1. Public Opinion Ch 7 AP Government

2. Defined Public opinion is the opinion of a significant number of people on an issue Middle America = middle class Silent majority = conservatives

3. Limits on Public Opinion Many publics Many opinions Ignorance, do not know the issue Regionality (urban-rural) Culture/class differences Methods of measuring

4. Where does your opinion come from? Family #1 Friends School Religious beliefs Economic/social status Education Gender

5. Cleavages Differences Why a person doesn’t fit into one group Social class Race/ethnicity Region (where you live)

6. Polling Straw polls—not very accurate Simple questions Scientific polling—very accurate Small number of people needed to poll the entire nation

7. Scientific Polling 5 parts 1. Determine universe 2. Determine sample 3. Write valid questions 4. Conduct valid poll 5. Analyze/report results

8. Public Opinion and Ideology Opinions are general Ideologies narrow it down Political Ideology Definition– a consistent set of beliefs on issues and politics.

9. Political Ideology Liberal Conservative Consistent stance on economic and social issues Can be mixed

10. Variations of Ideology Pure Liberals S=liberal E=liberalLibertarians S=liberal E=conservative Populists S=conservative E=liberal Pure Conservatives S=Conservative E=Conservative

11. Elites Do not fit into one of the 4 categories of ideology Have a connection to government or great influence by/on it. Affect the public agenda