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Wiki is the Hawaiian word for quickWiki is the Hawaiian word for quick

Chapter 11, Section 1Chapter 11, Section 1Public Opinion Public Opinion

Main Idea: Main Idea:

Politicians pay close attention to public Politicians pay close attention to public opinion because they know that public opinion because they know that public support is necessary to stay in office and support is necessary to stay in office and achieve their goals!!!achieve their goals!!!

I. I. Forming Public OpinionForming Public Opinion A. A. Public Opinion-Public Opinion- ideas and attitudes ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and officials, candidates, government, and political issues. political issues. ***It helps shape ***It helps shape decisions made by the president.***decisions made by the president.***B.B. Public opinion is not uniform. Many Public opinion is not uniform. Many opinions exist throughout the country. opinions exist throughout the country. ***Enough people need to have the ***Enough people need to have the same opinion to actually influence same opinion to actually influence government.***government.***

***People’s backgrounds and life ***People’s backgrounds and life experiences influence public experiences influence public opinion.***opinion.***

C.C. TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, books…these all make up the movies, books…these all make up the mass media.mass media.

***Mass media often affects the attitudes ***Mass media often affects the attitudes of citizens.***of citizens.***

D.D. Political leaders and public officials Political leaders and public officials influence public opinion. influence public opinion. ***They state ***They state their views and ideas to the media, their views and ideas to the media, trying to persuade people.***trying to persuade people.***

E.E. Interest GroupsInterest Groups-- people who share a people who share a point of view about an issue point of view about an issue

***These people work to persuade public ***These people work to persuade public officials about their views!!!***officials about their views!!!***

II. II. Components of Public OpinionComponents of Public OpinionA.A. Experts often describe public opinion in Experts often describe public opinion in

three key terms.three key terms.

1. 1. DirectionDirection refers to whether opinions on refers to whether opinions on a topic are positive or negative, for or a topic are positive or negative, for or against.against.

2. 2. IntensityIntensity refers to the strength of an refers to the strength of an opinion on an issue.opinion on an issue.

3. 3. StabilityStability means how firmly people hold means how firmly people hold their views. Public Opinion on their views. Public Opinion on candidates is relatively unstable.candidates is relatively unstable.

B.B. Polls question people from across the Polls question people from across the U.S. Samples reflect the entire U.S. Samples reflect the entire population to provide accuracy. population to provide accuracy.

***Must be fair and unbiased ***Must be fair and unbiased questions.***questions.***

***1. ***1. Pros-Pros- support democracy by allowing support democracy by allowing officials to keep in touch with public on officials to keep in touch with public on issuesissues

***2. ***2. Cons-Cons- polling makes officials more polling makes officials more concerned about worrying about polls concerned about worrying about polls instead of leading the nation.instead of leading the nation.

III. III. Measuring Public OpinionMeasuring Public Opinion (261-262) (261-262)A. Election results give broad measure of A. Election results give broad measure of

public opinion. More accurate measures public opinion. More accurate measures come from surveys and come from surveys and public opinion public opinion pollspolls..

B. Most presidents have a B. Most presidents have a pollsterpollster- a - a specialist whose job is to poll regularly.specialist whose job is to poll regularly.

C.C. Many worry that polls distort elections. Many worry that polls distort elections. ***Media constantly releases poll #’s, ***Media constantly releases poll #’s, letting the public know who is ahead letting the public know who is ahead at the moment. This takes the focus at the moment. This takes the focus off the actual issue at hand.*** off the actual issue at hand.***

******The framers created a representative The framers created a representative democracy that responds to the democracy that responds to the wishes of the people yet is shaped by wishes of the people yet is shaped by other influences too.***other influences too.***

11.1 Mini Quiz!!!11.1 Mini Quiz!!!A.) Pollster B.) Interest Group C.) Mass A.) Pollster B.) Interest Group C.) Mass

Media D.) Medium E.) Public OpinionMedia D.) Medium E.) Public Opinion 1. People who share a point of view on an 1. People who share a point of view on an

issue.issue.2. Specialist whose job is to conduct 2. Specialist whose job is to conduct

surveys.surveys.3. Ideas and attitudes that most people hold 3. Ideas and attitudes that most people hold

about the government.about the government.4. TV, Radio, Newspaper, Movies….4. TV, Radio, Newspaper, Movies….5. A Mechanism of communication5. A Mechanism of communication

6. The question of whether people support or oppose tax 6. The question of whether people support or oppose tax cuts falls under which feature of public opinion?cuts falls under which feature of public opinion? A. StabilityA. Stability C. UnityC. Unity B. Direction B. Direction D. IntensityD. Intensity

7. Some people support public-opinion polls 7. Some people support public-opinion polls because they believe:because they believe:

A. Polls Distort ElectionsA. Polls Distort ElectionsB. Polls focus on who is winning rather than on B. Polls focus on who is winning rather than on issues.issues.C. Polling supports democracy. C. Polling supports democracy. D. Polling makes officials concerned with following the D. Polling makes officials concerned with following the public rather than leading. public rather than leading.

8. What issue brings out the most “intensity” in 8. What issue brings out the most “intensity” in you? you?

EX. Abortion, Religion, War, Gay Rights, Environment EX. Abortion, Religion, War, Gay Rights, Environment etc….etc….