1. Public Opinion
Wilson 7A

2. Objective Questions To What Ends? Who Governs?
How does public opinion in America today vary by race, gender, and other differences?
What is political ideology, and how does it affect political behavior and influence public policy?
What role did the Framers of the Constitution think public opinion should play in American democracy?
When, if ever, should public policies mirror majority opinion?

3. Political Cleavages
Ideology
Party
Race
Gender

4. World’s Smallest Political Quiz

5. Preamble Goals Big picture Six listed Perfect union Justice
Domestic tranquility
Common defense
General welfare
Liberty
Represent people’s wants
Make day-to-day choices
Often not the same
Public ignorance
Common values

6. Public Opinion How people feel or think about particular things
Systematically measured
1900 – corporations and marketers
1940 – political scientists
Vague knowledge
Limited information
Good decisions

7. Political Polling Survey public opinion Asking good questions (what)
Ask about the right things (how)
A point in time (when)
Random sampling (who)
As a measure of the entire population
Large enough to overcome errors
Call screening
Low response
Exit polls on election day

8. Poll Results Opinions differ Saliency – how strong someone feels
Stability – volatility of opinion
Congruency – correspondence between government action and majority sentiment
Socialization – background traits
Elites – those with disproportionate power know more about politics and are more consistent

9. Political Socialization
Children follow parents
Younger voters more independent
Stronger in some families
More in the past
Varies with class, race, gender, religion, age
Differences in theological position
More pronounced in social issues
Men (R), Women (D)
Job experience, education
College tends to have a liberalizing effect

10. Free Response
Using the information in the table, and your knowledge of US politics, perform the following two tasks.
List 3 groups that were significant in President Clinton’s electoral coalition and explain why each was important.
Describe the problems that President Clinton has in sustaining a winning coalition.
What constituencies do the present two candidates have within the electorate.