Conservatism (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

What with Donald Trump's rampages, I thought it prudent to remind myself what it might mean to claim to be a conservative. 

Conservatism, political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices.

Conservatism is a preference for the historically inherited rather than the abstract and ideal. This preference has traditionally rested on an organic conception of society—that is, on the belief that society is not merely a loose collection of individuals but a living organism comprising closely connected, interdependent members. Conservatives thus favour institutions and practices that have evolved gradually and are manifestations of continuity and stability.

See Conservatism (Encyclopaedia Britannica)