1. POLITICAL SPECTRUM
An Introduction

2. DEFINITION
A political spectrum is a tool used to visually compare different political positions by placing the positions on one or more axes.

3. In the United States, the most commonly used political spectrum, (also known as the political continuum), places a range of beliefs along a horizontal line and is described in terms left or right of center.
LEFT
RIGHT
CENTER

4. Most commonly, the Political Spectrum tells us two things:
How much change in government a person is willing to allow (and how fast that change should take place)
How much the government should intervene, or get involved, in the lives of people (particularly with respect to the economy)

5. GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS LEFT More government intervention
Gradual to rapid change in government
RIGHT
Less government intervention
Little to no change in status quo

6. QUICK RECAP:
LEFT
used to describe people who support change in society and government intervention
RIGHT
refers to people who hold traditional values and want less government intervention

7. POLITICAL SPECTRUM OF IDEOLOGIES
LEFT
RIGHT
LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE
RADICAL
MODERATE
REACT.

8. Political Ideology IMPORTANCE
A political ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.
Although political ideology is important to politicians and activists, studies consistently find that only about 20% of Americans vote along ideological lines

9. RADICAL Far left of the political spectrum
Call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system.
May be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution.

10. LIBERAL
Government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens.
Call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system.
Reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are

11. MODERATE May share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives
Tolerant of other people’s views
Do not hold extreme views
Advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change

12. CONSERVATIVE
Favor keeping things the way they are, or maintaining the status quo
Usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism.
They feel that the less government there is, the better.

13. REACTIONARY Far right of ideological spectrum
Want to go back to the way things were—the “good ol’ days”
Often willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals

14. SPECTRUMS AND PARTIES
Political parties are loosely formed around these broad political ideologies.

15. TWO MAJOR U.S. PARTIES DEMOCRATS
generally seen as liberal because they support government regulation of the economy
REPUBLICANS
generally seen as conservative because they advocate a reduction in government

16. MORE SPECIFICALLY…
Within parties, there are people who hold a variety of opinions on social and economic issues that fall along the spectrum of political ideologies
Examples are liberal Democrats, moderate Democrats, moderate Republicans, and conservative Republicans

17. BOTH PARTIES LEAN TOWARD MODERATE
Current theorists say that U.S. political parties are becoming increasingly moderate and therefore less easily separated on the political spectrum
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS

18. WHERE WOULD YOU PUT… Communists? Socialists? Fascists? Absolutists?
LEFT
RIGHT
CONSERVATIVE
FASCIST
SOCIALIST
LIBERAL
CENTRISTS
ABSO
REACT.
COMMUNIST
RADICAL

19. CURRENT ISSUES LEFT RIGHT Pro Gun Control Pro-Choice (Abortion)
No Censorship
Prisons should Rehabilitate
Pro-Privacy
Equal Funding for Education
Democratic Party Platform
RIGHT
Anti-Gun Control
Pro-Life (Abortion)
Anti-Flag Burning
Prisons Should Punish
Prayer in Schools
School Vouchers
Republican Party Platform

20. TAXATION LEFT RIGHT Taxes are acceptable.
It is important for the government to have revenue to fund programs, which benefit society.
Graduated taxes are preferred over flat rate taxes.
It is only fair that the rich should pay more than those who are less fortunate.
RIGHT
Taxes are seen as infringements on personal freedom.
Taxes intervene with the free market system.
Taxes penalize those who are successful.
Taxes should not punish profit.
Prefers a flat rate and/or consumption tax.

21. BUSINESS REGULATION LEFT RIGHT
Accepts government regulation of business.
The market place cannot be relied upon to provide safe working conditions.
Government control and regulations are needed to protect the worker and consumer.
Government should insure that everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
RIGHT
Business must be allowed to operate free of government control. The market place (supply and demand) will guide.
Government control of working conditions or policies that affect products are unacceptable.
Trickle down economics is the way to stimulate the economy.
The business of America is business.

22. POLITICAL RIGHTS LEFT RIGHT
The left side is passionate about extending civil rights to minority groups: students, prisoners, homosexuals and the poor.
Tolerant of those not in the status quo.
Seeks to protect individual rights: free speech, pro-choice, anti-capital punishment, and privacy.
RIGHT
The power of the central government should be diminished.
Most issues are best dealt with on the state and local level.
Preferred values (family, faith, patriotism and love of family) and beliefs are seen as originating in the past and are rooted in Christian traditions and practices.
Is acceptable to censor obscure ideas which unnecessarily shake up the status quo.

23. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
LEFT
The disparity between the rich and poor is not acceptable. Taxes represent a mechanism to equally distribute wealth.
The government should be involved in providing more equal opportunities in areas of education, health care, childcare, and aid to the elderly.
Government funding of public projects (pump priming) will stimulate the economy and help the common man.
RIGHT
Business has right to make as much profit as they possibly can.
Profits represent an incentive to work hard. It is reward for hard work and should not be punished by taxing it.
The disparity between the rich and the poor is explained in part by the economic choices people make.
Some people choose to become doctors, lawyers, dentists, and business executives. Others choose less profitable careers. Income disparity is a result of poor choices.
Those who are prosperous should not be penalized by being forced to help those who have made poor decisions.

24. THE MARKET
LEFT
Government intervention in the market is acceptable.
The government should set minimum wage standards.
Public works projects represent an acceptable way to create jobs.
Government should provide a basic standard of living to all citizens.
RIGHT
Attempts by the government to control prices, wages, or to regulate business operations are wrong. The economy works best when it is absolutely free (laissez-faire) of government control.
The forces of the market can be trusted to meet the needs of business, consumers, and workers.
Government programs should not compete with private industry.

25. FOREIGN AFFAIRS LEFT RIGHT
The government should be primarily focused on spreading democracy and protecting human rights in the world
Strong support for the united nations.
RIGHT
The governments primary role is to protect u.s. business and economic interests in foreign countries.
Our country needs to be in order before we look elsewhere.
Supports tariffs.

26. SCOPE OF THE GOVERNMENT
LEFT
The government should serve as the equalizers in society and establishes a basic standard of living, a minimum wage is an acceptable tool of government intervention.
The left is accepts government control and regulation of business, and an active government that protects political rights.
RIGHT
Government should be downsized.
Large governments, both federal and state, have the power to control business interests and therefore potentially infringe on the freedoms of individuals.
Government programs tend to provide unnecessary services that go beyond the scope of the constitution.

27. Political Socialization IMPORTANCE
Political socialization is a continuing process that is vital to societies and to individuals.
It is the process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.

28. Political Socialization AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
The Family
Education
The family is the most important agent
Children raised in households in which both parents strongly identify with the same political party are likely to identify with their parents’ party.
Class elections, student government, and social studies classes play a key role in teaching students the values of liberty, equality, individualism and democracy.
College grads have a higher level of political participation

29. Political Socialization
Social Groups
Black and White Americans differ on a number of issues, including affirmative action programs and race relations
Religious groups differ on a number of issues, including same-sex marriage, school prayer, and abortion.
Men and Women differ on a number issues, including health care programs and support for defence budgets.

30. Major polling services
Gallop Organization
Pew Research Centre for People and the Press
Today, over 1000 polling organizations attempt to measure public preferences on everything from soft drinks to soap operas.
200+ organizations focus on polling the American public’s political preferences.

31. The Science of Public Opinion Measurement
STEPS IN SCIENTIFIC POLLING
Define the population to be surveyed.
Construct a sample slice of the population. Most polls use random sampling in which every member of the population being studied must have an equal chance of being sampled. If this happens, a small sample should represent the whole population.
Construct carefully designed survey questions that avoid bias
Conduct the poll by using either telephone or face-to-face interviewing procedures.
Analyse and report the data

32. Polls and Democracy A TOOL FOR DEMOCRACY
Supporters argue that polling contributes to the democratic process by providing a way for the public to express its opinions.
Supporters also point out that polling enables political leaders to understand and implement public preferences on key issues.

33. Polls and Democracy A TOOL FOR THE TIMID AND MAIPULATIVE
Critics argue that polls transform leaders into follower. For example, had polls been available in 1787, the Framers might have been content to follow public opinion by revising the Articles of Confederation.
Critics also charge that polls can be used to manipulate public opinion. Ex. The bandwagon effect occurs when polling results influence people to support candidates and issues that appear to be popular.

34. Hand out Liberal or Conservative Questions
Poll your rows --- where do you fall individually and as a row?

35. SURVEY RESULTS Reflect on your results! Where did you fall?
Was this accurate?
500
100
400
200
300
RADICAL
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CONSERV.
REACTIONARY
LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE
CONSERVATIVE

36. MATCH WHERE YOU FALL WITH THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL FIGURES
Ronald Reagan
Jesse Jackson
Ted Kennedy
Hillary Clinton
Bill Clinton
Colin Powell
George Bush
Jack Kemp
Bob Dole
100%
LIBERAL
100%
CONSERVATIVE