1. Public Opinion and Political Action

2. The American People Demography- science of human populations
Census- required every 10 years, used for funding and allocation of house seats
Important to understand population and wear more money needs to go like hospitals and schools
Only about 72% end up participating

3. The Immigrant society
Federal law allows for 1 million new immigrants each year
For first century US had open door policy
1882 Chinese Exclusionary Act

4. The American Melting Pot
Melting pot- cultures, ideas, and people blend into one
Minority majority- white majority will end due to Hispanic immigration
63% white 2010
16% Hispanic
13% African American
6% Asian
2% native American
Political Culture- overall set of values widely shared within society
“racial animosity an enduring American Phenomenon

5. Regional Shift
Reappointment- reallocation of seats in the House of Representatives, based on state population shift
People moved westward in WWII
Population in southwest growing the fastest

6. The Graying of America
Florida has grown largely due to attractiveness to senior citizens
Citizens over 65 is fastest growing group
Big impacts on social security

7. Process of Political Socialization
Family
Monopoly on time and emotional commitment
Interests pass on, also political leanings
Rebellion is only in a small group, most vote the same way as parents
The Mass Media
Children watch more tv than time they have at school
But nowadays fewer watch the news
School
Promote national loyalty, national anthem
Creates those who are less disenchanted by the system
Educated individuals more likely to vote and be knowledgeable

8. Political Leaning over a lifetime
Growing older changes political opinion and action
Aging increase political participation
Strengthen party attachment
Politics is a learned behavior

9. How Polls are conducted
Sample of the population
Random sampling- everyone has the equal probability of being selected
Sampling error- level of confidence, more people in poll more confident
random digit dialing- calls placed to phone numbers within randomly chosen exchanges around the country

10. The Roll of Polls in American Democracy
Help candidates detect public preference
Can tell importance of issue and not make politician wait till elections to change course
Bandwagon effect
Exit polls- taken at polling stations, used to help project races
Wording can manipulate responses to be skewed

11. What polls reveal about Americans Political Information
Asked about factual statements to reveal knowledge or whither a message is getting through
Show ill informed people
Some blame schools for not teaching cultural literacy
Some rely on simple facts or care only about one subject
Some just vote against incumbent

12. The Decline of Trust in Government
1960 nearly ¾ of Americans trusted government
1980 only ¼
Only trust was after 9/11

13. Who are liberals and conservatives
Most Americans use label conservative over liberal
More liberals in the under 30 group
The younger the more likely to be liberal
Young people are less likely to vote
African Americans, Hispanics more Liberal
Gender gap- regular pattern where women are more likely to support democratic candidates
Family income, and religion less likely to influence politics in recent yrs

14. Do people think in Ideological Terms?
12% Ideologues- connect policy and belief with policy by party and candidate
42% Group benefits- thought of politics in terms of groups they liked or disliked
24% Nature of the Times- handle on politics was limited to whether the times seemed good or bad to them
22% no issue content- no ideological or issue content in making political evaluations

15. Do people think in Ideological Terms?
Political culture war
Sounds like liberal vs conservatives
Those account for small portion of population at war with each other, not the majorities just the loudest
Gay rights led to culture war? No attitudes just changed

16. Conventional participation
Political participation- encompasses many activities which engage to influence selection of political leaders or policies
Conventional participation- voting, persuading, ringing doorbells running for office
Unconventional participation- dramatic activities, protesting, civil disobedience, and even violence

17. Protest as Participation
Protest- form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic unconventional tactics, often gets media coverage
Occupy wall street
Conservative Tea Party
Civil disobedience- consciously broken law they thought was unjust
Sit ins

18. Class, Inequality, and participation
Citizens of higher social economic status participate more in politics
Same of more education
African Americans participate more compared to whites of equal status

19. Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government
Americans are ideologically conservative by operational liberals
Most Americans oppose big government in idea but favor it in practice

20. Democracy, Public Opinion, and political Action
Americans take ability to vote for leaders for granted
publics task to choose who will lead
Most choose performance over policy criteria when voting