1. Political Ideology, Parties, & Voters

2. Political Ideology

3. What is Political Ideology?
Noun
A set of beliefs that are shared by the members of a social group or that form the basis of a political system.

4. Liberal to Conservative
Political Spectrum
Liberal to Conservative

5. Factors that place you on the Political spectrum?
How much CHANGE a person is willing to have within their society and government.
How much GOVERNMENT involvement in the economy a person calls for.
How much FREEDOM from government people are given to live their lives.

6. Far Left: Radical
rapid change in the structure of the political, social, or economic system
violence and revolution
Picture: V.I. Lenin
Mastermind of the Russian Revolution and Father of the Soviet Union

7. Liberal
government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens
peaceful, gradual change within the system
reject violent revolution
Picture: Martin Luther King, Jr.

8. Moderate share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives
tolerant of other people’s views
advocate a “go-slow” approach to social or political change
Picture: Joe Lieberman
Former US Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate

9. Conservative keep the status quo (don’t change things)
cautious about adopting new policies
less government there is, the better
They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least”
Picture: Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) is widely regarded as the father of the modern conservative movement

10. Far Right: Reactionary
“good ol’ days”
extreme methods
repressive use of government power to achieve goals
Picture: Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical reactionary manifesto

11. Rex Tugwell, an advisor to president FDR, said that different attitudes toward change characterize different political philosophies. He wrote that if a community needed a new train station.
_________ would like to rebuild the train station while the train is running;
_________ prefer to blow up the train station and forgo service until the new structure is built.
_________ would prefer to keep the old station, being satisfied with it,
While, _________ would abandon the station entirely since they do not approve of trains in the first place.

12. Rex Tugwell, an advisor to president FDR, said that different attitudes toward change characterize different political philosophies. He wrote that if a community needed a new train station.
LIBERAL would like to rebuild the train station while the train is running;
RADICAL prefer to blow up the train station and forgo service until the new structure is built.
CONSERVATIVE would prefer to keep the old station, being satisfied with it,
While, REACTIONARY would abandon the station entirely since they do not approve of trains in the first place.

13. Political Ideology Where Does It Come From?
Political Socialization

14. Sources of Ideology #1 Family Education Occupation Gender Media
There is ALWAYS a strong correlation between mature adults and their parents.
College students tend to be more liberal.
Civil servants, union members, professionals = liberal
Business professionals, farmers, non-union members = conservative
Males = Conservative
Females = Liberal
Gender Gap – The difference between male and female opinion
Only issue that does not show a gender gap: Abortion
How the media “spins” or frames an issue
EX:
Pro-Life
Pro-Choice

15. Sources of Ideology Religion Race African Americans Liberal
White (non-Hispanic)
Conservative
Asian
Hispanic (Mexican)
Latino (Cuban)

16. Most Americans = MODERATE
Politicians have to win over these Americans when running for election.
This is the group that determines every presidential win/loss

17. What are political parties? What do political parties do?
Ideology & Parties
What are political parties? What do political parties do?