Shaping and Measuring Public Opinion

October 21, 2015Describe each of the following and explain how each has been used over time to expand federal power.

-The “necessary and proper”/“elastic” clause-The commerce clause

Objective: Understand how people acquire their political

beliefs (8 agents)

I. Political Socialization

• Definition• Please Identify 1 trend

I. POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

I. Family• Similar•Different

II. Media

III. School

IV. Religion•Younger•Older

I. Political Socialization

V. Race1.Whites: 2.Blacks: 3.Hispanics: 4.Asians:

VI. Income

VII. Education

I. Political Socialization

VIII. Gender• Women • Men

IX. Peers

X. Regionhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/

election/2012/

XI. Cross Pressure

2008-2012 Exit Poll Data

Let’s take a quick look-Characteristics of who was most likely to

vote for

• -Obama…McCain• http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/

president/exit-polls.html

-Obama…Romneyhttp://elections.nytimes.com/2012/results/

president/exit-polls

II. Measuring Public Opinion

1. Purpose of Polling1. Inform2. Campaign3. Feedback

2. Types of Polls1. Random Digit Dialing2. Internet3. Exit Polls4. “Push Polls”

II. Measuring Public Opinion

3. Factors Affecting Accuracy1. Random Sampling2. Sampling size3. Wording

4. Concerns of Polls1. “Horse Race”2. Bandwagon3. Manipulate4. Florida 20005. Uneducated Masseshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/obama-

muslim_n_1706522.html