Chapter 7 Public Opinion

(DW) The federal government has often had a large budget deficit but the people want a balanced budget. The federal government has often had a large budget deficit but the people want a balanced budget. Courts have ordered that children be bused in order to balance the schools racially, but the people opposed busing. Courts have ordered that children be bused in order to balance the schools racially, but the people opposed busing. The HOR voted to impeach Clinton even though most Americans opposed it. The HOR voted to impeach Clinton even though most Americans opposed it. Most people believe that there should be term limits but congress doesn’t approve those bills. Most people believe that there should be term limits but congress doesn’t approve those bills.

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What is public opinion? I:A People do not spend a great deal of time thinking about politics; results: Public ignorance: Public ignorance: Monetary Control Bill ruse which tested the average citizens knowledge of political issuesMonetary Control Bill ruse which tested the average citizens knowledge of political issues Poor name recognition of leadersPoor name recognition of leaders How polling questions are worded affects the person’s answerHow polling questions are worded affects the person’s answer Public opinion is unstable Public opinion is unstable

Public Opinion and Democracy I:B The Framers of the Constitution created a government to achieve certain goals: The Framers of the Constitution created a government to achieve certain goals: “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty.” – Preamble to the Constitution – Preamble to the Constitution Copyright © 2011 Cengage

What is Public Opinion? II:A-B How Polling Works How Polling Works PollPoll Random sampleRandom sample Sampling errorSampling error Exit pollsExit polls Copyright © 2011 Cengage American politics is intensely local, as when Rep. Loretta Sanchez shakes hands with a voter in her California district. p. 156 Jonathan Nourok/PhotoEdit

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How Opinions Differ How Opinions Differ Opinion saliencyOpinion saliency Opinion stabilityOpinion stability Opinion-policyOpinion-policy congruence congruence Copyright © 2011 Cengage What is Public Opinion? II:C Clinton winning over Obama and Edwards in New Hampshire when the polls said otherwise, p. 158 Jim Cole/AP Photo

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Political Socialization III: Political socialization – process by which background traits influence one’s political views Political socialization – process by which background traits influence one’s political views Genes and the Family Genes and the Family Religion Religion The Gender Gap The Gender Gap Copyright © 2011 Cengage Children grow up learning, but not always following, their parents’ political beliefs. p. 159 Bob Daemmirch/The Image Works

The Origins of Political Attitudes III: A The role of family Party identification of family absorbed, although the child becomes more independent-thinking with time Party identification of family absorbed, although the child becomes more independent-thinking with time In recent years, there has been a declining ability to pass on party identification. In recent years, there has been a declining ability to pass on party identification. Younger voters exhibit less partisanship; they are more likely to be independent. Younger voters exhibit less partisanship; they are more likely to be independent. Meaning of the partisanship that children acquire from their parents is unclear; children are less influenced by parents in regard to policy preferences Meaning of the partisanship that children acquire from their parents is unclear; children are less influenced by parents in regard to policy preferences Clear political ideologies are passed on in only a few families. Clear political ideologies are passed on in only a few families.

Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Institute of Politics, The 15th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, October 2008.

Religion II:B:1 Families form and transmit political beliefs through their religious tradition. Catholic families are somewhat more liberal on economic issues. Catholic families are somewhat more liberal on economic issues. Protestant families are more conservative. Protestant families are more conservative. Jewish families are decidedly more liberal on economic and social issues. Jewish families are decidedly more liberal on economic and social issues.

Why??? II:B:2 Differences reflect the social status of each religious group Catholics and Jews were once poor immigrants who identified with the Democratic party. Catholics and Jews were once poor immigrants who identified with the Democratic party. Their support for the Democratic Party has weakened as their status has improved. Their support for the Democratic Party has weakened as their status has improved. Differences reflect the content of the religious tradition Differences reflect the content of the religious tradition (1) Jews have a proportionately greater emphasis on social justice. (2) Evangelical Protestants place more emphasis on personal rectitude. (You are poor b/c God hates you!)

Religion & The Republican Party Untapped voting power from religious groups Republicans changed policies to attract groups Republicans changed policies to attract groups Had been focused solely upon businessHad been focused solely upon business Give lip service to religious right for their votesGive lip service to religious right for their votes Christian Coalition—grassroots mobilization, Republican affiliation Christian Coalition—grassroots mobilization, Republican affiliation Sole purpose is to impose religious values on American culture through the political processSole purpose is to impose religious values on American culture through the political process

Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Survey: More Americans Question Religion’s Role in Politics, August 21, 2008, sections 3 and 4.

