11.1 Forming Public Opinion Ms. Nesbit Civics and Economics

Public Opinion Public opinion is a term that refers to the ideas and attitudes most people hold about an issue or person; it plays a key role in a democracy Public opinion is a term that refers to the ideas and attitudes most people hold about an issue or person; it plays a key role in a democracy Public opinion helps shape the decisions of every President; they need the support of the public to carry out programs and the support of Congress Public opinion helps shape the decisions of every President; they need the support of the public to carry out programs and the support of Congress

Public Opinion Public opinion is not uniform, or alike, most Americans agree on very few issues; different groups of the public hold different viewpoints Public opinion is not uniform, or alike, most Americans agree on very few issues; different groups of the public hold different viewpoints

Sources of Public Opinion 1. Personal Background: people’s background and life experience have a major influence on their opinions; age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation and place of residence play important roles 1. Personal Background: people’s background and life experience have a major influence on their opinions; age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation and place of residence play important roles

Sources of Public Opinion 2. The Mass Media: TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books are called the mass media because they communicate broadly to masses of people 2. The Mass Media: TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books are called the mass media because they communicate broadly to masses of people

Sources of Public Opinion 3. Public Officials: political leaders and public officials strongly influence public opinion, they try to persuade people to support their views 3. Public Officials: political leaders and public officials strongly influence public opinion, they try to persuade people to support their views Obama, Biden, and Pelosi- Democratic leadership; Boehner and McConnell- Republican leadership

Sources of Public Opinion 4. Interest Groups: People who share a point of view about an issue who unite to promote their beliefs, they persuade people toward their point of view 4. Interest Groups: People who share a point of view about an issue who unite to promote their beliefs, they persuade people toward their point of view

Features of Public Opinion 1. Direction: is public opinion positive or negative, are people for or against an issue, on most topics public opinion is usually mixed 1. Direction: is public opinion positive or negative, are people for or against an issue, on most topics public opinion is usually mixed 2. Intensity: refers to the strength of opinion on an issue 2. Intensity: refers to the strength of opinion on an issue 3. Stability: how firmly people hold their views 3. Stability: how firmly people hold their views

Measuring Public Opinion One way to measure public opinion is to look at election results; a more accurate measure is to ask individuals to answer questions in a survey, or a public opinion poll One way to measure public opinion is to look at election results; a more accurate measure is to ask individuals to answer questions in a survey, or a public opinion poll

Measuring Public Opinion Most Presidents have a specialist, a pollster, who conducts polls; they measure the president’s popularity or public attitudes toward possible proposals Most Presidents have a specialist, a pollster, who conducts polls; they measure the president’s popularity or public attitudes toward possible proposals

Measuring Public Opinion Pollsters select a random sample of about 1,500 people of all genders, races, ages, and views to get an accurate picture of public opinion; pollsters must be sure to ask fair and unbiased questions Pollsters select a random sample of about 1,500 people of all genders, races, ages, and views to get an accurate picture of public opinion; pollsters must be sure to ask fair and unbiased questions Polls in which the questions are worded to influence a person’s responses are known as push polls Polls in which the questions are worded to influence a person’s responses are known as push polls

Measuring Public Opinion People who support polls believe they allow office- holders to keep in touch with citizens’ ideas on issues; others feel they are more concerned with pleasing the public rather than making wise decisions People who support polls believe they allow office- holders to keep in touch with citizens’ ideas on issues; others feel they are more concerned with pleasing the public rather than making wise decisions Our government is responsive to public opinion but it is not the only influence on public policy, interest groups, political parties, the media, and individuals help to shape public policy Our government is responsive to public opinion but it is not the only influence on public policy, interest groups, political parties, the media, and individuals help to shape public policy