The widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.

Rule of law

Make your own way!

Of Opportunity, not the result.

Progressive Era: Anti-Trust Laws (control corporations), Labor laws/regulations

HealthcareToday?

“I am not a crook” Vietnam

Watergate

Partisanship/Divided govt.

Cost of elections

Scandals

Political Efficacy

One’s own understanding and competence of government.

Has stayed steady through time

Belief one can have an impact on government

Has declined through time

• Abundant and fertile land

• Countless opportunities to acquire land/make living

• Lack of feudal society

• Independent spirit

Salient

Uses:

• Inform the public

• Inform candidates

• Inform office holders

• Exit polls

• Representative Sample

• Random Sampling

• Respondent’s Knowledge

• Objective Wording

• Accuracy: Straw Poll

Early projections

Process in which people acquire their political beliefs

• Strongest

• Fairly equal influence of mother and father

• When differ, associate with closest parent

• Impact of growing number of Independents

• Higher income More conservative and supportive of Republicans

• Lower incomes- More liberal and supportive of Democrats

2. Income

(ideology: conservative/liberal)

• Conflicting results

• College students today v. past.

• College students more liberal than general population

• Most prestigious- most liberal

Whites: More conservative (more Republican)

Blacks: More liberal (strongest support of Democratic Party) >90%

Hispanics: Cubans v. Mexican Americans

Asians:

• Protestant: More conservative generally

• Evangelicals more on social issues and econ

• Catholic: Traditionally more liberal (Economic) than on social issues (Abortion issue)

• Jewish: Most liberal (Strong support for the Democratic Party)

• 1900’sconservative

• 1992 Year of the Woman

• Clinton and Soccer Moms

• Gender Gap: Sex sensitive issues, compare to past

• Security Moms

• NASCAR Dads

• Coastal Cities: environment

• Urban areas: immigrants, minorities

• Solid South

• Rust Belt

• Rural areas (religion?)

Set of beliefs and values that shape a person’s view

• Limited role of govt.

• Govt. seen as chief threat to liberty

• Protect property rights

1. Classic Liberalism

• Expanded role of govt. (New Deal)

• Corporations seen as chief threat to liberty

• Need govt. to “smooth out the rough edges of capitalism”

• Role: protect people’s well being

Less likely to rely upon govt. to solve problems

Not as involved as “New Deal” liberals Edwards

• Reagan/Bush 41/ Bush 43

• Strength in formally “Solid South”

• Emphasis on private sector to solve problems, not government

• Strong support for tax cuts

• More social control

• Prayer in school

• Anti-Gay Marriage

• Anti-Abortion

• Emphasis on “free market”

• Free enterprise

In all casesFew regulations

Stickers and buttons

Comparison with other countries

U.S. Europe

Why?

• Property restrictions (Andrew Jackson)

• Race: 15th Amendment

• Women: 19th Amendment

• Income: 24th Amendment

• Literacy: Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Minimum age of 21: 26th Amendment

Impact of expansion

Less voting power per person

• Registration (motor voter Bill)

• Long Ballot: Excessive number of issues to vote on

• Type of election: General, Primary, midterm, state

• Difficulty in obtaining absentee ballots

• Too many elections: Ballot fatigue

• Weekday, non-holiday voting

(Voting is a linkage institution)

• Lack of political efficacy

• Dissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.

• Weakness of parties’ ability to mobilize voters

Don’t like either, so why vote?

• Education: Level is highest predictor

• Income: High vs. Low

• Age: 18-24 lowest 45 and up highest

• Race: White vs. minorities

• Cross-cutting cleavages

• Religious Involvement

Characteristics Of those likely to

Vote wealthEducation

Race

Age

In your opinion, what is the single most influential reason for not voting?

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