Democracy and Political information

Do you happen to know the name of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? Do you happen to know the name of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Suppose that a presidential election ends up with a tie in the electoral college. As far as you know, which of the following would determine the outcome of the election…? A) The U.S. Senate B) The U.S. House of Representatives C) Who won the popular vote nationwide D) A coin flip E) Don't know Suppose that a presidential election ends up with a tie in the electoral college. As far as you know, which of the following would determine the outcome of the election…? A) The U.S. Senate B) The U.S. House of Representatives C) Who won the popular vote nationwide D) A coin flip E) Don't know

As far as you know, what is Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's religion? Is he a Christian, a Muslim, or something else? As far as you know, what is Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's religion? Is he a Christian, a Muslim, or something else?

Do you happen to know the name of the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? Do you happen to know the name of the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives?

China and India have the largest armies in the world. What country do you think has the THIRD largest army? China and India have the largest armies in the world. What country do you think has the THIRD largest army?

Can you name the country where Hugo Chavez is the president? Can you name the country where Hugo Chavez is the president?

Do you think Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was DIRECTLY involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, or not? Do you think Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was DIRECTLY involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, or not?

About how much of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from other countries? About how much of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from other countries?

What is the name of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board? What is the name of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board?

Which one of the following is the largest group of Muslims worldwide? Sunni Shia Sufi None of these Don't know Which one of the following is the largest group of Muslims worldwide? Sunni Shia Sufi None of these Don't know

Does democracy require an informed citizenry? Why or why not?

Why does democracy require an informed citizenry? Representative government requires capable officials Representative government requires capable officials –Information helps voters select capable officials Officials in democracy should be held accountable to the public Officials in democracy should be held accountable to the public –Information helps voters critically evaluate rep. performance

What constitutes an informed citizenry? High standard High standard –Actual high levels of knowledge Low standard Low standard –Heuristics, shortcuts, elite guidance

What kinds of information are required in order to be informed under the lower standard? Some Knowledge of:  Rules of the Game  Substance of Politics  People and Parties

What do Americans know about politics? Some, mostly about institutions Some, mostly about institutions Not deep or consistent knowledge of people, processes, or policy Not deep or consistent knowledge of people, processes, or policy

Institutions and rules The good news: The good news: the United States is a democracy (88%) the United States is a democracy (88%) presidents serve 4 years (93%) presidents serve 4 years (93%) the first amendment protects freedom of speech (75%) the first amendment protects freedom of speech (75%) can name at least one cabinet position (72%) can name at least one cabinet position (72%) know that popular votes don’t elect the president (69%) know that popular votes don’t elect the president (69%)

Institutions and Rules The bad news The bad news The length of a House term or a Senate term (30%, 25%) The length of a House term or a Senate term (30%, 25%) The substance of the Roe v. Wade decision (30%) The substance of the Roe v. Wade decision (30%) Can name Two 1st amendment rights, or 5th amendment rights (20%, 2%) Can name Two 1st amendment rights, or 5th amendment rights (20%, 2%) Can Name two or three branches of government (27%, 19%) Can Name two or three branches of government (27%, 19%)

Important people in politics 99% can name the US president 99% can name the US president 25% can name both of their US Senators 25% can name both of their US Senators 29% can correctly name their representative in the House 29% can correctly name their representative in the House

Facts related to politics 18% know the percent of the population below the poverty line 18% know the percent of the population below the poverty line 31% can describe affirmative action 31% can describe affirmative action 35% can say where most immigrants are coming from 35% can say where most immigrants are coming from 19% can locate Colombia on a map 19% can locate Colombia on a map 39% can locate Massachusetts on a map 39% can locate Massachusetts on a map 15% can say what the New Deal was 15% can say what the New Deal was 20% could name a memorable political slogan 20% could name a memorable political slogan

Do you happen to know the name of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? 15 Yes, John Roberts 7 Yes, other name given 77 No/Don't know/Can't name anyone 1 Refused Do you happen to know the name of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? 15 Yes, John Roberts 7 Yes, other name given 77 No/Don't know/Can't name anyone 1 Refused

Suppose that a presidential election ends up with a tie in the electoral college. As far as you know, which of the following would determine the outcome of the election…? 24 The U.S. Senate 25 The U.S. House of Representatives 32 Who won the popular vote nationwide 2 A coin flip 17 Don't know Suppose that a presidential election ends up with a tie in the electoral college. As far as you know, which of the following would determine the outcome of the election…? 24 The U.S. Senate 25 The U.S. House of Representatives 32 Who won the popular vote nationwide 2 A coin flip 17 Don't know

