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Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Public Public Opinion Opinion

Public Opinion

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Page 1: Public Opinion

Chapter 7Chapter 7Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Page 2: Public Opinion

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. How does public opinion in America How does public opinion in America

today vary by race, gender, and other today vary by race, gender, and other differences?differences?

2.2. What is political ideology, and how What is political ideology, and how does it affect political behavior and does it affect political behavior and influence public policy?influence public policy?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1.1. What role did the Framers of the What role did the Framers of the

Constitution think public opinion Constitution think public opinion should play in American democracy?should play in American democracy?

2.2. When, if ever, should public policies When, if ever, should public policies mirror majority opinion?mirror majority opinion?

Page 3: Public Opinion

Public Opinion and DemocracyPublic Opinion and Democracy

The Framers of the Constitution created a The Framers of the Constitution created a government to achieve certain goals:government to achieve certain goals:

““to form a more perfect Union, establish to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty.”Blessing of Liberty.”

– – Preamble to the ConstitutionPreamble to the Constitution

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Page 4: Public Opinion

What is Public Opinion?What is Public Opinion?

How Polling WorksHow Polling Works• PollPoll• Random sampleRandom sample• Sampling errorSampling error• Exit pollsExit polls

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American politics is intensely local, as when Rep. Loretta Sanchez shakes hands with a voter in her California district. p. 156

Jonathan Nourok/PhotoEdit

Page 5: Public Opinion

How Opinions DifferHow Opinions Differ• Opinion saliencyOpinion saliency• Opinion stabilityOpinion stability• Opinion-policy Opinion-policy

congruencecongruence

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What is Public Opinion?What is Public Opinion?

Clinton winning over Obama and Edwards in New Hampshire when the polls said otherwise, p. 158

Jim Cole/AP Photo

Page 6: Public Opinion

Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

Political socialization – Political socialization – process by process by which background traits influence which background traits influence one’s political viewsone’s political views

Genes and the FamilyGenes and the Family ReligionReligion The Gender GapThe Gender Gap

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Children grow up learning, but not always following, their parents’ political beliefs. p. 159

Bob Daemmirch/The Image Works

Page 7: Public Opinion

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Source: Institute of Politics, The 15th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service, John F. Kennedy Source: Institute of Politics, The 15th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, October 2008.School of Government, Harvard University, October 2008.

Source: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Survey: More Americans Question Religion’s Role in Politics, Source: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Survey: More Americans Question Religion’s Role in Politics, August 21, 2008, sections 3 and 4.August 21, 2008, sections 3 and 4.

Page 8: Public Opinion

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Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Gen Dems: The Party’s Advantage Among Young Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Gen Dems: The Party’s Advantage Among Young Voters Widens, April 28, 2008.Voters Widens, April 28, 2008.

Page 9: Public Opinion

Figure 7.1 Gender Gaps on Figure 7.1 Gender Gaps on Issue Importance (2006)Issue Importance (2006)

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Source: Source: Ms. Ms. magazine/WDN Poll, Lake Research Partners, surveying 1,000 randomly magazine/WDN Poll, Lake Research Partners, surveying 1,000 randomly selected likely voters November 6–7, 2006.selected likely voters November 6–7, 2006.

Page 10: Public Opinion

Cleavages in Public OpinionCleavages in Public Opinion

Social ClassSocial Class Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity RegionRegion

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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks to supporters. p. 164

Lester Cohen/WireImage.com/Getty Images

Page 11: Public Opinion

Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology

Political ideologyPolitical ideology - A more or less - A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue.policies government ought to pursue.

Mass Ideologies: A TypologyMass Ideologies: A Typology Liberal and Conservative ElitesLiberal and Conservative Elites

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Page 12: Public Opinion

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Source: Adapted from Source: Adapted from “Profiles of the Typology “Profiles of the Typology Groups: Beyond Red and Groups: Beyond Red and Blue,” Pew Research Blue,” Pew Research Center for the People and Center for the People and the Press, 2005.the Press, 2005.

Page 13: Public Opinion

Political Elites, Public Opinion, Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policyand Public Policy

Political elites – Political elites – persons with a persons with a disproportionate share of political disproportionate share of political power.power.

Elites raise and frame political issues.Elites raise and frame political issues. Elites state the norms by which Elites state the norms by which

issues should be settled.issues should be settled.

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Page 14: Public Opinion

Political Elites, Public Opinion, Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policyand Public Policy

HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DO ELITES HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DO ELITES HAVE ON THE FOLLOWING?HAVE ON THE FOLLOWING?

RacismRacism SexismSexism Economic problemsEconomic problems CrimeCrime DrugsDrugs Foreign affairsForeign affairs

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Page 15: Public Opinion

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: Cecilia Kennedy, U.S. RepresentativeCecilia Kennedy, U.S. Representative

From: From: Ronald Edwards, legislative assistantRonald Edwards, legislative assistant

Subject: Subject: Vote on comprehensive immigration reformVote on comprehensive immigration reform

The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) sought to stem The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) sought to stem illegal immigration by imposing penalties on employers who hire illegal immigration by imposing penalties on employers who hire them, while permitting the estimated 3 million illegal immigrants them, while permitting the estimated 3 million illegal immigrants at the time to attain legal status. Since then, however, the number at the time to attain legal status. Since then, however, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has quadrupled, while of illegal immigrants in the United States has quadrupled, while law enforcement efforts to punish employers or deport those law enforcement efforts to punish employers or deport those immigrants have been minimal. Your district is not directly immigrants have been minimal. Your district is not directly affected by immigration, but voters have concerns both about affected by immigration, but voters have concerns both about maintaining law and order, and providing economic opportunities maintaining law and order, and providing economic opportunities for people who have resided in this country for many years.for people who have resided in this country for many years.

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Page 16: Public Opinion

Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. Your district contains a large proportion of first-generation 1. Your district contains a large proportion of first-generation Americans, who favor a “path to citizenship” for immigrants Americans, who favor a “path to citizenship” for immigrants who have lived in this country for years, regardless of their who have lived in this country for years, regardless of their legal status.legal status.

2. Illegal immigrants often take menial jobs that nobody else 2. Illegal immigrants often take menial jobs that nobody else wants, and contribute to the U.S. economy by paying taxes wants, and contribute to the U.S. economy by paying taxes and buying goods and services.and buying goods and services.

3. A “path to citizenship,” with fines and other penalties for 3. A “path to citizenship,” with fines and other penalties for being in the country illegally, is the most realistic option for being in the country illegally, is the most realistic option for individuals who have family and other long-term ties in the individuals who have family and other long-term ties in the United States.United States.

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Page 17: Public Opinion

Arguments against:Arguments against:

1. Your party leaders oppose comprehensive immigration 1. Your party leaders oppose comprehensive immigration reform, saying that enhanced border security must be a reform, saying that enhanced border security must be a higher priority.higher priority.

2. Illegal immigrants take jobs away from native-born 2. Illegal immigrants take jobs away from native-born Americans and cost more in public services, such as Americans and cost more in public services, such as education and emergency health care, than they contribute education and emergency health care, than they contribute to the economy.to the economy.

3. People who entered the country illegally must not be 3. People who entered the country illegally must not be rewarded for breaking the law, and enforcement can be rewarded for breaking the law, and enforcement can be effective with sufficient resources.effective with sufficient resources.

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Page 18: Public Opinion

Your decision:Your decision:

Vote for bill?Vote for bill?

Vote against bill?Vote against bill?

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?