Agenda Give out Study Guide Where do you stand? discussion Notes Public Opinion/ Socialization Notes Ideology World’s Smallest Pol. Quiz Notes Polling Colbert Clip HW: Rdg. Ch Reapportionment Article

Political Culture Def: set of widely shared political beliefs and values Values/Beliefs about Political System – Liberty – Equality-oppurtunity/due process/equal protection – Individualism (limits on this?) – Democracy/Pop. Consent – Civic Duty – Justice – Nationalism/Idealism If ideals shared, why so much conflict?

Sources of Pol. Culture Experience with British: mistrust authority/power Political Parties/Linkage Institutions Religious Diversity Family Values Class Inherent conflict – Personal freedom v. control – Majority v. minority rights

Where Do You Stand? War in Afghanistan National Security Rights of Terror Suspects Nuclear Weapons Immigration Gun Control Debt Campaign Finance Policy Towards Iran/N. Korea The Death Penalty Gay Marriage Global Warming Abortion Healthcare Affirmative Action Welfare Syria Tax Policy English = Nat’l Language

Public Opinion Where Do You Stand on the Issues?

Political Socialization – Process thru which a person acquires their knowledge, feelings, & evaluations of the pol. World (political values)…continual process Public Opinion = End result of this process

Influences on Political Socialization Family – Most influential earlier in life – Trend of passing on party ID ↓, why? Media – Huge increase w/ internet; 24 hr. news cycle – Narrowcasting School/Education – National values – Liberalizing effect of college – Higher levels of participation Peers & Social Groups Growing influence around High School

Influences on Political Socialization Region Political Events – Major events shift thinking—New Deal; 9/11 Religion – Catholics/Jews—Liberal – Protestant/Evangelicals—Conservative Occupation – Professors/Lawyers—Liberal – Oil Industry/Defense--Conservative

Impact of Demographics Age – Youth: More liberal; Least likely to vote – Elderly: Highest pol. Participation; Conserv. Gender – Gender Gap: Women more liberal – Men more conservative Income Level – Wealthier—more conservative Race – Minorities—more liberal

What’s Meant by Liberal & Conservative Ideology: – Coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, & role of government – Measure in terms of frequency of self-identification – Gives meaning to pol. events/policies/personalities

What is Meant by Liberal & Conservative Left…Liberals – Pol. & Social Reform – Govt. Reg. of Economy – Support equality for women, minorities, poor – Nat’l Healthcare – Pro-Choice – Loose Constructionist – Judicial Activism Right…Conservative – Expansion U.S. military power – Less Govt. Reg. of Econ. – Free-Market Econ. – Private Health Insurance – Pro-Life – Strict Constructionist – Judicial Restraint Elites & Activists (Ideologues) : More Consistent Ideologies More informed Intensity of beliefs Dealignment Trend of more Americans moving to center on pol. spectrum

What is Public Opinion? Def: – Attitudes about instit., leaders, issues, & events – Specific groups thoughts about a certain policy issue or event at a given point in time Unstable Many Americans Uninformed Subject to many influences…What influences public opinion? Uses – Measure popularity/success of policy – Define issues & guide decisions What influences public opinion? Groups? History of trying to infl. pub. opinion – Ex. Federalist Papers

Measuring Public Opinion How are Ideology, Socialization, & Public Opinion related? How is public opinion measured? – Polls – Elections – Interest Groups – Media Coverage

What are polls? What are polls used for? – Measure of public opinion – Track/monitor short term developments; influence strategy Key Elements to Scientific Polling – Picking a sample…is it representative? Random Sampling – What is an effective sample size? – Contact: When/How?...phone/face to face Exit Polls – Phrasing Questions…avoid bias – Questions must provide an option – Findings influenced by the process – Pens & Polls: Nicaragua’s 1 st Dem. Election – Analyze & Report Data – Margin of Error

Political Polls Tracking Polls: – Monitor short term developments and impact strategies (daily) – Small samples Exit Polls – Election Day… – What’s a common criticism of Exit Polls? Polls: A tool for democracy? – Provide way for public to express its opinions – Enables politicians to implement public preferences on key issues

Criticisms of Polls Polls transform leaders into followers Distort Election Process – Bandwagon Effect; Exit Polls Bandwagon Effect: polls can influence people to support a candidate simply because they see others doing so – Media & Polls Influences Elections/how public perceives an issue Iowa Straw Poll Sampling Error/Quality of Sample Sample’s knowledge of topic – Can’t measure intangibles (sample’s intensity/ stability of beliefs) Power of wording Colbert Interviews Frank Luntz Frank Luntz: The G.O.P. Whisperer

Power of Words…Frank Luntz Language Error: “Estate Tax” Adjustment: “Death Tax” Language Error: “Relaxed Air Quality Standards” Adjustment: “Clear Skies Initiative” Language Error: “Smaller Government” Adjustment: “More Effective & Efficient Govt.” Language Error: “Control the growth of Social Security & Medicare” Adjustment: “Save & Strengthen Entitlements”

Media and Public Opinion How does the media play a role in public opinion? – Agenda Setting (Gatekeeper) – Bias – Source of Pol. Info – Differences between media Criticisms of media – Oversimplify complex issues – Reduce major stories to sound-bites – Focus on the sensational & trivial – Constant polling leads to… Polls: Telling America What to Think

Pew Research Polls: Partisan Politics, Distrust in Government…What gives?

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