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Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6

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Page 1: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Public Opinion/Political

ActionChapter 6

Page 2: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

American People

Demography – the science of human population

Census – Taken every 10 years (decennial Reapportionment - House of Representatives

Census Bureau

Page 3: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Immigrant society

All Americans are descended from immigrants (except Native Americans)

800,000 new immigrants allowed every year

Page 4: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Melting pot – mixture of cultures, ideas and people

Minority Majority population in U.S.

Page 5: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census
Page 6: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

AFRICAN AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRAT ASIAN AMERICANS IDENTIFY MORE WITH REPUBLICANS LATINOS MORE DEMOCRATIC

Page 7: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Melting Pot

Simpson Mazzoli Act

requires that employers document the citizenship of their employees, whether U.S. citizens or legal immigrants.

Page 8: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Political Culture

Most Americans share a common set of values – What makes us American? Treating all equally*** (most agreed

upon by minority groups) Trying to get ahead Speaking English Voting Speaking up for the country Believing in God

Page 9: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census
Page 10: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Regional Shift

Florida, California, Texas – seeing largest population growth in nation

States gain or lose congressional representation as their population changes, causes power shift

Reapportionment – every 10 years after census; reallocates seats in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Page 11: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Graying of America

Nationwide – fastest growing age group is citizens over 65 Birthrate has dropped People are living

longer

As we grow older, political orientation grows firmer.

Page 12: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Political Socialization

The process of acquiring political orientations – knowledge, feelings, evaluations.

Page 13: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Family, Mass Media, School

Family – time and emotional commitment.

Majority of young people vote according to political leanings of their parents.

Page 14: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Mass Media

The “new parent” – young people spend more time watching television than at school each week

Page 15: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Public Opinion and Political Action

Formation of public opinionAn

event takes place

Media Reports Event Individuals respond to the event

Peer and secondary groups form opinions

Polls measure national public

opinion about the event

Public Opinion is

formed

Page 16: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

School

Governments throughout the world use schools to attempt to raise children committed to the basic values of the system

Teach virtues of capitalism and democracy

Page 17: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Opinion Polls Scientific or unscientific? Are respondents selected by pollster or

respondents select themselves (volunteer)?

Gallup (George Gallup) Poll – best known scientific poll

Straw poll – an informal type of voting where results have little or no direct results – just gauge opinion. Tells which way the wind is blowing.

Exit polls – public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision. Not SCIENTIFIC!

Critics of polls – politicians more concerned with following than leading

Key to accurate polls – RANDOM SAMPLING

Page 18: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Pew Research Center Happiness research

Page 20: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

American Political Ideologies

Political Ideology – set of consistent and interrelated attitudes that shape judgments about and reactions to political issues.

Page 21: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Political Socialization

Opinions – judgments on issuesAttitudes – broad orientations on issuesValues – basic ideals and beliefs on issues

Learned from family, peers, media, education, religion, groups, events, region of country, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity

Political Ideology – attitudes that shape our judgments about and reactions to political issues

Determines

Page 23: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census
Page 24: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

A few interesting facts… Younger people are less likely to vote,

therefore conservatives are overrepresented at the polls. Why?

Groups with political clout tend to be more conservative than groups whose members have often been shut out from political power

Excluded groups (African-Americans, Hispanics) often look to the government to rectify the inequalities they have faced – a more liberal view.

What will happen with the influx of many more Hispanics into the electorate?

Page 25: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

More interesting facts…

Women are not a minority group (54% of population) but have been politically and economically disadvantaged

Women are more likely than men to support spending on social services and oppose higher levels of military spending – liberal views (gender gap)

Women are more likely to support a Democratic candidate (Clinton)

Page 26: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census
Page 27: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census
Page 28: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Liberal-Conservative Self-Identification

On a 7 point scale on which the political view that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative, where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven’t you thought much about this?

Extremely liberal

Liberal

Slightly liberal

Moderate, middle of the road

Slightly conservative

Conservative

Extremely conservative

DK, haven’t thought

Page 29: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Political participation

Critical to a successful democracy Takes time and energy Requires knowledge of the political

process Most common form of participation in

U.S. = VOTING

Page 30: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Political Efficacy

people need to feel their political activity will make a difference

Everyone has the legal right to participate

Page 31: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Who participates?

The “haves” tend to speak with a louder, steadier and more influential voice than the “have-nots”

The politically active have more influence in public policy (older people)

More education, more income, older– more active

Page 32: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Ways to participate

Vote! Campaign activity Protest (Boston Tea party, ACT-UP,

civil disobedience) Non participation

Page 33: Public Opinion/Political Action Chapter 6. American People Demography – the science of human population Demography – the science of human population Census

Public’s trust in Government

Has decreased since 1954 – Why?

Civil Rights Movement Vietnam (1963-1975) Watergate (1972) Nixon resigns (1974) inflation, Oil embargoes (support for Israel in 1973 Arab-

Israeli war) Iranian Hostage crisis Soviet Union invades Afghanistan (1977), boycott Olympics

(1980) Hostage rescue failure (Carter) Reagan takes office in 1981 – Iranians release hostages. Iran – Contra (1984-1986) Slight increase in public trust of government in early

1980’s.