1. Opinions and Politics

2. Public Opinion & Public Policy
Public Opinion – the attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics
Public Policy – All of the many goals that a government pursues in all the many areas of human affairs (school, warfare, trade)
If politicians want to be re-elected, they make public policy based on public opinion as much as possible

3. Public Opinion There are many Publics of people
Publics refer to a group of people who share a common attitude on a matter
Membership of groups shift from topic to topic
Public opinion is specific to attitudes on Public Affairs
Politics
Public issues
Legislation
Enforcement

4. Public Opinions
Opinions are formed through a combination of differing agents of socialization
Family
School
Media
Peers
Opinion Leaders
History

5. Measuring Public Opinion
Public opinion polls
Devices that attempt to collect information about people’s attitudes on public affairs
Straw polls
Ask huge numbers the same question
Not scientific
Not reliable because the sample group is too narrow

6. Measuring Public Opinion
Public opinion polls
Devices that attempt to collect information about people’s attitudes on public affairs
Scientific polling
Five step process
Define the population (group) you want to study
Construct a sample of about 1,500 people (yeah, that small works!)
Create carefully worded questions
Interview the sample group
Analyze the findings
Fairly reliable at the national level

7. Political Parties Linking People to Politics
The goal of political parties is to try to influence government through getting members elected to office
There are two strong political parties in the USA
Democrats
Left wing
Liberal
Republicans
Right wing
Conservative
Most people in the USA are MODERATES; in between far left wing and far right wing

8. Political Parties Linking People to Politics
There are four reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA
History
Not mentioned in the Constitution
Started almost immediately after Constitution was signed
Tend to moderate, not alienate
Tradition
It is important because it’s always been important
Distrust of a third party

9. Political Parties Linking People to Politics
There are four reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA
Electoral System
Winner take all system
Favors the major players
Third party vote is “wasted vote”
Close political ideology
No large communist element
No large fascist element
Mostly all center-right republican element

10. Political Parties Linking People to Politics
There are five basic activities parties do
Nominating candidates
Informing and Activating members
Campaigning
Getting out the vote!
“Bonding” Agent
Guaranteeing the actions of elected officials
Makes sure they “do the right thing”
Governing
Organization of legislatures to pass the “right” laws
Watchdog
Pointing out the mistakes of the other party

11. Elections Linking People to Politics
Claiming a Mandate
When a political party wins a lot of the elections
When an individual wins by a lot of points
Politicians claim that the people DEMAND that they carry out their versions of public policy

12. Elections Linking People to Politics
Cool things other states have that PA doesn’t
Initiative
The PEOPLE can introduce laws, not just the legislature
Referendum
The PEOPLE can pass laws, not just the legislature
Recall
The people can demand new elections to get rid of elected politicians, not just wait until the next election day

13. Elections Linking People to Politics
Voter turnout in USA is low compared to most other democratic nations
Mostly because of lack of interest
Even lower in the years we don’t elect a president
People get disappointed in politics
Nothing changes
Only the rich can afford to run for office

14. Mass Media Linking People to Politics
Mass Media – is communication that reaches a large audience.
This includes:
television,
radio,
advertising,
movies
Goals of the mass media
Inform the public
Entertain the public
(so they buy the medium and
the company makes money)
the Internet,
newspapers,
magazines
and so forth.

15. Mass Media Linking People to Politics
Media play large roles in
Setting public agenda
What the public feels is a big problem that needs immediate attention
Focus on certain news items, downplay others
Doesn’t often change opinions on the solutions to the problems
Doesn’t often change opinions on voting
More informed people tend to not be influenced as much

16. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Interest Group – an organization which tries to influence public policy by influencing those people who get elected to office, NOT by getting themselves elected to office

17. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Interest Groups are different than political parties
IG do NOT nominate candidates – they support them
IG are concerned with influencing policy, not controlling government
IG have a narrow focus on issues
Private organizations

18. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Types
Economic
Business groups
Labor groups
(Special) Issue-oriented
Devoted to a special cause
Examples
Saving endangered species
Rights to use medical marijuana
Rights to own guns

19. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Types
Public Interest
Special interests of the members
To benefit all people
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Private interest groups
Raise money
To influence the results of elections

20. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Types
Group Organizations
Segments of the population
Examples
AARP (retired people)
Veterans groups

21. Interest Groups Linking People to Politics
Working the system
Lobbyists
People who try to persuade politicians to favor their cause
Most are professionals
Try to influence politicians
At all levels of government
National
State
All branches of government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial