Take the Comparative “Quiz” with your partner. Bell Ringer

Polling & Test Review

Today we will …  Examine the usefulness of opinion polling, including exit polls  Review demographic data to determine the likelihood of liberal & conservative ideology  Review civil rights policies & the impact on AA voting patterns  Review for Unit 3 Test Polling video & opinion poll partner activity Exit polls & voter demographics African American voting patterns & practice FRQ ObjectivesAgenda

Public Opinion  What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at a given time  ons/pros-and-cons-of- public-opinion-polls- jason-robert-jaffe ons/pros-and-cons-of- public-opinion-polls- jason-robert-jaffe  Cleavages  Social Class  Race and ethnicity  Region

How do we measure public opinion?  Scientific Polling  Random Samples  Representative Sample  Question Wording  Large Sample Size gives a lower margin of error

Check for understanding  What do we call the group pf people that respond to questions during a public opinion poll?  Why do people tend to give socially desirable answers to poll questions?

Scientific Polling  PEW 2014 Midterm polls, Topline Questionnaire2014Topline Questionnaire  Random sample of entire population  Comprehensible ?  Questions asked fairly  Categories carefully considered  Sampling difference, sampling error

Check for understanding  What are two characteristics of a valid scientific, public opinion poll?

Usefulness of Polling Results  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.  Polls influence Congress Explain why strong public opinion, as expressed in polling results, influence the voting decisions of members of Congress  Polls have limited influence on Congress Legislator’s voting records Party Leadership

Pair Activity How might public opinion influence the voting decisions of members of Congress during competitive re-elections? 1. Each partner will have a poll of support for Medicaid expansion in Virginia. 2. Use questions 1, 2 and 5 to help you analyze the information. 3. Answer the question 6 together & be ready to share your findings. What is your reaction to each article’s polling data & polling questions? Did it persuade you of anything? Va. legislators approve budget deal, reject Medicaid expansion - The Washington Post

Political Elites  How do they influence public opinion?  Elite: people who have disproportionate amount of some valued resource- money, schooling, prestige, athletic ability, political power, etc. Activists: hold office, run for office, work in campaigns/ newspapers, social movements, speaking out. -  Higher rates of participation come w/more information  Association with like-minded people  Elites direct attention to topics

What can they tell us about who participates and their ideologies? Demographics

Changing Demographics  Race/Ethnicity  Age  Family/Family Size  Gender Composition of Workforce

Demographic Chart:  Gender  Religion  Region  Race  Education  Random sample of entire population  Comprehensible ?  Questions asked fairly  Categories carefully considered  Sampling difference, sampling error What does the chart say about:Polling

Look at past demo data Age, income, religion, education, gender

Who participates in Politics?  Who is more likely to be politically active?  College educated High level of political information? More control over time  Older than 45  Regular religious involvement  Participation could be increased by  Automatic registration  Compulsory voting laws  Political party strength

Democrat v Republican Voters Examine the exit poll demographic data from the presidential election of  What “type” of person was more likely to vote for Gore/Democrat?  What “type” of person was more likely to vote for Bush/Republican?  Annotate your Right vs. Left handout with the information you uncover.

Check for understanding  Draw a picture of a “typical” Conservative & Liberal.

African American Voting Patterns

15 th Amendment  “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.  "The first vote" A.R. Waud. Wood engraving The first vote

1965 Voting Rights Act  A Time for Justice: 3 min and 11 minutes A Time for Justice:  What kind of discrimination did African Americans face concerning suffrage?  In what other ways did African Americans participate in the political process other than voting?

Be sure to answer all the parts of the question. What does the question ask, define or explain? Use specific content vocabulary & avoid generalizations. You are proving what you know! US FRQ

CLOSURE/ HOMEWORK  FRQ - US  What is the difference between political culture and public opinion?  What factors contribute to the likelihood of voting?  Governmental requirements decrease/ increase voter turnout  Public opinion polls influence law makers behavior  Discrimination of African Americans in the political process, 15 th amendment  FRQ - Comparative  Define Welfare states  Influence of Colonialism  Social Cleavages choose a country, what methods does a country use to respond to that cleavage?