1. Public Opinion and Political Action
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Edwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry
Chapter 6
Public Opinion and Political Action

2. What is America’s Opinion?
The main problem with public opinion is that Americans are UNINFORMED!
We cannot guide public policy if we don’t know and understand the issues
In recent years, the implementation of health care proved this point: people opposed a policy they knew little or nothing about, but it was a policy that would affect ALL of us

3. Introduction Public Opinion Demography Census
The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues
America is VERY diverse in its opinions
Demography
The science of population changes
Census
A most valuable demographic tool for understanding population changes
Required every 10 years by the Constitution

4. 2010 Census
Sent to 134 million homes, only 72% of households responded
800,000 people were hired to follow up with the households that didn’t respond
Census information determines how $400 billion in federal funds are spent every year on infrastructures and services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and emergency services
People who most need that money are often the ones who don’t complete and return the census

5. The American People The Immigrant Society
United States is a nation of immigrants.
Federal law allows about 1 million new immigrants every year (in addition, about 500,000 immigrants enter each year through illegal methods)
California has the highest number of foreign born residents (27%)
Three waves of Immigration:
Northwestern Europeans (prior to late 19th Century)
Southern and eastern Europeans (late 19th and early 20th centuries)
Hispanics and Asians (late 20th century)
Growth in Hispanic Population after 2010 Census

6. The American People The American Melting Pot
Melting Pot: the mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples that blend into one
Is this a valid view of America today?
Minority Majority: the emergence of a non-Caucasian majority Census had an all-time-low for the white population (63%), Hispanics were 16%, African Americans 13%, Asian Americans 6%, Native Americans 2%
By mid 21st Century, white non-Hispanics will be half of the population. What trends are bringing this into existence?
Immigration
Higher birth rate among minorities

7. The American People
Figure 6.1

8. The American People The American Melting Pot (continued)
African Americans: disproportionately high rate of poverty (26% as compared to 9% of whites). More African Americans are becoming active in politics
Hispanics are the largest minority group (as of the 2000 census). Most are concentrated in cities. Many came to the US for better opportunities and to escape poverty. Their community is faced with the issue of illegal immigration.
Simpson-Mazzoli Act (1986): requires employers document citizenship of employee – it’s done little to slow illegal immigration

9. The American People
Asian immigration has been driven by a new class of professional workers. 53% of the Asian American population over the age of 25 have a college degree (almost twice the national average)
Native Americans: indigenous and disadvantaged
Political Culture: overall set of values we share as a society.
We claim to value egalitarianism. Do we?

10. The Regional Shift
Population shift from east to west (Move to the “sun belt”)
Reapportionment: the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census. **REMEMBER – the overall number of 435 remains the same**
Reapportionment after the 2010 Census
Figure 6.2

11. The American People The Graying of America
Fastest growing age group is over 65
Potential drain on Social Security
Pay as you go system
In 1942, 42 workers per retiree
In 1960, 5.7 workers per retiree
In 2040, 2 workers per retiree

12. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
“the process through which an individual acquires [their] particular political orientation”
Orientation and participation grow firmer with age
The Process of Political Socialization
The Family
Political leanings of children often mirror their parents’ leanings
Who are these families?

13. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
The Process of Political Socialization (continued)
The Mass Media – “the new parent”
Chief source of information as children age
Generation gap is viewing television news
School
Used by government to socialize young into political culture
Better-educated citizens are more likely to vote and are more knowledgeable about politics and policy.

14. Socialization in School continued…
Most American schools are public (funded by the government)
Better educated citizens are more likely to vote, exhibit more knowledge about politics and public policy, and more tolerant of opposing opinions
As Albert Einstein said, “Schools need not preach political doctrine to defend democracy. If they shape men and women capable of critical thought and trained in social attitudes, that is all that is necessary.”

15. As is shown here, aging increases political participation
As is shown here, aging increases political participation. It also increases party attachment.
Political behavior is a LEARNED behavior. Young people haven’t had much political experience.

16. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
How Polls Are Conducted
Gallup Polls are synonymous with “opinion polling”
Sample: a small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey to be representative of the whole
Random Sampling: the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample
Sampling Error: the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll

17. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
The Role of Polls in American Democracy
Polls help politicians detect public preferences.
But critics say polls make politicians think more about following than leading public
Even though politicians do not track opinion to make policy
Polls may distort election process

18. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
The Role of Polls in American Democracy (continued)
Exit Polls: used by the media to predict election day winners
May discourage people from voting
2000 presidential election in Florida
Question wording may affect survey results

19. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information
Americans don’t know much about politics.
Americans may know their basic beliefs but not how that affects policies of the government.
The Decline of Trust in Government
Since 1964, trust in government has declined.
Trust in government has gone up somewhat since September 11, according to the text. Has it?

20. Citizens Show Little Knowledge of Geography

21. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information

22. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
Political Ideology:
A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose
Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?
Predominance of conservative over liberal thinking
Currently about 38% conservative, 24% liberal, 38% moderate
Gender gap: women tend to be less conservative than men
Ideological variation by religion too

23. Liberal vs Conservative

24. How Americans Participate in Politics
Political Participation: all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue
Conventional Participation
Voting in elections
Working in campaigns or running for office
Contacting elected officials

25. How Americans Participate in Politics
Protest as Participation
Protest: a form of political participation designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics
Civil disobedience: a form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences
Henry David Thoreau
Mohandas Gandhi
Martin Luther King, Jr.

26. How Americans Participate in Politics
Class, Inequality, andParticipation
Figure 6.5

27. Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government
Many people have no opinion about scope of government.
Public opinion is inconsistent, which may lead to policy gridlock.
Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action
Americans select leaders, but do they do so wisely?
If people know little about candidates’ issues, how can they?
People vote more for performance than policy.

28. Summary American society is ethnically diverse and changing.
Knowing public opinion is important to a democracy, just as polling has costs and benefits.
Americans know little about politics.
Political participation is generally low.