1. 6 Pump Primer List some of the political views likely to be taken by liberals and conservatives.

3. 6 Public Opinion and Political Action

4. 6 Biblical Integration Government’s God—given functions and boundaries The Christian and propaganda Christians need to weigh the origins, influence, and purpose of most opinion polls. (John 12:42-43) There are times when public opinion may not be the best for the overall good of society (Ex. 32:19-24; Matt. 27:17-24)

5. Video: The Big Picture http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch06_Public_Opinion_Se g1_v2.html 6

6. 6 Learning Objectives Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics Outline how various forms of socialization shape political opinions 6.1 6.2

7. 6 Learning Objectives Explain how polls are conducted and what can be learned from them about American public opinion Assess the influence of political ideology on Americans’ political thinking and behavior 6.3 6.4

8. 6 Learning Objectives Classify forms of political participation into two broad types Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior 6.5 6.6

9. Video: The Basics http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_PoliticalOpinion_v2.html 6

10. The American People  Immigrant Society  American Melting Pot  Regional Shift  Graying of America 6.1

11. NASCAR and Census advertising 6.1 In an attempt to get more people to fill out their Census forms, the Census Bureau advertised heavily in 2010. One controversial allocation of money was $1.2 million to sponsor NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Critics said this was a ridiculous use of taxpayer money. In response, Census director Robert Groves argued that millions of Americans followed NASCAR races and that an increase in the initial response to the Census of just 0.1 percent could cut the cost of conducting the Census by $8.5 million. Do you think this was a good idea or a waste of taxpayer money?

12. Immigrant Society  A nation of nations 1 million legal immigrants/year 500,000 illegal immigrants/year 12% of residents foreign-born  Waves of immigration Northwest Europe (English, Irish, Scottish, Germans, Scandinavians) Southern and Eastern Europe (Italians, Jews, Poles, Russians) Hispanics (Cuba, Central America, Mexico) Asians (Vietnam, Korea, Philippines, India) 6.1

13. Immigrant Society  Restrictions on Immigration Open door policy Anyone could immigrate from anywhere. Laws limiting undesirable immigrants (1875) Criminals, prostitutes, lunatics, diseased Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) First ban on immigration by a specific race or ethnicity Johnson-Reid Immigration Act (1924) Congress established quotas based on national origin Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act (1965) Quotas were scrapped Family integration – good or bad idea? 6.1

14. American Melting Pot  Melting Pot  Immigrants from all over the world assimilate into American culture  Minority majority  Estimated by 2050, minority groups combined should pass 50 percent  Hispanic population fastes growing minority group 6.1

15. Video Clip: Schoolhouse Rock - Melting Pot 6.1

16. FIGURE 6.1: The coming minority majority 6.1

17. American Melting Pot  Reluctant immigrants – African Americans 13% of population 26% still live in poverty Political power increasing  Simpson-Mazzoli Act (1986) Forbids employers from knowingly employing illegal immigrants 6.1

18. Border fence 6.1 As of 2012, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States was estimated to be at least 11.5 million, 76 percent of whom were from Mexico. Here, a border patrol car patrols along the fence between Arizona and Mexico.

19. American Melting Pot  Political culture and assimilation  There’s always concern that new groups will not assimilate. This concern has been unfounded in the past, but it remains a persistent fear that leads to negative attitudes toward immigrants. 6.1

20. Regional Shift  Northeast most populous  West and South growing since WWII Sun Belt migration Arizona, Texas, Florida Political power of these areas increasing  Reapportionment practice of reallocating House seats after each census Every 10 years 6.1

21. Graying of America  Over-65 fastest growing age group  People living longer  Fertility rate lower  Implications for Social Security Ratio changing By 2040, there will be only about two workers per retiree Politically-sensitive 6.1

22. 6.1 What kind of regional population shift is America experiencing? a.From Northeast to Southwest b.From Northwest to Southeast c.From Southwest to Northeast d.From Midwest to Northeast 6.1

23. 6.1 What kind of regional population shift is America experiencing? a.From Northeast to Southwest b.From Northwest to Southeast c.From Southwest to Northeast d.From Midwest to Northeast 6.1

24. Video: In Context http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_PoliticalParticipation_v2.htm l 6.1

25. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization  Process of Political Socialization  Political Learning over a Lifetime 6.2

26. Process of Political Socialization  Civics class tip of iceberg The most influential learning is informal, through attitudes you pick up and absorb.  Family The most influential learning is informal, through attitudes you pick up and absorb. Central role Time and emotional commitment 6.2

