AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Which Political Party? Dem Rep Other Period 1 9 7 4 Period 3 6 12 2 Total 38% 48% 15% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Ideology? ONE THREE Total Very Liberal 2 5% Liberal 1 4 13% Moderate / Liberal 5 3 20% Moderate 18% Moderate / Conservative 6 25% Conservative AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Same Ideology as Parents? Yes No Not Sure Period 1 7.5 5.5 7 Period 3 6 Total 34% 31% 35% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Approve of job Obama is doing? Yes No Period 1 10 Period 3 Total 50% Real Poll 49.2% 44.7% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Will Obama win re-election? Yes No Period 1 7 13 Period 3 10 Total 42.5% 57.5% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Direction of the country? Right Direction Wrong Track Period 1 9 10 Period 3 11 8 Total 52.6% 47.4% Real Poll 35.5% 58% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Approve of Bush the Younger? Yes No Period 1 8 12 Period 3 Total 40% 60% Real Poll 47% 51% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Gun control laws? More Strict Less Strict As Now Unsure Period 1 11 2 5 Period 3 6 1 Total 55% 10% 27.5% 7.5% Real Poll 46% 13% 38% 3% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Deny citizenship to U.S. born children of illegal immigrants? Strongly Favor Oppose Strongly Oppose Unsure Period 1 3 9 5 Period 3 2 6 1 Total 5% 22.5% 35% 27.5% 10% Real Poll 22% 26% 28% 3% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Opinion of Sarah Palin? Favorable Not Undecided Haven’t Heard Enough Period 1 1 8 4 7 Period 3 11 5 3 Total 5% 47.5% 22.5% 25% Real Poll 19% 57% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Regulate greenhouse gases? Should Should Not Unsure Period 1 15 2 3 Period 3 13 4 Total 70% 12.5% 17.5% Real Poll 71% 26% 4% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Gone to war with Iraq? Yes No Unsure Period 1 4 12 Period 3 5 10 Total 22.5% 55% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Cal raise taxes for CSU/UC? Yes No Unsure Period 1 1 12 7 Period 3 2 14 4 Total 7.5% 65% 27.5% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Fed raise taxes on upper income for college grants? Yes No Unsure Period 1 5 9 6 Period 3 8 3 Total 32.5% 45% 22.5% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Beliefs Political Culture An overall set of values widely shared within a society Core Values of U.S. Political Culture Legal & political equality NOT economic equality Freedoms . . . Religion, Speech AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Beliefs Political Socialization Process through which people acquire political beliefs as they grow up AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

Process of Political Socialization Political values passed to next generation Most important role is played by . . . The Family

Process of Political Socialization Political values passed to next generation Most important role is played by . . . The Family

Process of Political Socialization Other influences include . . . AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Behavior Political Efficacy Belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically If one believes s/he can make a difference, will be more likely to act AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Behavior Forms of Political Participation Most common is VOTING AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Behavior Forms of Political Participation Other forms include: - signing petitions - attending meetings - contacting politicians - donating money to campaigns AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Political Behavior AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Voting Behavior Who Votes? Majority does NOT vote in most elections ! Lower voter turnout in primaries (compared to general elections) Those with strong party identification vote more regularly AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Voting Behavior Who Votes? College grads more likely to vote than people with High School diploma Young are less likely to vote When 18 year olds got the right to vote in 1971 . . . had lowest turnout rate in 1972 presidential elections AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Voting Behavior AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Voting Behavior Some reasons for low voter turnout * Registration requirements * Weak party affiliation * Weekday elections * Frequency of elections (too many, especially state & local) AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Kennedy & Johnson administrations, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 40% 68% 29% 37% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Kennedy & Johnson administrations, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 68% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Nixon & Ford administrations, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 40% 36% 29% 55% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Nixon & Ford administrations, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 40% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Carter administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 46% 35% 29% 51% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Carter administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 29% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Reagan administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 64% 52% 38% 42% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Reagan administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 42% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Bush I administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 25% 36% 44% 50% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Bush I administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 36% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Clinton administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 48% 37% 29% 18% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Clinton administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 29% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Bush II administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 16% 24% 37% 43% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Bush II administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 37% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Obama administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 15% 22% 35% 48% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government During the Obama administration, the average percentage of people saying they “always” or “most of the time” trust the government to do what is right . . . 22% AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Trust in Government AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior Assignment Read 2 articles Question: Are today’s young people cynics or idealists? How will this affect politics & government in the near future? Discuss & explain. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Beliefs & Behavior