2. Theories of U.S. Government, Or How you look at something determines how you see it!

3. “What is the role of public opinion in the formation of public policy?” Pluralism The Elite Theory

4. Public Opinion = Public Policy? Public Opinion: what “the People” want. Public Policy: what the government does. Does Public Opinion cause (or have an impact upon) Public Policy?

5. Public Opinion + ( government officials interest groups political parties campaigns and PACs lobby groups churches, non-profits, unions, corporations, etc media ) = Public Policy That’s Pluralism! “expressed through…” “articulated by…” “represented by…”

6. Most Presidents claim popular opinion doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter.

7. 1/4 1/2 “sub-elite” (1- 3 million people) “elite” (15,000 – 250,000 people) “Elite Theory” Imagine the top one million “most important” jobs in the US: - Not wealth, but the importance of their jobs. - Not riches, but function. - Not income, but impact.

8. Some members of the elite: Trump Oprah Gates Jennings Limbaugh CEO and Directors of “Churches, Non-profits, Unions, Corporations, etc” “revolving door” Not just elected representatives and government officials. (535 in Senate and House) – (15,000 – 250,000 jobs) ? How many can you name?

9. Does public opinion impact public policy? OR Do the elites (the “policy makers”) “shape,” “ influence,” or “control” public opinion?