Political socialization is a broad term used to refer to the means by which an individual forms his or her ideas about politics and develops his or her affiliations with certain ideas and political parties. Many factors impact political socialization, including parenting, education, the media, and social life.

John Locke was an Enlightenment-era philosopher who is most commonly associated with arguing in favor of the idea that all men have certain inalienable rights: primarily to life, liberty, and property. His ideas were extremely influential to the Constitutional Framers, particularly Thomas Jefferson.

The term imperialism is used to describe any attempt by a stronger nation to dominate or exert influence a weaker nation through the use of its military or via its economic superiority. The period from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century is often referred to as the Era of European Imperialism, because so many European states were carving out sections of influence around the world. The United States has also engaged in its fair share of imperialism, particularly economic imperialism in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Anarchism is a political theory that favors the complete abolition of government. Anarchists believe that government interferes negatively in the lives and well-being of people, and that society would function best in the complete absence of government.

The political spectrum is usually constructed as follows: On the far left are revolutionaries, on the left are liberals, in the middle are moderates, on the right are conservatives, and on the far right are reactionaries. Reactionary political philosophy is defined by the repeated attempt to resist social change or, even further, to desire a return to a previous, and more rigid, social order.

Pluralism is the name given to a political theory—widely accepted in most modern democracies—that states that a democratic society benefits when there are many competing and varied individual and group opinions working together, or in competition with each other, to direct public policy.

The President and both Houses of Congress are elected by a vote of the people. Supreme Court Justices, however, are appointed by Presidents. The appointment has to be approved by the Senate.

Perhaps despite the wishes of many Presidents who have battled oppositional Congresses, the President is not provided with any power to alter the membership of Congress by appointing or firing members, nor can the President call for new elections. The President also must abide by the laws that the Congress passes. Article I Section 7 of the US Constitution does, however, grant the President the power to refuse to sign a bill from Congress or to outright veto it. This power allows the President some power to oppose legislation they find unacceptable, but Congress can override a veto. Overriding a veto requires much higher support (2/3 "super-majority") within Congress for the bill. 

In the American government power is separated into three branches. The Legislative Branch makes laws, the Executive Branch carries out and enforces laws, and the Judicial Branch interprets whether or not laws violate the Constitution.

The McCarran Act was signed into law in 1950; it was part of the Red Scare period of American history. The McCarran Act required all Communist organizations and members to register their affiliation with the United States government.