Public Opinion and Political Action

Chapter 6

Government in America: People, Politics, and PolicyEdwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry

What is America’s Opinion?The main problem with public opinion is that

Americans are UNINFORMED! We cannot guide public policy if we don’t

know and understand the issuesIn recent years, the implementation of health

care proved this point: people opposed a policy they knew little or nothing about, but it was a policy that would affect ALL of us

IntroductionPublic Opinion

The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues America is VERY diverse in its opinions

DemographyThe science of population changes

CensusA most valuable demographic tool for

understanding population changesRequired every 10 years by the Constitution

2010 CensusSent to 134 million homes, only 72% of

households responded800,000 people were hired to follow up with

the households that didn’t respondCensus information determines how $400

billion in federal funds are spent every year on infrastructures and services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and emergency services

People who most need that money are often the ones who don’t complete and return the census

The American PeopleThe Immigrant Society

United States is a nation of immigrants.Federal law allows about 1 million new

immigrants every year (in addition, about 500,000 immigrants enter each year through illegal methods)

California has the highest number of foreign born residents (27%)

Three waves of Immigration: Northwestern Europeans (prior to late 19th Century) Southern and eastern Europeans (late 19th and early

20th centuries) Hispanics and Asians (late 20th century)

Growth in Hispanic Population after 2010 Census

The American PeopleThe American Melting Pot

Melting Pot: the mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples that blend into one Is this a valid view of America today?

Minority Majority: the emergence of a non-Caucasian majority. 2010 Census had an all-time-low for the white population (63%), Hispanics were 16%, African Americans 13%, Asian Americans 6%, Native Americans 2% By mid 21st Century, white non-Hispanics will be

half of the population. What trends are bringing this into existence? Immigration Higher birth rate among minorities

The American People

Figure 6.1

The American PeopleThe American Melting Pot (continued)

African Americans: disproportionately high rate of poverty (26% as compared to 9% of whites). More African Americans are becoming active in politics

Hispanics are the largest minority group (as of the 2000 census). Most are concentrated in cities. Many came to the US for better opportunities and to escape poverty. Their community is faced with the issue of illegal immigration. Simpson-Mazzoli Act (1986): requires employers

document citizenship of employee – it’s done little to slow illegal immigration

The American People

Asian immigration has been driven by a new class of professional workers. 53% of the Asian American population over the age of 25 have a college degree (almost twice the national average)

Native Americans: indigenous and disadvantaged

Political Culture: overall set of values we share as a society. We claim to value egalitarianism. Do we?

The Regional Shift Population shift from east to

west (Move to the “sun belt”) Reapportionment: the

process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census. **REMEMBER – the overall number of 435 remains the same**

Reapportionment after the 2010 Census

Figure 6.2

The American PeopleThe Graying of America

Fastest growing age group is over 65Potential drain on Social Security

Pay as you go system In 1942, 42 workers per retiree In 1960, 5.7 workers per retiree In 2040, 2 workers per retiree

How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationPolitical Socialization:

“the process through which an individual acquires [their] particular political orientation”

Orientation and participation grow firmer with age

The Process of Political SocializationThe Family

Political leanings of children often mirror their parents’ leanings

Who are these families?

How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationThe Process of Political Socialization

(continued)The Mass Media – “the new parent”

Chief source of information as children age Generation gap is viewing television news

School Used by government to socialize young into political

culture Better-educated citizens are more likely to vote and

are more knowledgeable about politics and policy.

Socialization in School continued…Most American schools are public (funded by

the government)Better educated citizens are more likely to

vote, exhibit more knowledge about politics and public policy, and more tolerant of opposing opinions

As Albert Einstein said, “Schools need not preach political doctrine to defend democracy. If they shape men and women capable of critical thought and trained in social attitudes, that is all that is necessary.”

As is shown here, aging increases political participation. It also increases party attachment. Political behavior is a LEARNED behavior. Young people haven’t had much political experience.

Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationHow Polls Are ConductedGallup Polls are synonymous with “opinion

polling”Sample: a small proportion of people who are

chosen in a survey to be representative of the whole

Random Sampling: the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample

Sampling Error: the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll

Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationThe Role of Polls in American Democracy

Polls help politicians detect public preferences.But critics say polls make politicians think

more about following than leading public Even though politicians do not track opinion to

make policyPolls may distort election process

Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationThe Role of Polls in American Democracy

(continued)Exit Polls: used by the media to predict

election day winners May discourage people from voting 2000 presidential election in Florida

Question wording may affect survey results

Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationWhat Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political

InformationAmericans don’t know much about politics.Americans may know their basic beliefs but not

how that affects policies of the government.

The Decline of Trust in GovernmentSince 1964, trust in government has declined.Trust in government has gone up somewhat

since September 11, according to the text. Has it?

Citizens Show Little Knowledge of Geography

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information

What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideology:

A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose

Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?Predominance of conservative over liberal

thinkingCurrently about 38% conservative, 24% liberal,

38% moderate Gender gap: women tend to be less conservative

than men Ideological variation by religion too

Liberal vs Conservative

How Americans Participate in PoliticsPolitical Participation: all the activities used

by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue

Conventional ParticipationVoting in electionsWorking in campaigns or running for officeContacting elected officials

How Americans Participate in PoliticsProtest as Participation

Protest: a form of political participation designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics

Civil disobedience: a form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences Henry David Thoreau Mohandas Gandhi Martin Luther King, Jr.

How Americans Participate in PoliticsClass, Inequality, andParticipation

Figure 6.5

Understanding Public Opinion and Political ActionPublic Attitudes Toward the Scope of

GovernmentMany people have no opinion about scope of

government.Public opinion is inconsistent, which may lead

to policy gridlock.Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political

ActionAmericans select leaders, but do they do so

wisely?If people know little about candidates’ issues,

how can they?People vote more for performance than policy.

SummaryAmerican society is ethnically diverse and

changing.Knowing public opinion is important to a

democracy, just as polling has costs and benefits.

Americans know little about politics.Political participation is generally low.