AP GOVERNMENT/POLITICS
Public Opinion/Political Participation
Sept.– Oct.
UNIT OUTLINE: Dates and assignments subject to adjustment – there may be
additions/deletions. Every effort will be made to give you advance notice when there is a
change.
READING:
1. Schmidt: Ch. 6 (second half of Ch. 1 again) (*quiz will be announced)
2. Burns – Chapter 4, 5, 8 (* read 8 first)
3. Lanahan – Key – Public Opinion and American Democracy
NOTE: Keep up with the reading in order to be prepared for class.
ID’s/QUESTIONS (Schmidt)
Use the textbook website online to do the Tutorial Quiz and Essay Questions. Send the
results in email.
1. Ch. 6: Due TEST:
ID”S/QUESTIONS (Burns)
ID’s – Use the Prentice Hall website to do the practice test and glossary quiz and send in
email.
1. Chapter 4, 5 due (* already did id’s for ch. 4 – questions only for ch.4)
2. Chapter 8
due
QUESTIONS – Use the textbook reading/class notes to answer the following:
Chapter 4
1. Define ideology and identify (id only, explain later) five schools of political thought about ideology.
2. Explain why few Americans consider themselves political extremists.
3. Compare the differences between liberalism and conservatism on the issue of tolerance and support
for civil liberties.
4. What are the key philosophical assumptions about liberalism, conservatism, socialism?
environmentalism and libertarianism?
Chapter 5
1. Define the following: political socialization and demographics.
2. Identify ways in which religion can be important in American politics.
3. What is the relationship between different education levels and political behavior?
Chapter 8
1. What are the main characteristics of public opinion?
2. How does public opinion/polling affect public policy (what government does)?
3. What factors influence voter turnout?
4. Describe the demographics of persons that vote.
5. Why do some Democrats say that the 2000 Presidential election was not fair?
AP GOVERNMENT/POLITICS: Public Opinion/Political Participation
STUDY GUIDE
1. Political Participation
a. who votes/who doesn’t? (think demographics)
b. voting “strategies”
2. Men vs. Women
a. participation
b. women in the political process
3. “Typical” Democrats and Republicans
4. Voter Turnout
a. what is it?
b. registration issues
c. factors impacting turnout
5. The American Electorate
a. changes
b. causes of the changes
c. effect of the changes
6. Other Types of Political Participation
7. Public Opinion
a. polling
i. getting reliable information
b. interpreting charts/graphs/data
8. Changes in Public Opinion
a. relating to political behavior and political participation
9. Public Opinion and Race
10. The Media and Public Opinion