1. Public Opinion
Ch 7 Reading

2. Beliefs and Behaviors:
Political Culture
Public Opinion
Political ideology
Political socialization
Polling

3. What is Public Opinion?
Def.: Politically relevant opinions held by ordinary citizens that they express openly.
Attitudes and opinions of a large group of people on particular issues

4. How Americans think Politically
Three major frames of reference shape public opinion:
Partisanship (Party Identification)
Ideological Leanings
Group Attachments

5. 1. Partisanship
Aka Party Identification: The personal sense of loyalty an individual may feel toward a particular political party.
2/3 of adults consider themselves Democrats or Republicans while 1/3 remain Independent

6. Party as a Lens
Political Party and identity shape views on issues not only on their merit, but based on who proposes them.
Ex.
Romneycare vs. Obamacare
Clinton’s intervention in Yugoslavia vs. Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq vs. Obama’s intervention in Libya

7. Party Loyalty
While on some level party members reflexively support their own party, there is history behind party membership that is long lived.
Ex.
Democrats support workers rights and social welfare, therefore receive great union and worker support
Republicans support tax cuts and pro-business policies, therefore receive support from business and financial sectors.

8. 2. Political Ideology
Def. Consistent pattern of opinion on particular issues that stems from a core belief or set of beliefs.
Liberal and Conservative on the Political Spectrum.

9. The Political Ideology Spectrum
Left
Right
Liberal
Conservative
Radical
Reactionary
Moderate

11. Dividing the Issues
In general, political issues can be divided into two categories:
Economic Issues:
Dealing with money, business, taxes, government regulation of business, Government spending, wealth distribution
Cultural (Social) Issues:
Dealing with society and the way people live, crime, morality, prison, liberties, rights

12. Liberals
Economic Liberals: Those who believe government should do more to assist people who have difficulty meeting their own economic needs.
Cultural (social) Liberals: Those who believe it is not government’s role to support traditional values at the expense of new ones.

13. Conservative
Economic Conservatives: Those who believe government tries to do too many things that should be left to private interests and economic markets.
Cultural (social) Conservatives: Those who believe government power should be used to uphold traditional values.
*Gov’t should not intervene to create economic/social equality

14. Moderate
The moderate tends to stand with different groups on an issue to issue basis or in a middle area between the liberal/ conservative extreme.
Slang – ‘center right’; ‘center left’

16. Libertarian
Libertarian: Economic conservative (no govt. interference), but Culturally liberal (complete freedom and rights for all)
*Favor little/no regulation beyond protection of property rights and voluntary trade

17. Populist
Support economic regulation on corporations to protect the working class
Social conservatives and religious; south and Midwest
William Jennings Bryan! You shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold…

18. Keynesian v. Supply-Side
Theories on marketplace regulation to guide monetary and fiscal policies promoted by the president, Congress and the Federal Reserve

19. 3. Group Orientations
Political Opinion is tied to a person’s group or groups in which they belong.
Different issues impact different groups differently, therefore the political opinion of members of those groups react accordingly.
Ex. Social security is important to seniors, while college tuition is important to young voters

20. Groups/Cleavages Religious Economic class Region Race and ethnicity
Gender
Age and generations

21. Religious Groups
Various religions and their teachings impact members of those religions on various issues.
Ex.
Abortion
Gay Marriage
Welfare programs for the poor
School prayer

22. Economic Class
Income and education impact political opinion on some issues.
Ex. Lower-income are more likely to support welfare and business regulation, while higher-income support free market and tax cuts.
But not others.
Ex. Union support and collective bargaining is high among blue-collar and factory workers, but not among white collar workers or farmers even though they may have similar income levels

23. Region
While not as cut-and-dried as in the past (think North and South Pre-civil war through the 1960s) region has an impact.
“Red States” (Republican Majority) are located in the South, Great Plains and Rocky Mts.
“Blue States” (Democratic Majority) are located in the North East, Midwest, and West Coast

26. Race and Ethnicity Major impact on civil rights and liberties issues
Ex. Black and Hispanic for Affirmative Action, less trusting of police and court system than non-Hispanic Whites
Opinions differ in regards to social welfare programs (in general, Black, Hispanic for, White against) but much is also due to income and education.

27. Gender
Men and Women tend to think alike in many issues, with some exceptions:
Affirmative Action: Women more pro, Men con
Social Welfare: Women pro education spending and welfare programs
Military Spending: Men pro use of military than women

28. Generations and Age
Different generations are shaped by the political environment they are born into. This shapes their public opinion.
Ex.
WWII generation: Civic Duty important
Vietnam generation: Mistrust of government
Also, issues that are important to one age group may be less important to another
Seniors: Social Security
Parents: Funding for Public Education
Young Adults: College debt

29. “Crosscutting Cleavages”
Americans identify with several different groups, (religion/gender/age). The identification with one group is lessened by belonging to another.
Exposure to members of different groups also lessens group identification.
This fact creates a tendency for political moderation in the U.S.

30. Agents of Socialization
Def. The agents that have a significant impact on citizens’ political socialization – Which is the lifelong process of by which people form their ideas about politics/acquire political values.
Primary Agents:
Parents and families (#1 influence!)
Schools
Religious Organizations
Peer Groups
Media
Leaders

31. Polling Characteristics of a valid, scientific public opinion poll:
Randomized sample
Representative sample
Question wording (unbiased, unambiguous)
Large sample size/low margin of error

32. Topics that are sensitive to social desirability bias:
Personal income and earnings, often inflated when low and deflated when high
Feelings of low self-worth and/or powerlessness, often denied
Religion, often either avoided or uncomfortably approached
Patriotism, either inflated or, if denied, done so with a fear of other party's judgment
Bigotry and intolerance, often denied, even if it exists within the responder
Intellectual achievements, often inflated
Indicators of charity or "benevolence", often inflated
Illegal acts, often denied

33. Types of Polls Opinion Polls Benchmark or Tracking Polls
Entrance and Exit Polls

35. Polling
Factors that enhance the influence of public opinion on how Congressmen vote
Strong public opinion as expressed in polling results
Because of the desire to get reelected
Perceived obligation to represent their constituents
Competitive reelections

36. Polling
Factors that limit influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress:
Legislators’ voting records – to avoid being perceived as indecisive by voters/supporters
Party leadership
To avoid the risk of losing party support
To gain party support

37. Limits on the Public’s Influence
Often public opinion is contradictory
Lower Taxes, More Government Action
Also, the public may be uninformed or misinformed on many topics

38. Public Opinion and Boundaries of Action
Because of strong public opinion on certain issues, they are considered politically untouchable (called the 3rd Rail, referring to the electrified subway rail you should not touch!)
Social Security: reforms in 1980s and 2000s went nowhere
Military spending/closing military bases

39. Leaders and Public Opinion
Despite limitations on Public Opinion, leaders do have room to maneuver
Often leaders can take advantage of public misinformation/apathy to push their agendas
Leaders can also use their positions to drive public opinion in the direction they desire