Ch 6: PUBLIC OPINION & POLITICAL ACTION
I. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationII. Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationIII. What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesIV. How Americans Participate in PoliticsV. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
I. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
A. The Process of Political Socialization
1. The Family – Parents give their children political attitudes.
2. The Mass Media – TV gives people information about politics.
3. School – Schools socialize the youth into political culture.
I. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
B. Political Learning over a Lifetime
1. Aging increases political participation and strength of party attachment
LO 6.2
To Learning ObjectivesCopyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
II. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
A. How Polls Are ConductedB. The Role of Polls in American DemocracyC. What Polls Reveal About Americans’
Political InformationD. The Decline of Trust in Government
II. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
A. How Polls Are Conducted1. Sample – People in survey to be representative
of the whole.
2. Random Sampling – People should get equal probability of being selected for the sample.
3. Sampling Error – Confidence in public opinion poll findings.
II. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
B. The Role of Polls in American Democracy1. Polls help politicians detect public preferences.
2. Criticism against polls:a) Politicians think more about following than leading
public; b) bandwagon effect distort elections; c) exit-day polls discourage voting; d) wording of questions manipulate answers.
II. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
C. What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information
1. Americans don’t know much about politics.
2. Americans may know their basic beliefs but not how that affects policies of the government
II. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
D. The Decline of Trust in Government
1. Since 1964, trust in government has declined.
2. Trust in government has gone up somewhat since 9/11/2001.
III. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
A. Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?
B. Do People Think in Ideological Terms?
Where do you stand?
• Abortion• Gay Marriage• Death Penalty• Prayer in schools• Affirmative Action• Regulations on businesses• Welfare• Defendants’ rights
LO 6.4
To Learning ObjectivesCopyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
III. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
A. Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?
1. Americans pick ideological label of conservative over liberal.
2. In 2008, 36% were conservatives, 38% were moderates, and just 26% were liberals.
3. Gender gap – Women more likely support Democratic candidates.
III. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
B. Do People Think in Ideological Terms?
1. Ideologues (12%) – Yes they do.
2. Group Benefits (42%) – Think of groups they like or dislike.
3. Nature of the Times (24%) – If times are good or bad for them.
4. No issue content (22%) – Vote for party or personality.
IV. How Americans Participate in Politics
A. Conventional ParticipationB. Protest as ParticipationC. Class, Inequality, and Participation
IV. How Americans Participate in Politics
A. Conventional Participation
1. Voting in elections.
2. Working in campaigns or running for office.
3. Contacting elected officials.
4. Ringing doorbells for a petition.
5. Running for office
IV. How Americans Participate in Politics
B. Protest as Participation
1. Protest – Designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics.
2. Civil disobedience – Reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.
3. Violence – Riots and fighting.
IV. How Americans Participate in Politics
C. Class, Inequality, and Participation
1. Class-biased activity – Citizens of higher socioeconomic status participating more than others.
2. Minorities are below average in terms of participation.
3. Who gets what in politics depends on who participates.
V. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
A. Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government
B. Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action
V. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
A. Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government
1. Many people have no opinion about scope of government.
2. Public opinion is inconsistent, which may lead to policy gridlock.
V. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
B. Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action
1. Americans select leaders in democratic elections.
2. Polls reveal that Americans know little about candidates’ issues.
3. People vote more for performance than policy.
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