American Government American Government and Organizationand Organization

PS1301PS1301

Wednesday, 22 OctoberWednesday, 22 October

Knowledge Quiz: PeopleKnowledge Quiz: People

Who is Dick Cheney?Who is Dick Cheney?

Who is your representative?Who is your representative?

What office does Dennis Hastert hold?What office does Dennis Hastert hold?

Who is William Rehnquist?Who is William Rehnquist?

Knowledge of Political partiesKnowledge of Political parties

Which party is more liberal? Which party is more liberal?

Do you happen to know which party had Do you happen to know which party had the most members in the House ofthe most members in the House of

Representatives in Washington before the Representatives in Washington before the election (this/last) month?election (this/last) month?

Do you happen to know which party had Do you happen to know which party had the most members in the U.S. Senate the most members in the U.S. Senate before the election (this/last) month? before the election (this/last) month?

Knowledge of CivicsKnowledge of Civics

Who has the final responsibility to decide if a law is Who has the final responsibility to decide if a law is constitutional or not...is it the President, the Congress, constitutional or not...is it the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, or don't you know? the Supreme Court, or don't you know? Who has the final responsibility to decide if a law is Who has the final responsibility to decide if a law is constitutional or not...is it the President, the Congress, constitutional or not...is it the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, or don't you know? the Supreme Court, or don't you know? What are the first ten Amendments to the Constitution What are the first ten Amendments to the Constitution called?called?What majority is needed to override a presidential veto?What majority is needed to override a presidential veto?How long is a senator’s term in office?How long is a senator’s term in office?

Knowledge of PolicyKnowledge of Policy

Which party favors spending more Which party favors spending more money on defense?money on defense?

Which party favors spending more Which party favors spending more federal spending?federal spending?

The Public’s Political KnowledgeThe Public’s Political Knowledge

89 percent identified Al Gore as the vice president (1998)89 percent identified Al Gore as the vice president (1998)75 percent know which party had a majority in the House of 75 percent know which party had a majority in the House of Representatives (1996)Representatives (1996)67 percent knew the Supreme Court decides if laws are 67 percent knew the Supreme Court decides if laws are constitutional (1992)constitutional (1992)60 percent could identify Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House 60 percent could identify Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House (1998)(1998)46 percent know that the first ten amendments are called the Bill of 46 percent know that the first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights (1989)Rights (1989)25 percent know that the term of U.S. Senators is six years25 percent know that the term of U.S. Senators is six years11 percent know that William Rehnquist was chief justice of the 11 percent know that William Rehnquist was chief justice of the United States (2000)United States (2000)

Explaining KnowledgeExplaining Knowledge

OpportunityOpportunity

CapacityCapacity

InterestInterest

Education combines all three elements of Education combines all three elements of learninglearning

Does Lack of Information Matter?Does Lack of Information Matter?

Uninformed populace can be manipulatedUninformed populace can be manipulated By Media, Experts, Politicians, BureaucratsBy Media, Experts, Politicians, Bureaucrats

Associated with antidemocratic viewsAssociated with antidemocratic views

Low levels of participationLow levels of participation

Politicians lead astrayPoliticians lead astray

Voting incorrectlyVoting incorrectly

Cause for Optimism?Cause for Optimism?

People can make decisions without being People can make decisions without being fully informedfully informed

Concept of “limited rationality” Concept of “limited rationality”

Random “errors” cancel each other out. Random “errors” cancel each other out. Stability in aggregate public opinionStability in aggregate public opinion

Trends in Public OpinionTrends in Public Opinion

On many issues, opinion is relatively On many issues, opinion is relatively stable.stable.

Response to crises, cyclesResponse to crises, cycles

Stability in Opinion on Health CareStability in Opinion on Health Care

Stability in Spending PreferencesStability in Spending Preferences

Stability in Foreign Policy ActivismStability in Foreign Policy Activism

Example of Opinion Shift Following Example of Opinion Shift Following CrisisCrisis

Defense Spending Responds to Defense Spending Responds to CrisisCrisis

Example of Opinion Change in Example of Opinion Change in Response to Historical TrendsResponse to Historical Trends

Issue PublicsIssue Publics

People who follow a particular issue closely and People who follow a particular issue closely and who are well informed about it and have strong who are well informed about it and have strong opinions on it are opinions on it are attentive attentive publicspublics

Public opinion is not a single entityPublic opinion is not a single entity

What items in the news have drawn a lot of What items in the news have drawn a lot of attention nationally or in our community? What attention nationally or in our community? What public’s have been affected? Have different public’s have been affected? Have different publics held different opinions about these publics held different opinions about these issues? How has that difference affected the issues? How has that difference affected the direction of public opinion? direction of public opinion?