U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 10: Public Opinion, Media and Civic Participation
10.3 Political Ideology
Notes
Ideology is a consistent set of beliefs about the role of government. Most Americans hold a mix of views; many are moderates.
- Liberals generally favor a larger government role in regulating the economy and providing social programs, and less government involvement in personal social choices.
- Conservatives generally favor a smaller government role in the economy, lower taxes and more emphasis on traditional values and order.
- Libertarians favor limited government in both economic and personal matters.
- Moderates hold views between these or mix positions on different issues.
- Ideology is not the same as party, although each major party tends to attract people with certain ideologies.
| Ideology | Government role in economy | Government role in personal choices |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Larger | Smaller |
| Conservative | Smaller | Larger |
| Libertarian | Smaller | Smaller |
Practice
A person wants government to stay out of both the economy and personal decisions as much as possible. This view is most consistent with:
Libertarians favor minimal government in all areas.
Which statement about ideology and party is accurate?
People's views often do not fit neatly into one ideology.
Which pairing matches the general description in the table?
Liberals generally support more economic regulation and social programs.
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