POLS 206 1st Edition Exam 2 Study Guide Lecture 9 Chapter 6 Public Opinion and Political Action o 6 1 American Melting Pot A nation of nations 1 million legal immigrants a year 500000 illegal immigrants a year 12 of residents foreign born Minority Majority Hispanic population growing rapidly Regional Shif Northeast most populous West and south growing since WWII Sun belt migration Arizona Texas Florida Political power of these areas increasing Reapportionment reallocation of seats in House of Representatives 435 seats Once each decade afer census Graying of America Over 65 fastest growing age group People living longer Fertility rate lower Implications for social security Ratio changing Politically sensitive o 6 2 Process of Political Socialization Civics class tip of iceberg Family Biggest agent in socialization Attributed to monopoly on your time Central role Time and emotional commitment Mass and media The new parents and teachers TV called new parents Age gap in following politics School Forming civic virtue o Leads to forming own political ideology Political Learning over a Lifetime Increasing participation with age Party identification strengthens Political behavior is learned 6 3 How Polls are Conducted Sample Random sample Key to accuracy of any public opinion poll Sampling error Every poll has some kind of sampling error Larger the sample the less the error will be Random digit dialing Scientifically everyone has an equal chance to be chosen Cell phones Internet polling Not scientific and should not be trusted Biased because they cannot be random Gallop poll is very reliable Role of Polls in American Democracy Polling as a tool for democracy pros and cons Gauge opinion between elections Following rather than leading Pandering or shaping Bandwagon effect Exit polls Affect election results Question wording Close ended questions don t show intensity but openended questions cant be reported Lecture 10 What Polls Reveal About Americans Political Information Americans are uninformed Jeffersonian faith in wisdom of common people unfounded Young people most uninformed Who is responsible for the ill informed electorate We are mostly apathy people need to take time to get informed Paradox of mass politics Decline of Trust in Government The great slide Vietnam war American people being lied to about the progress of the war Watergate Richard Nixon sparked domestic scandal o o o Economy hostage crisis Is public cynicism good We should question our government Negative effects on programs for the poor 6 4 Do People Think in Ideological Terms Types of voters Ideologues 12 Voters who vote based on issues did research and voted for who they agreed with Group benefits Vote based on groups of who they like and dislike any group not necessarily political party Nature of the times 42 Vote based on Are you better off than you were 4 years ago Retrospective voting No issue content 22 Based on character of candidate 6 5 How Americans Participate in Politics Conventional Participation Voting working on campaigns run for office write letters etc Protest as participation Unconventional Civil disobedience you knowingly break the law because you feel that the law is unjust and are willing to face the consequences India Civil rights movement in the US Open conflict war Class inequality and participation Higher socio economic status higher participation rates Minorities vote at nearly equal levels What are the policy implications of lower political participation 6 6 Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government Should government do more or less In peacetime most Americans say less But public opinion is complex and inconsistent Ideological conservatives don t want taxes Operational liberals want services Policy gridlock People are to blame because voters put politicians in government Democracy Public Opinion and Political Action Public opinion is very important in democracy Representative democracy Decide who governs Is public fit to choose its leaders Chapter 8 Political Parties o 8 1 Tasks of the Parties Political Parties team of men and women with similar interests seeking to control the government by placing their representatives into office through dually contested elections Linkage institutions Parties elections interest groups media Tasks that parties perform Pick candidates Run campaigns Give cues to voters Articulate policies Coordinate policies Parties Voters and Policy Downs Model Downsian Model Argues that winning the election is everything Rational Choice theory Political scientist Anthony Downs model Most voters are moderate Center of political spectrum Parties seek voter loyalty Position themselves to lef and right of center Need independent voters but must have their base turn out Wise party selects policy that is widely favored Lecture 11 Know the 3 heads of the political giant and what they mean o 8 2 Party in the Electorate 1st Head of Political Giant largest Party membership is psychological Citizens think they know what parties stand for Choose parties based on affinity with personal preferences More Americans identify as independents 40 Party identification is declining Since 1960 s independents have been rising o 8 3 Party Organization From Grass Roots to Washington 2nd Head of political Giant Local Parties Once main party organization Party machines Rewarded voters New York and Chicago o o Patronage concept of material rewards for loyal voters ex Needing anything from trash can to a job Jobs for voters and contributors Progressive reforms ended this system 50 State Party System No two exactly alike Some well funded some weak Permanent headquarters Provide technical services Open or closed primaries Closed states with this have stronger parties you must register with a party to vote in that party s primary Open only have to register to vote Straight ticket voting Single column or random list of candidates National Party Organizations National Convention supreme authority within the party Meets every four years Writes party platform Formal nomination of candidates National Committee Operates between conventions keep the party going in between elections Led by national chairperson 8 4 Party in Government Promises and Policy 3rd Head of political giant Party in power determines policy Coalitions support parties Most presidents fail to implement campaign promises But they do live up to some of them Party platforms are blueprints 8 5 Party Eras in American History 1796 1824 First