Chapter 3 – Finding Your Voice and Making It Heard
3.4 Identifying Your Political Values & the Issues You Care About
Understanding your political values and the issues that matter most to you is a fundamental part of civic engagement. Your political values shape your opinions, influence your decisions, and guide your actions as a citizen. They help you determine what you believe is the best way to organize society and govern communities. Identifying these values can be a reflective and enlightening process.
The Right to Develop Your Own Political Values
In the United States, every citizen has the right to develop their own political values. This right is enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and the freedom to express one’s beliefs and opinions. The value of open and rigorous debate is central to American democracy, allowing diverse perspectives to be heard and considered. Engaging in discussions about political ideas helps you refine your own views and understand those of others, fostering a more informed and active citizenry.
Finding Your Political Values & Exploring the Issues You Care About
To identify your political values, consider what principles and ideals are most important to you. Do you prioritize individual freedoms or collective responsibilities? How do you view the role of government in addressing economic and social issues? Reflect on your experiences, education, and the influences in your life that have shaped your beliefs. Pay attention to the issues that evoke strong feelings or compel you to act, as these are often tied to your core values.
Think about the issues that you are passionate about. These might include education, healthcare, the environment, economic policy, social justice, or poverty and housing. Understanding which issues matter most to you will help you engage more effectively in political discussions and advocacy. Being informed about these topics enables you to make educated decisions when voting, participating in community activities, or engaging with policymakers.
Questionnaire – Pew Research Center’s Political Typology Quiz
To help you explore your political values and see where you fit in the broader political landscape, take the Pew Research Center’s Political Typology Quiz. This quiz categorizes individuals into one of nine political typology groups based on their responses to various questions about political beliefs and values. The results can provide insight into your political identity and how it compares with others across the United States. This will help inform your experience as you move through this book.
Take the “quiz” to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That’s OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if it isn’t exactly right.
This exercise is for your personal exploration. It won’t be graded, and the instructor won’t see your results. Use this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your political values and how they align with different perspectives within the American political spectrum.