27. Process of Political Socialization  Mass media The new parents (and teachers) Age gap in following politics  Public School Forming civic virtue Educated to have a positive view of the U.S. political system, and to value free enterprise and democracy. More educated citizens are, the more likely they are to vote and to be tolerant of opposing opinions. 6.2

28. Political Learning over a Lifetime  Increasing participation with age  Party identification strengthens  Political behaviour is learned 6.2

29. FIGURE 6.2: Turnout increases with age 6.2

30. 6.2 What is the most important agent of political socialization in the U.S.? a.Government b.Family c.School d.Profession 6.2

31. 6.2 What is the most important agent of political socialization in the U.S.? a.Government b.Family c.School d.Profession 6.2

32. Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_PublicOpinion_v2.html 6.2

33. 2008 Uncut: Polling 101” Youtube.com 13 June 2008. Web. 2 Sept. 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2j9SnkIAV4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2j9SnkIAV4 6.3

34. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information  How Polls Are Conducted  Role of Polls in American Democracy  What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information  Decline of Trust in Government 6.3

35. How Polls Are Conducted  Sample Expensive and time-consuming Small sample of the population  Random sample Random digit dialing Cell phones Accurate representation of the whole population Equal chance  Sampling error - certain amount of risk  Internet polling 6.3

36. “Hardball Discussion On NH Exit Polling” Youtube.com. 9 Jan 2008. Web. 2 Sept. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v 6.3

37. Roll of Polls in American Democracy  Polling as a tool for democracy: pros and cons Gauge opinion between elections Following rather than leading Pandering or shaping? Bandwagon effect  Exit polls Affect election results  Question wording 6.3

38. Exit Polls In exit polls, voters are asked questions just after they have voted. The media uses these polls to predict winners, as well as to understand the sorts of people who voted for particular candidates.

39. Video: In the Real World http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_PublicOpinion_v2.html 6.3

40. What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information  Americans are uninformed Jeffersonian faith in wisdom of common people unfounded Young people most uninformed  Who is responsible for the ill-informed electorate? Is it the schools’ fault? Is it the media’s fault?  Paradox of mass politics Single-Issue voters Like-minded Candidate 6.3

41. Decline of Trust in Government  The great slide Vietnam War Watergate Economy/hostage crisis of 1970’s Brief uptick in public trust after 9/11  Is public cynicism good or bad for democracy? Politicians  Serving public interest?  Keeps them on their toes Negative effect on programs for poor  Lack of support 6.3

42. FIGURE 6.4: Decline of trust in government, 1958-2012 6.3 This graph shows how people have responded over time to the following question: How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right—just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Why is “never” missing from the choices? How would you respond?

43. 6.3 What is the problem with exit polls? a.They are usually inaccurate b.They don’t poll every voter c.They influence election results d.None of the above 6.3

44. 6.3 What is the problem with exit polls? a.They are usually inaccurate b.They don’t poll every voter c.They influence election results d.None of the above 6.3

45. Explore the Simulation: You Are a Polling Consultant http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_longman_media _1/2013_mpsl_sim/simulation.html?simulaURL=11 6.3

46. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies  Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?  Do People Think in Ideological Terms? 6.4

47. TABLE 6.1: How to tell a liberal from a conservative 6.4

48. Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?  Conservatives dominate 41% conservative/21% liberal Younger people less conservative Minorities less conservative Wealthy more conservative Gender gap Men more conservative Single omen less conservative Religious more conservative Regions Rural area more conservative Metropolitan area less conservative 6.4

49. Do People Think in Ideological Terms?  Types of voters Ideologues  Political ideology - a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy  Republicans - favor lower taxes or smaller government  Democrats - favor stronger regulations or liberal social policies Group benefits  Voters pick a party based on group identification Nature of the times  Party in power in good times  Other party when times are tough No issue content  Routinely vote for the same party  Candidate whose personality appeals to them. 6.4

50. Do People Think in Ideological Terms?  Ideology of limited importance Follow-up surveys have found fewer than a quarter of voters using purely ideological criteria for voting. Voters are not ideologically consistent  a victory by one party or the other is not a mandate for the ideological agenda of that party. Seen as threat to family 6.4

51. Some commentators feel that America is in the midst of a culture war. Others disagree, saying that societal attitudes have warmed toward gays and lesbians over the past 25 years. Why do you think there is increasing acceptance of homosexuality in the U.S.? FIGURE 6.5: Changing attitudes toward gays and lesbians 6.4

