Chapter 6:Public Opinion & Political Action

Unit 2: Political Beliefs & Behaviors

I. The American People A. In a Republic, citizens’ preference supposed to

guide public policy, but difficult in America: 1. Diversity 2. large population 3. citizens know little about politics!

B. Demographical changes (census data) shows changes across US: 1. Once the melting pot, US now on path to minority

majority by 2060:▪ a. Largest group African Americans▪ b. Latinos predicted to pass/be number one by early 21st century▪ c. Asian Americans the most skilled and best off group▪ d. Native Americans, the worst off group; least healthy, poorest & least

educated

I. The American People cont…

C. Despite diversity Americans share Political Culture (overall set of values widely shared within a society)

D. last 60 years: 1. population growth and move from north (northeast) to

western & southern states 2. Demographic shift brought political change seen in

reapportionment process:▪ a. The fastest growing age group in US is citizens over age 65, AKA

“Gray Power”, will be a strong political group due to active participation

II. Political Socialization:How do Americans learn about politics?

A. Political Socialization: the process through which an individual acquires his or her own political orientation

B. Agents of socialization: 1. Family: politics a learned behavior, parents have monopoly

on time & early social learning; predictor of young voter behavior = parents political leanings

2. The media: “the new parent”; replaces parent as biggest source of information as children get older

3. School: govt. use to instill a commitment to the basic values of the system regardless if democratic or authoritarian to help ensure supportive citizens, usually works best in very young years

C. Most American political learning is more informal than formal

III. Measuring public opinion & political information A. Public Opinion: the distribution of people’s beliefs

about politics & policy issues; product of political learning B. Public opinion was 1st developed by George Gallup in

1932: 1. rely on sample of the population (a small portion or population

chosen to represent the whole) to measure public opinion 2. random sampling: key to accuracy of a poll (everyone should

have an equal probability of being chosen) 3. Sampling error: no matter how perfect there is always a chance

for some error C. Most polling today done via phone through sampling

digital dial: 1. Supporters:

▪ a. tool for democracy ▪ b. keep up w/changing opinions on policy

III. Measuring public opinion & political information cont…

2. Critics: it distorts the election process:▪ a. "bandwagon” effect: voters may support a candidate only because

they see that others are doing so because of the poll▪ b. Exit polls are the least accurate as they declare winners before

voting is finished in parts of the country▪ c. By altering the wording of questions, pollsters can get pretty much

any result they want D. Polls have also revealed that the average

American has a low level of political knowledge E. However, due shared core beliefs, Americans

make the system work

IV. What American value:Political ideologies A. Americans tip more conservative than

moderate/liberal : 1. Who identifies as liberal or conservative varies according to

age, gender, race, & socioeconomic status 2. Group with more political clout tend to be more conservative 3. Women are not minority since make up 54% of population, but

are more disadvantaged than men which has created the gender gap, which means more likely to support Democratic candidates

B. To most people however, liberal/conservative or left/right has not much meaning; it has more meaning with the elites

C. These same elites are the ones more deeply entrenched in political ideology than the average American

V. How Americans participate in politics A. Political participation: many activities used by

citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue: 1. United States has a participatory political culture:

▪ a. 51-60% vote in Presidential Elections▪ b. 39% vote in mid term elections (off-year)▪ c. Local election turn outs usually in 20% - 30%

B. 2 types of political participation: 1. Conventional: widely accepted modes of influencing

government:▪ Ex.:Voting, persuading others, ringing doorbells, running for office

2. Unconventional: dramatic activities:▪ Ex.: Protesting, civil disobedience, and even violence

V. How Americans participate cont… C. Protest: a form of political participation designed to

achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics 1. Civil disobedience: protestors consciously break laws they

think are unjust; on of the hallmarks of the Civil Rights Movement

2. The goal of most protests in US is to draw attention of government to a problem and not to overthrow that government

D. Political participation a class-biased activity w/ citizens of higher socioeconomic status participating more: 1. differences decline when income & education kept equal,

minorities actually participate more 2. we want smaller govt. but more services we are coined as

“ideological conservatives” & “operational liberals”