1. Chapter 7
Public Opinion

2. Learning Objectives What is “public opinion” and how do we measure it?
What role did the Framers of the Constitution think public opinion should play in making public policy?
What is “political socialization” and how does it work?
What is “political ideology” and how does it matter for what elites and the mass public believe?
How much does public opinion in America vary by age and other characteristics?
People self-label as “liberal,” “moderate,” or “conservative,” but are there more refined ways of describing and classifying citizens’ political views?
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3. Introduction WHO GOVERNS? TO WHAT ENDS?
How does public opinion in America today vary by race, gender, and other differences?
What is political ideology, and how does it affect political behavior and influence public policy?
TO WHAT ENDS?
What role did the Framers of the Constitution think public opinion should play in American democracy?
When, if ever, should public policies mirror majority opinion?
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4. Public Opinion and Democracy
The Framers created a government to achieve certain goals:
“to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty.”
Preamble to the Constitution
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The Framers of the Constitution did not try to create a government that would do from day to day “what the people want.”

5. Public Opinion and Democracy
Constitutional goals achieved through:
Representative government
Federalism
Separation of powers
Bill of Rights
Independent judiciary
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6. Public Opinion and Democracy
Public opinion: how people think or feel about particular things
Not easy to discern
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7. What Is Public Opinion? How Polling Works
Requires comprehensible questions, worded fairly
Random sample
Sampling error
Exit polls
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For the most part, the Framers of the Constitution thought that public opinion should play only a limited
and indirect role in making public policy.

8. What Is Public Opinion? How Opinions Differ Opinion saliency
Opinion stability
Opinion-policy congruency
Elite opinion vs. mass opinion
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Elites are people who have a disproportionate amount of some valued resource (money, education, prestige, political power, etc.)

9. Political Socialization
The Family
Important source of socialization
Genetic background
Age
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Young Adults on Politics and Politicians
Table 7.1
Source: Institute of Politics, The 17th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service , John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Spring 2010.

10. Opinion Gaps Between Young Adults and Senior Citizens in 2012
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Table 7.2
Source: Pew Research Center, "Partisan Polarization Surges in Bush, Obama Years: Trends In American Values, 1987–2012," June 2012, with one point (*) from a separate Pew Research Center report, June 2011.

11. Political Socialization
Religion
Influences social issues
Influences within generation
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12. Opinions by Four Christian Groups on Four Issues (2009–2010)
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Table 7.3
Source: Adapted from Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, American Views on Religion, Politics, & Public Policy, 2010, pp. 37, 41, and 46, and “Faith-Based Programs Still Popular, Less Visible,” November 16, 2009, p. 2.

13. Religious Affiliation and Younger Millennials (18–25) Registered to Vote
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Table 7.5
Source: Robert P. Jones et al, Diverse, Disillusioned, and Divided: Millennial Values and Voter Engagement in the 2012 Election (Washington, D.C.: Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Georgetown University, surveys conducted in March 2012 and September 2012, report issued October 4, 2012).

14. Political Socialization
The Gender Gap
Since 1980, women voting at higher rates
Women more likely to:
Vote Democratic
Favor activist government
Consider social welfare issues important
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15. Gender Gaps in Presidential Voting, 1992-2012
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Table 7.6
Source: Gallup Organization, Gender Gap in 2012 is Largest in Gallup Survey’s History , November 9, 2012.

16. Cleavages in Public Opinion
Social Class
Race and Ethnicity
Region
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There are also cleavages in public opinion related to education, income, and occupation.

17. Latino Opinion, 2012
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Table 7.7
Source: Adapted from Latino Decisions, Immigration Poll, March 5, 2012; also see Latino Decisions, “The Untapped Potential of the Latino Electorate,” January 15, 2013.

18. Political Ideology
Political ideology: a more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue
Self identification
Broad category (liberal, conservative)
Prediction of views
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Most Americans do not think about politics in an ideological manner.

19. Political Ideology Mass Ideologies: A Typology
Where do you fit?
Liberal and Conservative Elites
Activists
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20. Ideology Typology: Nine Types
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Table 7.8
Source: Adapted from Beyond Red v. Blue: The Political Typology , Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, May 4, 2011.

21. Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policy
Elites do
Raise and frame issues
State norms
Define thinking on foreign affairs
Elites do not
Define economic problems
Influence thinking on crime/drug problems
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However, there are many elites and many different elite opinions.

22. Proud To Be An American Click picture to play video
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Click picture to play video

23. Proud To Be An American Taking a closer look:
Do the individuals shown in the video agree on what it means to be “a real American”?
What are our mutual political values?
Today, are most Americans proud of their country? Why or why not?
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