide also provides exam tips focusing on time management and FRQ structure.
#AP US Government: Ultimate Study Guide 🚀
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#1. Political Ideologies & Parties 🏛️
#Core Ideologies
Political ideology is basically your set of beliefs about how the government should work. It's shaped by your experiences and values. In the US, we mostly talk about two main ideologies:
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Liberalism 💙
- Associated with the Democratic Party.
- Believes in government regulation to protect individual rights and control the economy.
- Supports policies like minimum wage, environmental protection, and social equality.
- Generally favors less government interference in personal lives (e.g., marriage, abortion).
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Conservatism ❤️
- Linked to the Republican Party 🐘.
- Advocates for less government regulation and a free-market approach (laissez-faire).
- Emphasizes traditional family and societal values, sometimes supporting government intervention in personal lives to uphold these values.
- Often supports restrictions on things like marriage rights and abortion.
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Third Parties
- Libertarianism 🗽
- A third-party ideology that wants very limited government intervention in both economic and social issues.
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Quick Guide
- Liberal = More government in the economy, less in personal life.
- Conservative = Less government in the economy, more in personal life (to uphold values).
- Libertarian = Very little government, period.
Practice Question
Multiple Choice Questions:
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Which of the following best describes a core belief of liberalism? (A) Limited government intervention in the economy (B) Strong government regulation to protect individual rights (C) Emphasis on traditional family values (D) Minimal government involvement in personal lives
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A political ideology that advocates for minimal government intervention in both economic and social issues is known as: (A) Conservatism (B) Liberalism (C) Libertarianism (D) Socialism
Free Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how the ideologies of liberalism and conservatism differ on the role of government in the economy. Provide one specific example of a policy that each ideology would support.
Scoring Rubric:
- Point 1: Explanation of Liberalism's view on government role in the economy (1 point) ...
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