Political Beliefs and Public Opinions Flashcards
political culture
a set of widely shared political beliefs and values
values and beliefs
deep-rooted ideals that shape an individual’s perception of political issues
opinion
a specific view about a particular issue or event
public opinion
attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues, and events
importance of American political culture
- British political write G.K. Chesterson observes that “America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed”
- broad consensus that shapes and limits the public debate about political issues
core values of political culture
- liberty/freedom
- equality
- individualism
- democracy
- NOT economic equality
liberty
- freedom of speech and religion
- free to live lives with minimal govt interference
equality
- political equality- all adult citizens should have equal voting rights
- legal equality- everyone is entitled to equal treatment before the law
- equality of opportunity - all Americans should have a chance to succeed in life
individualism
- respect for the dignity and importance of each individual
- people responsible for their own decisions and well-being
democracy
- govt based on consent of the governed
- majority has a right to rule
- rights of the minority should be respected and protected
- people responsible for supporting their local communities
mistrust of govt
- 1950’s Americans less trusting of their leaders and political institutions
- corresponds with decline in political efficacy (the belief that one’s political participation really matters)
importance of political socialization
- continuing process vital to societies and individuals
- process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next
agents of socialization
- the family
- education
- social groups
family
- most important
- children raised in households in which both parents strongly identify with the same political party are likely to follow them
education
- class elections, SGA, social studies classes all teach core values
- college graduates = higher level of participation
social groups
- black and white americans differ on a number of issues, including affirmative action programs and race relations
- religious groups: school prayer and abortion
- men and women: health care programs and support for defense budgets
importance of political ideology
- cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of govt
- only 20% of Americans vote along ideological lines
liberal ideology supports…
- political and social reform
- govt regulation of the economy
- expanded programs for the poor, minorities, and women
- national health care system
- abortion rights
liberal ideology opposes…
- increases in military spending
- committing troops to foreign wars
- school prayer
conservative ideology supports…
- expansion of American military power
- free-market solutions to economic problems
- less govt regulation of business
- school prayer
conservative ideology opposes…
- expensive federal social and welfare programs
- abortion rights
- national health care system
straw polling
- gauging public opinion: counting the size of a crowd, noting the level of audience applause, and asking random people on the street to express opinions
- comes from tossing straw in the air and seeing which way it blows
background of Literary Digest fiasco
-1936: LD mailed postcard ballots to more than 10 million people asking if they supported FDR or Alf Landon
LD fiasco… what happened
- majority of 2 million respondents supported Landon but FDR won outstanding victory, carrying every state except Maine and Vermont
- flawed results bc relied on faulty sample that used telephone directories and car registration rosters (failed to consider working-class Americans who could not afford cars or phones during Great Depression)
Scientific sampling
-led by Gallup Organization and the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, 200+ organizations forces on polling the American public’s political preferences
steps in scientific sampling
- define the universe or population to be surveyed
- construct a sample of the population (random sampling often)
- construct carefully designed survey questions that avoid bias
- conduct the poll by using either telephone or face-to-face interviewing procedures
- analyze and report data
supporters for polling… (tool for democracy)
- contributes to the democratic process by providing a way for the public to express its opinions
- enables political leaders to understand and implement public preferences on key issues
critics for polling…
- transform leaders into followers (ex. Framers content to revise the AoC)
- manipulate public opinion (bandwagon effect: polling results influence people to support candidates and issues that appear to be popular)
caution for the democratic process
- dm based on informed citizenry
- however…. 42% couldn’t name 3 branches of govt; less than half knew first ten amendments were the Bill of Rights
