Final answer:
A set of beliefs, values, and policy issues supported by a political party is called a party platform, which contains individual planks addressing specific issues. These platforms reflect the political ideology of the party and influence voter perceptions and political socialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
A list of values, beliefs, and policy issues endorsed and supported by a political party is known as a party platform. The party platform is a comprehensive collection of a party's stances on issues it deems politically important. Each individual policy issue is considered a plank of the overall platform. For instance, the Democratic Party platform may advocate for women's reproductive rights, while the Republican Party might call for restrictions in that same area, illustrating a clear divergence in political ideology.
Political parties often use their platforms to signal to voters their core values and approaches to governance. Ideological leanings, such as being liberal or conservative, heavily influence these platforms. Individuals align with parties whose platforms reflect their own beliefs, thus affecting their political socialization and impacting their views on a wide array of public policies.