PSCI Table of Contents 1 Purpose of Government 2 Forms of Government 3 Direct vs Representative Democracy 4 Constitutional vs Non Constitutional Democracy 5 Presidential vs Parliamentary Democracy 6 Principles of American Democracy 7 Immigration has a debated impact on American values 8 Common beliefs in American political culture 9 Classical Liberalism 10 Reynolds vs US 1878 11 Islamic Center in Manhattan 2010 12 Political Culture of US 13 Public opinion 14 Political Socialization 15 Measuring Public Opinion 16 Opinion leaders 17 Public opinion is relatively stable 18 Evolution of free press 19 Media market 20 Interest Groups 21 Free Rider Problem 22 Direct Lobbying 23 Grassroots Lobbying 24 Electoral funding 25 Persuading the public 26 Protests 27 Direct mail 28 Lobbying litigaion 29 Pluralism Carey 1 PSCI 30 Media forms 31 Media Bias 32 Media effects on public opinion 33 Jon Stewart Segment 34 Factors that affect the influence of the media 35 Political parties 36 Function of political parties Lecture Notes 1 Purpose of Government A Government prevents chaos for citizens on federal state and local levels i Legitimacy acceptance of authority B Public goods non exclusive good usually provided by government i The private sector has no incentive to provide public goods C Government protects from foreign aggression provides services regulates the economy protects from illegal activity i Libertarianism belief that government should have a more limited role often coincides with belief in capitalism and free markets 2 Forms of Government A Monarchy birthright gives power to a single ruler B Autocracy one ruler with power due to party education etc not birthright i Examples dictatorship authoritarian regimes C Aristocracy power to a few based on birthright D Oligarchy power to a few due to to education etc not birthright i Example power held by whites in South Africa during Apartheid E Democracy power shared amongst citizens through free open elections i US is a constitutional republic based on democratic values 3 Direct vs Representative Democracy A Direct citizens themselves vote on policies i Pros representative of public opinion increases citizen awareness Carey 2 PSCI Carey ii Cons not everybody shows up people don t have time to constantly vote impractical to require citizen awareness of policies B Representative citizens elect politicians to vote on policies i Pros practical ii Cons potential for corruption less representative of public C Larger scale favors representative democracy smaller favors direct democracy 4 Constitutional vs Non Constitutional Democracy A Constitutional democracy defines government with one formal document B Non Constitutional democracy does not define government with one formal document 5 Presidential vs Parliamentary Democracy A Presidential system head of government elected on a fixed term B Parliamentary system head of government selected by majority party in legislature i When a majority party lacks in parliament different groups join to make a majority 6 Principles of American Democracy A Political Equality one person one vote B Plurality rule rule by largest group not necessarily an overall majority C Minority RIghts minority not trampled by majority D Equality before the law 7 Immigration has a debated impact on American values A Evidence suggests that impact is small new immigrants have similar beliefs 8 Common beliefs in American political culture A Individualism belief that anybody should achieve as much as possible B Democracy will of the people consent by the governed equal opportunity to influence government equal treatment by the law C Liberty belief that government restraint should be minimal i Liberty includes freedoms from violations of rights etc D Property belief that individuals should be free to use and obtain goods E Religion belief in religious freedom lack of a state religion i There s a negative correlation between value placed on religion and income 3 PSCI Carey except the US respect for religion despite high GDP capita ii Reynolds vs US 1878 Mormon tried for trying to marry twice Bigamy prohibited under Morrill Bigamy Act Reynolds argued that the Morrill Bigamy Act violated 1st amendment 9 Classical Liberalism philosophy of individualism empowers an individual above religious governmental or other forms of authority A Americans usually value equal opportunity over equal outcomes i Inequalities are not viewed as justifications for government action 10 Reynolds vs US 1878 Mormon tried for trying to marry twice A Bigamy prohibited under Morrill Bigamy Act Reynolds argued that the Morrill Bigamy Act violated 1st amendment 11 Islamic Center in Manhattan 2010 A Protests sparked due to construction of Islamic Center near Ground Zero i Opponent logic poor taste of location ii Proponent logic 1st amendment rights 12 Political Culture of US distrust in government belief in limited government A Conflict emerges that tension among beliefs and debate over meaning of the beliefs 13 Public opinion collective views that are central to democracy and have four elements A Salience importance of an issue B Stability the likeliness of opinion to stagnate C Direction against for etc in regards to an opinion D Intensity how strongly the direction occurs 14 Political Socialization concept by which social situations affect political views A Group attachments your culture affects your views whether it be urban etc B Peer relationships family and friends affect views C Personal experiences upbringing affects views D Education schooling affects political views 15 Measuring Public Opinion A Surveys ask questions i Open ended surveys allow elaboration but are less precise 4 PSCI Carey B Tracking poll conducted periodically over time C Exit poll personal interviews during election days to determine winner D Push poll spreads negative information about an opposing candidate E Measurement error dishonesty causes errors question wording causes errors i Ex 22 believed that the Holocaust never occurred but the wording was ii Limited response options yes or no to abortion lack of information asking about an obscure topic and lack of intensity indifference all lead to error as responsible well F Sample group chosen to represent population G Population group of interest H Random sampling sample in which every member has equal chance of selection I Sampling Error arises from sample i Ex Literary digest predicted FDR v ALf Landon wrong because it only asked