52. 6.4 Americans identify most with which political ideology? a.Moderate b.Liberal c.Democrat d.Conservative 6.4

53. 6.4 Americans identify most with which political ideology? a.Moderate b.Liberal c.Democrat d.Conservative 6.4

54. How Americans Participate in Politics  Conventional Participation  Protest as Participation  Class, Inequality, and Participation 6.5

55. Conventional Participation  Conventional participation Voting Running for office Collecting signatures for a petition  Unconventional participation Protesting Civil disobedience Violence 6.5

56. Lunch counter sit-in 6.5 Nonviolent civil disobedience was one of the most effective techniques of the civil rights movement in the American South. Young African Americans and white supporters sat at “whites only” lunch counters to protest segregation.

57. Protest as Participation  Drawing attention Protests attract the media Rare compared to contacting government officials  Civil disobedience Breaking unjust laws peacefully  Civil rights activists  Violence ■ Racists – Civil Rights ■ Vietnam Protestors ■ Wall Street Protestors 6.5

58. Kent State 6.5 In one of the best- known images of American political violence from the Vietnam War era, a Kent State student lies dead, one of four killed when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed anti– Vietnam War demonstrators.

59. Class, Inequality, and Participation  Higher socio-economic status = higher participation rates African Americans would participate less than whites Minorities vote at nearly equal levels  What are the policy implications of lower political participation? 6.5

60. 6.5 What is the most common form of political participation? a.Voting b.Writing to elected officials c.Working on campaigns d.Protesting 6.5

61. 6.5 What is the most common form of political participation? a.Voting b.Writing to elected officials c.Working on campaigns d.Protesting 6.5

62. Explore Public Opinion: How Are People Involved in Politics? http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_edwards_mpslgi a_16/pex/pex6.html 6.5

63. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action  Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government  Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action 6.6

64. Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government  Should government do more or less? In peacetime, most Americans say “less” Many believe it tries to do too many things—some of which should be left up to individuals and businesses.  But public opinion is complex and inconsistent Ideological conservatives Operational liberals Policy gridlock 6.6

65. Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action  Representative democracy Citizens decide who governs Americans takes freedom of the vote for granted  Is public fit to choose its leaders? Yes and No The public is undoubtedly not making the decisions it would make if it were better informed The public has a general sense of whether things are going well or poorly and holds politicians at least minimally accountable by voting them out when things are not going well. 6.6

66. 6.6 Do a majority of Americans favor more or less government? a.More b.Less c.About the same as we have currently d.It is unclear what the public wants 6.6

67. 6.6 Do a majority of Americans favor more or less government? a.More b.Less c.About the same as we have currently d.It is unclear what the public wants 6.6

68. Discussion Question Why do we say that Americans are ideological conservatives but operational liberals? What role does political ideology play in public opinion? Would it be better or worse for the public interest if Americans were more ideologically consistent? 6

69. Video: So What? http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA _1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch06_Public_Opinion_Seg6_v 2.html 6

70. 6 Political Culture/Media Unit Advanced Level Specific examples of political values and how these values are represented by the 2 political parties Analyze the role of media and its impact on politics- specific examples of agenda setting, watchdog and scorekeeper roles. Intermediate Knowledge  Clear understanding of 5 political values in American Political Culture  Understands at least 3 agents of political socialization  Comprehends how the media covers the 3 branches of government  Understands why investigative journalism is controversial  Clear understanding of 5 political values in American Political Culture  Understands at least 3 agents of political socialization  Comprehends how the media covers the 3 branches of government  Understands why investigative journalism is controversial Basic Knowledge  Basic understanding of the definition of Political Culture  Basic understanding of how Americans are socialized to the values of American political culture  Understanding of what role media plays in American politics  Basic understanding of the definition of Political Culture  Basic understanding of how Americans are socialized to the values of American political culture  Understanding of what role media plays in American politics

71. 6 “2008 Uncut: Polling 101” Youtube.com 13 June 2008. Web. 2 Sept. 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2j9SnkIAV4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2j9SnkIAV4 Excerpt from “Most Don’t Know What ‘Public Option’ Is,” August 27, 2009, http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/08/poll-most-dont-know- what-public-option.html. Used with permission. “Great American Melting Pot, The” Youtube.com 27 Aug 2008. Web. 2 Spet 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32l3sTFRFX8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32l3sTFRFX8 “Hardball Discussion On NH Exit Polling” Youtube.com. 9 Jan 2008. Web. 2 Sept. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v US Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/files/nation/sum mary/np2008-t4.xls. Works Cited