1. Political Socialization
Why do we believe what we believe?

2. Political Ideology
Cohesive set of beliefs about Politics Public Policy, and the Role of the Government

3. Liberal v. Conservative
Government Regulation in Economy
Deregulation in the Economy
Expanded Social Welfare
Decrease Social Welfare programs
National Healthcare
Reduction Government influence in Healthcare
Pro Choice
Pro Life
Lower Taxes on Middle Class, raise taxes on the Wealthiest
Lower taxes across the Board

4. Political Socialization
The process of which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.
NUMBER ONE FACTOR!!!!!
*******FAMILY****
Other Factors

5. Gender Examples More men support military
More women consider sexual harassment a serious problem
Since ’60s, women vote Dem more than men, and vice versa
Not as significant of an indicator as marriage (married vs. unmarried)

6. Religion
Example
Protestants are more conservative on economic matters than Catholics or Jews
Jews tend to be liberal on economic and social issues than Catholics or Protestants
Catholics tend to be more liberal on economic issues than they are on social issues (Catholics becoming more conservative)

7. Race and Ethnicity Examples African Americans – 90% Democrats
Hispanic Americans – tend to affiliate with Democrats, but less likely than African Americans
Asian Americans – less liberal than Hispanic Americans or African Americans, but still consistently vote Democrat
White, more divided, fluctuates by election

9. Geographic Region Example East and West Coasts – more liberal
Mid-West – more conservative
Urban - liberal
South – s - Democrat “Solid South” but today they are primarily social conservatives
White Southerner always less liberal

10. Political Socialization
Political attitudes are grounded in values.
We learn these values by a process known as political socialization.
Many factors influence opinion formation
What are the factors that influence opinion?

11. Recently Seen on the AP Exam
Jewish People are more Liberal while Protestants are more Conservative
Whites are more Conservative while African Americans are more Liberal
Women are more likely to be democrats while men are more likely to be Republicans
Southern Citizens are more likely to be conservative while Northern Citizens are more likely to be democratic

12. The Mass Media
In 2004 over 40 percent of those polled regularly learned about the election of candidates from The Tonight Show, The Late Show, or The Daily Show

13. The Mass Media
Because of this Candidates are starting to go to popular talk shows to get their points to the public
Trump and Clinton were on with Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert

14. Social Media

15. Public Opinion
“ Is what the people think about an issue or set of issues at any given point in time”
Normally measured by polls
Interviews or surveys of a sampling of people
What are the problems of public opinion polling?

16. Public Opinion
The distribution of individual attitudes about a particular issue, candidate, political institution, etc.

17. George Gallup Developed “Gallup Polls” Started in 1932 1st “pollster”
Since 1936, agency has picked one general election result incorrect

18. Sampling Representative – must mirror population you want answer about
Random – give everyone an equal possibility of being sampled
Wording – questions can’t be leading
Straw poll – poor polling technique

19. Good or Bad Polls Word Questioning
A question which is poorly worded can result in flawed polls.
EX. Are you for or against killing innocent babies?
95% or Americans are against abortion

20. Sampling
You can’t poll everyone so you must find a way to get a sampling of people.
This can be taken advantage of by manipulating the sampling pool.
Best way to take a reliable sample is a scientific random sample
A method of a poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected
What is the problem with this?

21. Sampling Stratified Sampling-
Using census data are used to divide the country into four sampling regions. Sets of countries and standard metropolitan statistical areas are then randomly selected in proportion to the total national population
Quota System- In which a pollster makes sure the survey represents the make up of the city or county. 30% African American 15% Latino

22. Other Polls
Push Poll: telephone polls with ulterior motives; designed to give respondents some negative or even untruthful information about a candidate’s opponent to push them away from that candidate and toward the one paying for the poll.
Tracking Poll: conducted every 24 hours; small sample size
Exit Polls: conducted at selected polling places on Election Day.