Unit 4 FRQ 2: Political Party and Ideologies

Ideological consistency is based on a scale of 10 political values questions. Republicans include Republican-leaning independents; Democrats include Democratic-leaning independents.

The figure presents 2 bar graphs. The first bar graph is titled 'Percent of Democrats With Political Values That Are….' The second bar graph is titled 'Percent of Republicans With Political Values That Are….' The following years appear on the horizontal axis of both bar graphs: 1994, 1999, 2004, 2011, and 2014. Each year has one bar, and each bar is divided into two sections. For the first bar graph, a key indicates that one section represents Mostly Liberal, and one section represents Consistently Liberal. In the second bar graph, the key indicates that one section represents Mostly Conservative, and one section represents Consistently Conservative.

Describe the percentage of Democrats in 2014 who described themselves as 'mostly liberal.'

Describe a trend over time that the data illustrate.

Draw a conclusion about that trend.

Explain how the data in the bar graphs illustrate the role of ideology in the political party system.