CHAPTER 5

Public Opinion

What is Public Opinion?

“of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address

The people want… A balanced budget The ERA ratified Term limits for Congress Lower taxes No electoral college

Is the US Gov’t giving the people what it wants?

Policy & Opinion at Odds

US Gov’t not intended to do “what the people want”

What happened? Political parties Large v. small states Majority rule may not

protect minority rights Voter turnout—who’s voting

What Influences Public Opinion?1. Education2. Political Parties3. Family4. Religion5. Age6. Social class7. Race8. Region9. sex

Political Ideologies

Conservative Republican Family values Strong military Less gov’t Lower taxes for

wealthy Free market More educated

Liberal Democrat Jobs for all Taxation of the rich Tolerant More gov’t to help

less fortunate Subsidized medical

care and education Less educated

The Tweeners

People can mix ideologies1. Pure Liberals2. Pure Conservatives3. Libertarians—conservative on

economic issues, liberal on personal issues

4. Populists—liberal on economics, conservative on personal

5. New Class—youth of America, some college, urban, critical of business & gov’t, conservative on some social issues, liberal on others

Questions

1.What do you think is the one thing that voters want the most? Explain.

2.In the US system of gov’t, is the minority view protected, or is there too much power to the majority view? Explain.

3.Examine the following factors of public opinion: Education, Political Parties, Family, Religion, Age, Social class, Race, Region, sex. Rank the order of importance of these factors (the least being #1).

4.Why are many Americans leaning towards mixed ideologies? Explain.