1. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
part 2
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

2. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Reminder
The symbol of the The symbol of the
Republican Party Democratic Party
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

3. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
In general
Party identification has tended to be the
most important influence on a person’s vote
in presidential elections
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

4. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Since 1980
Women more likely than men to vote . . .
Democratic in presidential elections
This has become known as the “Gender Gap”
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

5. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
In recent times
Men more likely than women to identify
themselves as Republicans
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

6. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
In general
People with higher income are
more likely to consider themselves to be
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

7. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
However . . .
In general, “social class” has become
less predictive of political behavior
than it used to be.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

8. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
In general
As compared to rural voters,
urban voters are more likely to vote for
Democrats
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

9. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Since 1952
The largest increase in voter registrations
has been . . .
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

10. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Certain Groups
African American Democrats tend to
support more liberal candidates in the party
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

11. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Certain Groups
Jewish people tend to be more liberal than the average voter and tend to support
Democrats
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

12. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Certain Groups
Catholic voters have tended to be more liberal on economic issues than Protestants
But the overall ideological gap between the
two groups has narrowed over time
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

13. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Certain Groups
Over the past few decades “religiosity”
has become more influential in
determining a person’s ideology
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

14. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Certain Groups
In the “Latino” category . . .
Voters of Cuban descent tend to be more
supportive of
than people of
other backgrounds
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

15. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Leading predictor of how a person will vote
in a congressional election . . .
PARTISANSHIP Party affiliation
rather than
- newspaper endorsements
- gender
- presidential endorsement
- occupation
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

16. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Since 1972, voters in presidential elections . . .
Have become more focused on
individual candidates
rather than
- TV debates
- party platforms
- print media
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

17. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Compared to general population. . .
Delegates to presidential nomination
conventions are more ideological
and more highly educated
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

18. A bit of simplification . . .
Some
Differences
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

19. Liberals & Conservatives
Military Spending
Believe we should spend less
Believe we should maintain
peace through strength
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

20. Liberals & Conservatives
Use of Military Force
More likely to support military
intervention around the world
Less willing to commit troops
to action
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

21. Liberals & Conservatives
On Abortion
Support “right to life”
Support “freedom of choice”
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

22. Liberals & Conservatives
Prayer in Public Schools
Are opposed
Are supportive
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

23. Liberals & Conservatives
Affirmative Action
Favor
Oppose
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

24. Liberals & Conservatives
Scope of Government
Favor free market
solutions
View government as a
regulator in the public interest
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

25. Liberals & Conservatives
Taxes
Want to tax
the rich more
Want to keep
taxes low
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

26. Liberals & Conservatives
Government Spending
Want to keep
spending low
Want to spend
more on the poor
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

27. Liberals & Conservatives
How to Cut Crime
Believe we should
stop “coddling criminals”
Believe we should solve the
problems that cause crime
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

28. Liberals & Conservatives
Defendants’ Rights
Believe we should
guard them carefully
Believe we should stop
letting criminals hide
behind laws
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

29. Liberals & Conservatives
Favorite Presidents
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

30. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
a 2000 Study . . .
Some
Differences
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

31. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Liberal or Very Liberal
32%
16%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

32. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Favor investing Social Security funds
in the stock market
45%
71%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

33. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Spending on education should
be increased
53%
81%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

34. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Military spending should be increased
35%
65%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

35. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Spending to protect the environment
should be increased
77%
59%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

36. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior
Young v. Old
Favor government policies to
reduce income differences
42%
61%
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior