Political Beliefs and Public Opinions

Question 1

political culture

Answer 1

a set of widely shared political beliefs and values

Question 2

values and beliefs

Answer 2

deep-rooted ideals that shape an individual’s perception of political issues

Question 3

opinion

Answer 3

a specific view about a particular issue or event

Question 4

public opinion

Answer 4

attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues, and events

Question 5

importance of American political culture

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

core values of political culture

Answer 6

1. liberty/freedom
2. equality
3. individualism
4. democracy
   - NOT economic equality

Question 7

liberty

Answer 7

• freedom of speech and religion

- free to live lives with minimal govt interference

Question 8

equality

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

individualism

Answer 9

• respect for the dignity and importance of each individual

- people responsible for their own decisions and well-being

Question 10

democracy

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

mistrust of govt

Answer 11

• 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)

Question 12

importance of political socialization

Answer 12

• continuing process vital to societies and individuals

- process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next

Question 13

agents of socialization

Answer 13

• the family
• education
• social groups

Question 14

family

Answer 14

• most important
• children raised in households in which both parents strongly identify with the same political party are likely to follow them

Question 15

education

Answer 15

• class elections, SGA, social studies classes all teach core values
• college graduates = higher level of participation

Question 16

social groups

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

importance of political ideology

Answer 17

• cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of govt
• only 20% of Americans vote along ideological lines

Question 18

liberal ideology supports…

Answer 18

1. political and social reform
2. govt regulation of the economy
3. expanded programs for the poor, minorities, and women
4. national health care system
5. abortion rights

Question 19

liberal ideology opposes…

Answer 19

• increases in military spending
• committing troops to foreign wars
• school prayer

Question 20

conservative ideology supports…

Answer 20

1. expansion of American military power
2. free-market solutions to economic problems
3. less govt regulation of business
4. school prayer

Question 21

conservative ideology opposes…

Answer 21

1. expensive federal social and welfare programs
2. abortion rights
3. national health care system

Question 22

straw polling

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

background of Literary Digest fiasco

Answer 23

-1936: LD mailed postcard ballots to more than 10 million people asking if they supported FDR or Alf Landon

Question 24

LD fiasco… what happened

Answer 24

• 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)

Question 25

Scientific sampling

Answer 25

-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

Question 26

steps in scientific sampling

Answer 26

1. define the universe or population to be surveyed
2. construct a sample of the population (random sampling often)
3. construct carefully designed survey questions that avoid bias
4. conduct the poll by using either telephone or face-to-face interviewing procedures
5. analyze and report data

Question 27

supporters for polling… (tool for democracy)

Answer 27

• 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

Question 28

critics for polling…

Answer 28

• 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)

Question 29

caution for the democratic process

Answer 29

• 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