1. 4.4
Public Policy
Discussions and polling

2. Straw poll
an unofficial poll taken to determine the opinion of a random group of people on important issues.
Straw polls are a common feature in the United States politics during the selection process of delegates and seeking opinion on resolutions.
It is polling whose results are not binding.
It is used to determine public opinion on a particular candidate or any issue before the actual elections take place.

3. Benchmark/tracking poll
 a type of poll repeated periodically with the same group of people to check and measure changes of opinion or knowledge.

4. Entrance/exit polls
An entrance poll is a poll that is taken before voters have cast their votes at the polling stations.
It is akin to an opinion poll in the sense that it asks who the voter plans to vote for or some similar set of questions.
Exit polls are taken as voters leave the polling station asking how or how they voted.

5. Types and format of questions
Do you approve or disapprove of the death penalty Vs
Would you want the death penalty imposed on someone who killed your family.

6. Evaluating Polls and Their Limit on Public Opinion
Most national and regional polls are fairly reliable, but far from perfect.
Problems
Cannot measure intensity, stability, and relevance of the opinions they report.
Polls sometimes shape the opinions they are supposed to measure.
Limits on the Impact of Public Opinion
Public opinion is the major, but by no means the only, influence on public policy.
The Government protects minority interests against the excesses of majority views and actions.
Finally, polls are not elections, nor are they substitutes for elections.

7. Tips on Reading Polls Check out the margin of error.
A 3 percent margin of error means plus or minus 3 percent, turning a 50 percent approval rating into one of percent
What is the timing?
The further away from Election Day, the less meaningful the results
The random sample is the “gold standard”
If the respondents chose themselves (by deciding to take the survey), then it’s only fun to read and not an accurate picture of the public
What is the sample size
Be wary of polls that interview a small number of people
Compare across polls
Since every poll has biases, read a range of polls, toss out the extreme findings, and take an average of the rest

8. Literary digest fiasco
The 1936 presidential election proved a decisive battle, not only in shaping the nation’s political future but for the future of opinion polling. The Literary Digest, the venerable magazine founded in 1890, had correctly predicted the outcomes of the 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, and 1932 elections by conducting polls. These polls were a lucrative venture for the magazine: readers liked them; newspapers played them up; and each “ballot” included a subscription blank. The 1936 postal card poll claimed to have asked one fourth of the nation’s voters which candidate they intended to vote for. In Literary Digest's October 31 issue, based on more than 2,000,000 returned post cards, it issued its prediction: Republican presidential candidate Alfred Landon would win 57 percent of the popular vote and 370 electoral votes.

9. Why did they get it so wrong
Problem with their sample population - only asked people listed in phone book or automobile owners
Problem of timing - sent out the survey in September and people's opinions changed more favorably toward FDR in October
Problem of self-selection - only highly motivated individuals responded to the poll

10. Impact of polls on democracy
Contributes to the democratic process by allowing citizens to voice their opinion
Allows leaders to know and implement public opinion on key issues

11. Tool for the timid and manipulative
Transform leaders into followers. Instead of leading they “just” follow public opinion.
Can be used to manipulate public opinion.
Bandwagon effect, well if that is how everyone else feels….

12. Our democracy is based on an informed citizenry National poll found
A cautionary tale
Our democracy is based on an informed citizenry
National poll found
74% of respondent could name the 3 stooges
42% could named the 3 branches of government
25% could name their tow senators
Less than 50% knew the first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights

13. How Difficult Is It To Measure Public Opinion When So Many
People Lack Political Knowledge?
Does the Bill of Rights Prohibit the Official
Establishment of Religion in the United States?
What are the Three Branches of Government?
Name any Power of the National Government.
Name one Country that was an enemy of the
United States During World War II.
73%
50%
25%
35%

14. Impact of polls on elections
Turn and talk
How might polls impact elections?

15. Horse race journalism
is political journalism of elections that resembles coverage of horse races because of the focus on polling data, public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities.

16. Types of political party systems one party systems
One party has total control over the government
Membership is not voluntary
Party leaders approve candidates for office, voters have no real choice,
Generally results in a dictatorial government
China, North Kores, and Iran

17. Types of political party systems two party systems
Two major political parties compete for control
Minor parties usually have minimal impact on elections
Electoral college system makes it almost impossible for a third party to win any given states
Generally have a consensus among citizens about the principles of government
Tend to avoid extremes
Tend towards table governments
US, United Kingdom, India, Jamaica

18. Types of political party systems multi party systems
Multiple political parties compete
Often represent widely different ideologies
Usually result of proportional representation voting system
Mean to give voters more choice
Often means no party has a clear majority
Leads to forming coalition governments,
Which lead to an unstable government
France, Italy, Israel

19. Minor Parties in the United States
Year Party Presidential Percent Electoral
Candidate Popular Votes Vote Received
States’ Rights Strom Thurmond %
(Dixiecrat)
Progressive Henry A. Wallace
American George C. Wallace
Independent
National Unity John Anderson
Reform Ross Perot
Reform Ross Perot
Green Ralph Nader
Reform Pat Buchanan
2000 Independent Ralph Nader
2008 Reform Ralph Nader # #

20. Party Identification and membership
Membership is voluntary
If you believe you are a member of a party then you are
Factors that impact party identification
Ideology
Education
Income
Occupation
Race or ethnicity
Gender
Religion
Marital status
age

21. % saying that there is a difference in what the Republicans and Democratic Parties stand for
2014

22. Young/Old Voting Gap,
2014

23. How the Generations See Themselves
2014

24. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions
Policy Voting
Basing your vote choice on issue preferences and where the candidates stand on policy issues
Policy voting may occur if :
Voters know where they and the candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidates
Unlikely to occur because:
Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.
Media tend to focus on the “horse race” not issues: who is winning not what the issues are
Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries increasing chances for policy voting.

25. Political party organization leadership
Need effective organization to be successful
Both major parties organization is much the same
President is automatically the head of his/her party

26. Political party organization national convention
Serves as the party’s national voice
Delegates meet in the summer every 4 years to select party’s candidate for President and Vice President
Write and adopt party’s political platform, positions of the political party

27. Future of political parties
Recent decades show a decline in political parties
Third party challenges
Loss of support of party loyalists
Increase in split ticket voting
Lock of perceived differences between the parties
Party reforms
Methods of campaigning

28. Policy trends and the role of government in social issues
Reflect the success of different ideologies in political parties

29. How does political culture influence public policy

30. Beliefs of the day influence policy

31. Balancing liberty and safety

32. 2 additional ideologies besides liberal and conservative
The general goal of socialism is to  maximize wealth and opportunity, or  to minimize human suffering, through  public control of industry and social services.
Progressives recognize problems and try to define and address the systemic rules, laws and traditions that enable and empower the problems in the first place. Additionally, Progressives share a general belief in the interconnections of individuals and the philosophy that “when you hurt, I hurt”

33. Keynesian economic principles
Keynes advocated increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the global economy out of the depression. Subsequently, Keynesian economics was used to refer to the concept that optimal economic performance could be achieved -– and economic slumps prevented – by influencing aggregate demand through activist stabilization and economic intervention policies by the government.  Read more: Keynesian Economics Definition | Investopedia  HD  Follow us: Investopedia on Facebook