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Public Opinion and Political Action

Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Fourteenth Edition. Public Opinion and Political Action. Chapter 6. What teachers think I do. Introduction. Public Opinion Population’s distribution of the beliefs about politics & issues Demography

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Public Opinion and Political Action

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  1. Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Fourteenth Edition Public Opinion and Political Action Chapter 6

  2. What teachers think I do.

  3. Introduction • Public Opinion • Population’s distribution of the beliefs about politics & issues • Demography • The science of population changes • Census • Required every 10 years by the Constitution

  4. The American People • Melting Pot: the mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples that has changed the American nation • Minority Majority: the emergence of a non-Caucasian majority • Political culture is an overall set of values widely shared within a society.

  5. A NATION OFIMMIGRANTS • “MELTING POT” • “SALAD BOWL”

  6. SHOULD THE U.S. BE A MELTING POTORSALAD BOWL???5 minutes50 words “Pop” Essay

  7. The American People

  8. EDUCATION INFLUENCES EVERYTHING

  9. The American People • An Immigrant Society • Three waves of immigration: • Northwestern Europeans (Mid to late 1800s) • Southern & eastern Europeans (late 1800sth, early 20th) • Hispanics and Asians (late 1900s - today)

  10. INTERNAL MIGRATION • The Regional Shift • Population shift from east to west and north to south • Reapportionment: the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census

  11. 1944 ELECTORAL COLLEGE

  12. 2012 ELECTORAL COLLEGE

  13. The American People • The Graying of America • Fastest growing age group is over 65 • Potential drain on Social Security • Pay as you go system • In 1942, 42 workers per retiree • In 2040, ~2 workers per retiree

  14. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization • Political Socialization: • The process through which and individual acquires their particular political orientation. • The Process of Political Socialization • The Family: Most important factor.

  15. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization

  16. Sources of Political Socialization • Family members • Peers • School • Religion • Media (especially television) • Demographics: race, ethnicity, gender, age, and region. • Outside events.

  17. Figure 11.2- Religious Self-Identification  Back

  18. First-Year College Student Ideology  Back

  19. Age, Voting & Political Socialization Aging increases political participation and strength of party attachment.

  20. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information How Polls Are Conducted Sample The small proportion of people who are chosen Random Sampling Everyone should have an equal probability Sampling Error Level of confidence in the findings of a poll

  21. Shortcomings of Polling • Must consider margin of error. • May make errors in selecting the sample. • Biased, awkward wording of questions • Polls limit respondents’ options. • People may not have enough information to answer. • Measures of intensity may be imprecise.

  22. Figure 11.6- Random Digit Dialing  Back

  23. 12/20/2019 political parties 33

  24. Figure 11.3- Views on Hurricane Katrina  Back

  25. Figure 11.5- Opinion on Gas Taxes  Back

  26. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information The Role of Polls in American Democracy All politicians use polls Polls help politicians detect public preferences

  27. Measuring Public Opinionand The Media The Role of Polls in American Democracy Polls may distort election process Predictive Polls (before an election) Used by media. Causes ‘horserace’ focus. Exit Polls • Used by the media to predict election day winners May discourage people from voting

  28. Effects of Public Opinion • May influence the course of public policy. • Some critics argue this weakens democracy. • Creation of bandwagon and underdog effects.

  29. Figure 11.4- The Gallup Poll  Back

  30. Figure 11.7- Daily Tracking Poll  Back

  31. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information Polls Reveal Americans’ Political Information Americans don’t know much about politics

  32. QUIZ

  33. Table 11.2- Political Knowledge  Back

  34. TAKE OUT A PIECE OF PAPER & WRITE THE NATION & THE MATCHING NUMBER

  35. Polls reveal a“ CREDIBILITY GAP ” MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT INCREASING SINCE THE 1960’S INTERNAL EFFICACY (I make a difference) SAME SINCE THE 1950’S EXTERNAL EFFICACY (The system works) DECLINING SINCE THE 1960’S AP - Ch 4 - US POL CULTURE

  36. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information

  37. Highest

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