The widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that
citizens share about their government.
Make your own way!
Of Opportunity, not the result.
Progressive Era: Anti-Trust Laws
(control corporations), Labor laws/regulations
“I am not a
crook”
Watergate
Partisanship/
Divided govt.
Vietnam
Cost of elections
Political Efficacy
One’s own
understanding
and competence
of government.
Belief one can
have an impact on
government
Has stayed steady
through time
Has declined
through time
•Abundant and fertile land
•Countless opportunities to acquire land/make
living
•Lack of feudal society
•Independent spirit
Uses:
•Inform the public
•Inform candidates
•Inform office holders
•Exit polls
•Representative
Sample
•Random Sampling
•Respondent’s
Knowledge
•Objective Wording
•Accuracy: Straw
Poll
Process in which people acquire their political beliefs
(ideology: conservative/liberal)
•Strongest
•Fairly equal influence of mother and father
•When differ, associate with closest parent
•Impact of growing number of Independents
•Higher income More conservative
and supportive of Republicans
•Lower incomes- More liberal and
supportive of Democrats
•Conflicting results
•College students today v. past.
•College students more liberal
than general population
•Most prestigious- most liberal
Whites: More conservative (more Republican)
Blacks: More liberal (strongest support of
Democratic Party) >90%
Hispanics: Cubans v. Mexican Americans
Asians:
•Protestant: More conservative generally
•Evangelicals more on social issues and econ
•Catholic: Traditionally more liberal (Economic)
than on social issues (Abortion issue)
•Jewish: Most liberal (Strong support for the
Democratic Party)
•1900’sconservative
•1992 Year of the Woman
•Clinton and Soccer Moms
•Gender Gap: Sex sensitive issues, compare to past
•Security Moms
•NASCAR Dads
•Coastal Cities: environment
•Urban areas: immigrants,
minorities
•Solid South
•Rust Belt
•Rural areas
(religion?)
Set of beliefs and values that shape a person’s view
1. Classic Liberalism
•Limited role of
govt.
•Govt. seen as chief
threat to liberty
•Protect property
rights
•Expanded role of
govt. (New Deal)
•Corporations seen as
chief threat to liberty
•Need govt. to
“smooth out the rough
edges of capitalism”
•Role: protect people’s
well being
Less likely to rely upon govt.
to solve problems
Not as involved as “New
Deal” liberals
•Reagan/Bush 41/ Bush 43
•Strength in formally “Solid South”
•Emphasis on private sector to solve
problems, not government
•Strong support for tax cuts
•More social control
•Prayer in school
•Emphasis on “free market”
•Anti-Gay
Marriage
•Free enterprise
•Anti-Abortion
In all cases
Few
regulations
Comparison with other
countries
Why?
•Property restrictions (Andrew
Jackson)
•Race: 15th Amendment
•Women: 19th Amendment
•Income: 24th Amendment
•Literacy: Voting Rights Act of 1965
•Minimum age of 21: 26th
Amendment
Less voting
power per
person
(Voting is a linkage institution)
•Registration (motor voter Bill)
•Long Ballot: Excessive number of
issues to vote on
•Type of election: General, Primary,
midterm, state
•Difficulty in obtaining absentee ballots
•Too many elections: Ballot fatigue
•Weekday, non-holiday voting
•Lack of political efficacy
•Dissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.
•Weakness of parties’ ability to mobilize voters
Don’t like either,
so why vote?
•Education: Level is highest predictor
•Income: High vs. Low
•Age: 18-24 lowest 45 and up highest
•Race: White vs. minorities
•Cross-cutting cleavages
•Religious Involvement
In your opinion, what is the single most influential reason for
not voting?
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