As far as you know, what is Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's religion? Is he a Christian, a Muslim, or something else? 61 Christian 13 Muslim 7 Something else 19 Not sure/Refused As far as you know, what is Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's religion? Is he a Christian, a Muslim, or something else? 61 Christian 13 Muslim 7 Something else 19 Not sure/Refused

Do you happen to know the name of the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? 39 Yes, John Boehner 3 Yes, other name given 58 No/Don't know/Can't name anyone Do you happen to know the name of the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? 39 Yes, John Boehner 3 Yes, other name given 58 No/Don't know/Can't name anyone

China and India have the largest armies in the world. Which one of the following countries do you think has the THIRD largest army? 29 North Korea 22 Russia 39 United States 1 Australia 9 Don't know China and India have the largest armies in the world. Which one of the following countries do you think has the THIRD largest army? 29 North Korea 22 Russia 39 United States 1 Australia 9 Don't know

Can you name the country where Hugo Chavez is the president? 38 Yes, Venezuela 16 Yes, other country named 46 No/Don't know/Not sure Can you name the country where Hugo Chavez is the president? 38 Yes, Venezuela 16 Yes, other country named 46 No/Don't know/Not sure

Do you think Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was DIRECTLY involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, or not? Yes 34 No 56 Don't Know 10 Do you think Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was DIRECTLY involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, or not? Yes 34 No 56 Don't Know 10

About how much of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from other countries? 58 About three-quarters 27 About half 7 About one-quarter 3 Less than one quarter 5 Don't know About how much of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from other countries? 58 About three-quarters 27 About half 7 About one-quarter 3 Less than one quarter 5 Don't know

What is the name of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board? 36 Ben Bernanke 19 Alan Greenspan 10 Paul O'Neill 35 Don't know What is the name of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board? 36 Ben Bernanke 19 Alan Greenspan 10 Paul O'Neill 35 Don't know

Which one of the following is the largest group of Muslims worldwide? 20 Sunni 20 Shia 2 Sufi 19 None of these 39 Don't know Which one of the following is the largest group of Muslims worldwide? 20 Sunni 20 Shia 2 Sufi 19 None of these 39 Don't know

What factors in campaigns make it more difficult for people to be informed?

Factors that make it more difficult for people to be informed? Parties divided over both social and economic issues Parties divided over both social and economic issues Parties cater to single-issue groups Parties cater to single-issue groups Negative campaigns Negative campaigns Media focuses on the horse race Media focuses on the horse race Lots of elections, complicated primaries Lots of elections, complicated primaries

What is Lippman’s argument?

What if there is no such thing as an informed public? “Today’s theories assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct the course of affairs or that they are making progress toward such an ideal. I think it is a false ideal. I do not mean an undesirable ideal. I mean an unattainable ideal, bad only in the sense that it is bad for a fat man to try to be a ballet dancer.”--Lippmann “Today’s theories assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct the course of affairs or that they are making progress toward such an ideal. I think it is a false ideal. I do not mean an undesirable ideal. I mean an unattainable ideal, bad only in the sense that it is bad for a fat man to try to be a ballet dancer.”--Lippmann

We must assume that the members of a public will not anticipate a problem much before its crisis has become obvious, nor stay with the problem long after its crisis is past. They will not know the antecedent events, will not have seen the issue as it developed, will not have thought out or willed a program, and will not be able to predict the consequences of acting on that program. We must assume that a public is inexpert in its curiosity, intermittent, that it discerns only gross distinctions, is slow to be aroused and quickly diverted; that since it acts by aligning itself, it personalizes whatever it considers, and is interested only when events have been melodramatized as a conflict. (Lippmann)

Do you agree with Lippmann that we have to assume people don’t know anything?

Does the public’s lack of attention matter?

Public Opinion before the War in Iraq 70% support the war in March % support the war in March % think the war will increase domestic terrorism 76% think the war will increase domestic terrorism 55% think the war will be long 55% think the war will be long 62% think the war will hurt economy 62% think the war will hurt economy 44% think there will be many casualties 44% think there will be many casualties

Why support the war? 68% of Americans believed there was a direct connection between the War in Iraq and Osama bin Laden / War on Terror (Feb. 5, 2003) 68% of Americans believed there was a direct connection between the War in Iraq and Osama bin Laden / War on Terror (Feb. 5, 2003)

Why don’t we know more? We’re busy We’re busy Free riding Free riding Weak definition of citizenship? Weak definition of citizenship? –“emphasize negative freedom and protection of the individual against interference from government and society. Duties are relegated to the background because they constitute obligations that restrict freedom”—D-C & K

What should we do?