Public Opinion

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Public Opinion Political Action
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The American People Demographic Trends

• What is demography?
• What such trends would affect American politics?
• Changes in race/ethnicity of population
• New minority majority
• Changes in age of population
• Graying of America
• Regional shifts in population
• Regional shift to the West and South ?
  Reapportionment

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The coming minority majority
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Political Culture

• Widely shared beliefs, values and norms
  concerning relationships of citizens to
  government / one another
• Important Elements of American Political Culture
• liberty - preoccupation with rights
• equality - equal vote, equal opportunity,
  equality under the law, but not equal wealth
• democracy - politicians accountable to the people
• civic duty - serve community
• individual responsibility barring some
  disability, individuals responsible for own
  actions and well being

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Examples of Conflict in American Political Culture

• Identify the two elements of American political
  culture in conflict for each statement.
• Example High School students can pay taxes on
  their incomes but cannot vote.
• Conflict Civic Duty (pay taxes) is in conflict
  with Equality (equal vote)

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Examples of Conflict in American Political Culture

• Example You cant yell Fire in a crowded
  building.
• Conflict
• Example Citizens must pay income tax every
  April.
• Conflict
• Example Individuals can vote and register for
  the Selective Service at 18, but cannot legally
  drink alcohol until they are 21.
• Conflict
• Provide two additional examples of conflicts in
  the five elements of American political culture.

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Political Socialization

• What do we do when we socialize?
• How are people affected by those they socialize
  with?
• How would we be affected politically by those
  we socialize with?
• Brainstorm possible agents of political
  socialization.
• What factors seem to be the most influential?

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Political Socialization

• Process by which parents and others teach
  children about values, beliefs and attitudes of
  political culture
• Agents or Influencing Factors of Political
  Socialization
• Family
• Religion
• Gender
• Level of Education
• Race and Ethnicity
• Region
• Community
• Social Class
• Media
• Peer Group
• Teachers

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Identifying Influences of Your Political
Socialization

• Fill out the handout
• Complete the reflection questions
• Which agent has the least influence on your
  decisions and which has the greatest?

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Political Ideologies

• What Americans Value

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Political Ideology

• A consistent set of values and beliefs about the
  proper purpose and scope of government.
• Liberal / left
• Favor active role of government in society
• Seek change
• Conservative / right
• Favor a more limited role of government in
  society
• Want to preserve traditional ways
• Exceptions / contradictions

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Break it down

• 41 conservative/21 liberal
• Younger people less conservative
• Minorities less conservative
• Wealthy more conservative
• Gender gap
• Religious more conservative

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The Political Spectrum
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Measuring Public Opinion

• Public Opinion Polls
• Sample
• Small group polled supposed to be
  representative
• Public opinion polling 1000-1500 people
• Random sampling
• Sampling error level of confidence in poll
• 1500-2000 in sample ? 3
• Mr. Cashill told me only 900 necessary in sample

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Poll Positives

• Policymakers can keep in touch with voters
  changing opinions on issues
• Especially between elections
• Thus contributes to democratic process
• People can too

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Poll Negatives

• Polls only reflect the passive attitudes of
  voters
• Politicians follow what is popular rather than
  lead
• Probably not true
• Create bandwagon effect
• People support candidate because perceived as
  popular
• Exit poll can affect outcome of national
  elections
• Bradley effect?
• Pollsters can manipulate polls

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Poll Question Wording

• Smoking
• Should people be allowed to smoke cigarettes?
• Since cigarettes are dangerous and have deadly
  side effects such as cancer wouldn't you agree
  that smoking should be controlled to save the
  lives of many? 
• Gun Control
• Do you agree or disagree with this statement
  "There is a need for stricter gun laws."
• Many people have said that there is a need for
  stricter laws on dangerous weapons. Do you agree?

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War with Iraq (January 2003 Pew Research survey)

• Would you favor or oppose taking military action
  in Iraq to end Saddam Husseins rule
• 68 favored military action
• 25 opposed military action
• Would you favor or oppose taking military action
  in Iraq to end Saddam Husseins rule even if it
  meant that U.S. forces might suffer thousands of
  casualties
• 43 favored
• 48 opposed

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2005 Pew Research survey

• 51 of respondents said they favored making it
  legal for doctors to give terminally ill patients
  the means to end their lives
• 44 said they favored making it legal for
  doctors to assist terminally ill patients in
  committing suicide

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FRQ

• Public opinion polls are a way to link the public
  with elected officials. Members of Congress
  often use polls to understand the views of their
  constituents, but they must also pay attention to
  other political considerations.
•  
• Identify two characteristics of a valid,
  scientific, public opinion poll.
•  
• Explain why each of the following enhances the
  influence of public opinion on the voting
  decisions of members of Congress.
• Strong public opinion as expressed in polling
  results
• Competitive re-elections
•  
• Explain why each of the following limits the
  influence of public opinion on the voting
  decisions of members of Congress.
• Legislators voting records
• Party leadership

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Decline of trust in government
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Political Participation
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Types of Political Participation

• Voting
• Most common for Americans especially in
  presidential elections
• Protesting
• Dramatic and unconventional
• Civil disobedience
• Contributing
• Contacting
• Campaigning
• Running for office
• Joining a political organization
• Litigating
• Chatting
• Why would people choose to do each of these
  things?