Theme: political ideology

(in other words, “political ideology”) Objective 6.15 Explain the meaning of various terms used to describe political opinions (in other words, “political ideology”)

a set of ideas and opinions ideology a set of ideas and opinions

ideologies can be compared to other ideologies and ranked ideology ideologies can be compared to other ideologies and ranked left right

left ideology right political ideology refers to the way a person views change and also who should cause the change national state

moderate a person (in the middle)who avoids the extremes of either political ideology (philosophy) moderate

conservative moderate right : who prefers the slow change and usually wants to limit the role of government conservative

liberal moderate leftist who prefers peaceful reform and usually advocates expanded role for govt liberal

radical An extreme leftist who favors basic change by any means even revolution radical

reactionary an extreme right winger who wants to return to an earlier political time reactionary

a set of ideas and opinions ideology right left a set of ideas and opinions national state liberal conservative moderate reactionary radical

Which ideology are you? Where do you fit on the line?

Answer the following 20 questions (either “Yes” or “No” to find out.

Ideology Questions

1. Prayer should be allowed in school.

2. The federal government needs to regulate businesses in order to save the environment.

3. The federal government should provide funds to make college possible for everyone

4. Each citizen is basically responsible for his own well-being

5. The government should make people work if they receive welfare

6. Less government regulation of business helps the rich while it hurts the poor

7. The government should guarantee a job to every American willing to work

8. The government should provide medical care to all citizens

9. The best qualified person should get the job

10. Not everyone should have the right to purchase a gun

11. The courts are too concerned with protecting the rights of criminals

12. The United Nations is an organization necessary for keeping world peace

13. The United States gives too much money to foreign countries

14. The government should uphold the moral standards that this country was founded upon

15. The Constitution should be amended to say that an unborn child has the right to life

16. It is important to protect endangered wildlife species, even if it means people will lose their jobs

17. Animals have rights too.

18. Taxes are too high in this country

19. The Republican Party does too much for the rich

20. Barack Obama is an excellent President

Score your answers using the following key:

1. Yes = C No = L example: Yes 1. C No 1. L

1. Yes = C No = L 2. Yes = L No = C 3. Yes = L No = C 4 1. Yes = C No = L 2. Yes = L No = C 3. Yes = L No = C 4. Yes = C No = L 5. Yes = C No = L

6. Yes = L No = C 7. Yes = L No = C 8. Yes = L No = C 9 6. Yes = L No = C 7. Yes = L No = C 8. Yes = L No = C 9. Yes = C No = L 10. Yes = L No = C

11. Yes = C No = L 12. Yes = L No = C 13. Yes = C No = L 14 11. Yes = C No = L 12. Yes = L No = C 13. Yes = C No = L 14. Yes = C No = L 15. Yes = C No = L

16. Yes = L No = C 17. Yes = L No = C 18. Yes = C No = L 19 16. Yes = L No = C 17. Yes = L No = C 18. Yes = C No = L 19. Yes = L No = C 20. Yes = L No = C

Count the number of “L”s Count the number of “C”s

Example of results o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3

Core 1 o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3

Core 2 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 6 4 4 9 3

Core 3 o 1 2 8 7 5 1 1 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 1 2 8 7 5 1 1

Core 4 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 1 5 9 7 2 1

Total o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3 conservative reactionary moderate radical liberal o 1 2 6 4 7 2 3