Chapter 4: Linking Public Officials to the Public: Public Opinion

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Chapter 4 Linking Public Officials to the
Public Public Opinion Voting

• Opinion
• Attitude
• Public Opinion

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Political Socialization

• Political culture certain values and traditions
  transmitted though socialization or
  politicization.
• Formal
• Informal
• Passive virtues v. Active virtues

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Politically Relevant Learning

• Family
• Schools
• Peer groups
• Mass media
• Significant emotional events
• Demographic factors

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Cross Pressure

• Cross-pressure hypothesis holds that the behavior
  of individuals under consistent pressure is
  different from that of those under cross
  pressure.
• Individuals subject to consistent pressure are
  more likely to vote a straight ticket/high
  interest/consistent attitude
• Individuals subject to cross pressures are move
  likely to vote split tickets/low
  interest/conflicting attitudes.

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Intensity of Preference

• Trustee Representative acts on the basis of
  calm deliberation and enlightened self interest
• Faction Stronger reaction/risk

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Voting Voters How well-informed?

• Educated
• Interest in politics
• Consistency
• Data is conflicting

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Anticipated Reactions

• Carl Friedrich coined phrase to describe how even
  uninformed voters exercise some control over
  elected officials.
• Attention to public officials
• Polls/Opinion leaders
• Examination of potential voters, opposing
  candidates record
• Media

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How Active are American Voters?

• Turnout levels
• Off-year congressional elections
• Presidential high stimulus
• Other elections low stimulus
• Coat tail effect

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American Voters

• Right to vote --- states roles
• Colonial times white male property owners
• Disenfranchised
• Literacy tests ended with The Voting Rights Act
  of 1965

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American Voters

• 1920 19th Amendment Women can vote
• 1971 26th Amendment 18 year olds can vote
• State laws and regulations still exist
• (example felons and voting rights)

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Demographics

• Socioeconomic status (SES)
• Gender
• Race
• Religion
• Ethnicity
• Age

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Who Votes?

• See Table 4.4
• Whites are more likely to register and vote than
  blacks are.
• Blacks are more likely to register and vote than
  Hispanics are.
• Differences in registration and turnout between
  men and women is slight.
• 18-20 years olds are least likely to show up at
  the polls Numbers highest after 35.

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Why Do Americans Choose not to vote?

• Weather
• Peers
• Candidate choice
• Apathy
• Frustration
• Alienation
• Not registered
• Too busy
• Cost-benefit analysis

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Why Should Americans Vote?

• A right
• Obligation
• Promote your ideals
• Offset ideals you dislike
• Express views
• Vote or Shut Up
• Local elections can be very close

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1993 Motor-Voter Law

• Citizens can register when they get drivers
  license
• Registration forms available at military
  recruitment offices
• Permits registration by mail
• Allows citizens to register at welfare and
  disability offices

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Chapter 5 Collective Links to Public Officials

• Political Parties U.S. has week 2-party system
• Democrats
• Republicans

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Liberals v. Conservatives

• Liberals
• Favor Change
• Advocate Equality
• Social services

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Liberals v. Conservatives

• Conservatives
• Promote traditional values
• Advocate freedom from regulation
• Limited Social role
• Smaller government

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Independents

• Dealignment?
• Message?
• 1/3 vote for Democrats, 1/3 vote for Republicans,
  rest unpredictable
• Tend to skew younger

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Voting

• Split-ticket voting
• Cross-cutting political issues
• Traditional political issues

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Party Organization/Function

1. Recruit Candidates
2. Train Assist candidates
3. Raise (soft v. direct)
4. Attract votersphone banks, mailings, grassroots
   campaigns

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Party Organization/Function

1. Streamline process
2. Link party to people to government
3. Take positions on issues (labelcue)
4. Conflict resolution
5. Interest representation

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Party Structure

• National Party Conventions
• Every 4 years
• Approve positions/platforms
• Make rules

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National Committees

• Day-to-day operations
• Win presidency
• National Party chair (often apptd by
  Presidential nominee)
• Senatorial Campaign Committee
• Congressional Campaign Committee

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State Local Political Party Organizations

• State Chair
• State Laws regulate
• County Committee
• Precinct Committee

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Why US has 2-party system?

• Flexibility of current parties with times
• Winner v. proportional representation
• Campaign finance law
• Access to ballots

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Interest Groups

1. Economic
2. Ideological
3. Public
4. Government

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Effectiveness of Interest Groups

1. Positions
2. Competition
3. Interest in subject matter
4. Size
5. Geography
7. Prestige
8. Motivation levels
9. Duration of existence
10. Objectives
11. ORGANIZATION

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How do interest groups participate?

• Campaign
• Political Action Committees (PACs)
• Public Relations
• Influence on Appts.
• Lobbying