POLS 206 1st EditionExam # 2 Study GuideLecture 9-Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Actiono6.1-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 o6.2-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-Leads to forming own political ideology -Political Learning over a Lifetime Increasing participation with age Party identification strengthens Political behavior is learned o6.3-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 open-ended questions cant be reportedLecture 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-Economy/hostage crisis Is public cynicism good?-We should question our government -Negative effects on programs for the poor o6.4-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 yearsago?"-Retrospective voting -No issue content (22%)-Based on character of candidate o6.5 -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?o6.6-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 o8.1-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 o8.2-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 o8.3-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-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