The Gender Gap Results from the changing partisan affiliations of men and women Men have become increasingly Republican since the mid-1960s. Men have become increasingly Republican since the mid-1960s. Reflects attitudinal differences between men and women, about the size of government, gun control, social programs, and gay rights Reflects attitudinal differences between men and women, about the size of government, gun control, social programs, and gay rights

Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Gen Dems: The Party’s Advantage Among Young Voters Widens, April 28, 2008.

Figure 7.1 Gender Gaps on Issue Importance (2006) Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Ms. magazine/WDN Poll, Lake Research Partners, surveying 1,000 randomly selected likely voters November 6–7, 2006.

Schooling & Information College education has liberalizing effect, possibly because of exposure to liberalizing elites Effect extends long after the end of college Effect extends long after the end of college Cause of this liberalization? Cause of this liberalization? a)Personal traits: temperament, family, intelligence b)Exposure to information on politics c)Liberalism of professors Effect is growing as more people go to college

Cleavages in Public Opinion IV:A-C Social Class Social Class Race and Ethnicity Race and Ethnicity Region Region Copyright © 2011 Cengage Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks to supporters. p. 164 Lester Cohen/WireImage.com/Getty Images

Regional Differences III:C (DW) The South is more Republican today, though Obama won Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Maryland in 2008 (DW) The South is more Republican today, though Obama won Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Maryland in 2008 The Northeast is Liberal The Northeast is Liberal The West Coast is liberal The West Coast is liberal The Upper Midwest is liberal leaning. The Upper Midwest is liberal leaning. The Western Midwest & Southern Midwest in conservative leaning The Western Midwest & Southern Midwest in conservative leaning

What Impacts Turnout?

/mon-may /on-topic--in-the- news---the-real-america /mon-may /on-topic--in-the- news---the-real-america Copyright © 2011 Cengage

What do we believe? Cross-cutting cleavages: Americans share some values but not all. A feminist agrees w/ a right-wing conservatives w/ regards to pornography, but little else. Americans share some values but not all. A feminist agrees w/ a right-wing conservatives w/ regards to pornography, but little else. Individuals are influenced by many factors, it is important when polling for this that variables are controlled Individuals are influenced by many factors, it is important when polling for this that variables are controlled

Political Ideology V:A-D Political ideology - A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue. Political ideology - A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue. Mass Ideologies: A Typology Mass Ideologies: A Typology Liberal and Conservative Elites Liberal and Conservative Elites Copyright © 2011 Cengage

press.org/typology/quiz/ press.org/typology/quiz/ Copyright © 2011 Cengage

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

Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policy VI:A-B Political elites – persons with a disproportionate share of political power. Political elites – persons with a disproportionate share of political power. Elites raise and frame political issues. Elites raise and frame political issues. Elites state the norms by which issues should be settled. Elites state the norms by which issues should be settled. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Political Spectrum Today On the far left you have Stalin & the far right you have Hitler Americans are centrists. Candidates who veer, seemingly, too far from the center are doomed to failure.

Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policy HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DO ELITES HAVE ON THE FOLLOWING? Racism Racism Sexism Sexism Economic problems Economic problems Crime Crime Drugs Drugs Foreign affairs Foreign affairs Copyright © 2011 Cengage

M E M O R A N D U M To: Cecilia Kennedy, U.S. Representative From: Ronald Edwards, legislative assistant Subject: Vote on comprehensive immigration reform The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) sought to stem illegal immigration by imposing penalties on employers who hire them, while permitting the estimated 3 million illegal immigrants at the time to attain legal status. Since then, however, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has quadrupled, while law enforcement efforts to punish employers or deport those immigrants have been minimal. Your district is not directly affected by immigration, but voters have concerns both about maintaining law and order, and providing economic opportunities for people who have resided in this country for many years. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. Your district contains a large proportion of first-generation Americans, who favor a “path to citizenship” for immigrants who have lived in this country for years, regardless of their legal status. 2. Illegal immigrants often take menial jobs that nobody else wants, and contribute to the U.S. economy by paying taxes and buying goods and services. 3. A “path to citizenship,” with fines and other penalties for being in the country illegally, is the most realistic option for individuals who have family and other long-term ties in the United States. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. Your party leaders oppose comprehensive immigration reform, saying that enhanced border security must be a higher priority. 2. Illegal immigrants take jobs away from native-born Americans and cost more in public services, such as education and emergency health care, than they contribute to the economy. 3. People who entered the country illegally must not be rewarded for breaking the law, and enforcement can be effective with sufficient resources. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Vote for bill? Vote against bill? Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?