1. Polling Public Opinion v. political culture Unbiased Random Sample Stratified Sample Sampling Error/Margin of Error

2. Distribution of public opinion Skewed Bimodal Normal Stability of public opinion Ideology - Liberal, Conservative, Populism, Libertarianism, Communitarianism

3. Sources of Ideology Political socialization -Primacy principle -Structuring principle Parents, school Personal characteristics used to predict political views (education, income, region, race, religion, gender)

4. Political information Predictors of political knowledge (on average) -Gender, race, wealth and age

5. Most important problem (Gallup, Sept. 2009) Economy in general 29% Health care26% (6% in 2008) Unemployment15% Dissatisfaction with Government10% Federal Budget Deficit9% Iraq War8% (18% in 2008)

6. Voter turnout Percentage of eligible voters who showed up to vote in presidential elections 2012: 57.5% 2008: 62.3% 2004: 60.4% 2000: 54.2% In 1960 it was 65%

7. Voting in “off year” elections 2000-2010: between 37% and 43% of eligible voters turned out. In 1960 the percentage was about 50%. So some decline since 1960.

8. Costs and benefits of voting Registering to vote Benefits: no longer material –May influence the outcome (unlikely) –Psychic benefits (intangible rewards)

9. Who votes? Who doesn’t? Age Wealth Education Race Status of your party in the district/state

10. Declining turnout: why? Turnout, while rising in recent years, was higher in the 1960s than it is today WHY? Lower personal benefits Decreased mobilization efforts by parties, campaigns and social movements Americans less “socially connected” than they used to be

11. Other forms of participation, besides voting Donate money to campaigns Volunteer for a campaign Attend a political rally Contact a public official These forms of participation are skewed by age and income. Older and richer more likely to participate when it comes to donating money, writing a letter to a public official, but younger citizens more likely to attend a rally/demonstration or sign a petition