Public Opinion - understanding the population’s belief about
politics and policy issues
US remains one of the most DIVERSE countries in the world
today - founded on principle of tolerating diversity and
individualism.
Consequences for democracy: the least informed are also the
least likely to participate in the political process leading to
inequalities in who takes part in political action.
DEMOGRAPHY - the science of population change
Most valuable tool for understanding demographic changes =
CENSUS first conducted 1790 comply with Constitution
requirement for an “actual enumeration” of the population every
10 years.
NATION OF IMMIGRANTS
3 waves of immigrants
1. Before the Civil War - northwestern Europeans = English,
Irish, Germans, Scandinavians
2. After the Civil War - southern and eastern Europeans =
Greeks, Italians, Polish, Jews, Russian etc.
3. After WWII - Hispanics ( Cuba, Mexico, Central America)
and Asians (Vietnam, Korea, Phillippines)
US called MELTING POT (mixture of cultures, ideas, and
peoples
Now label MINORITY MAJORITY
(America will cease to have a white Anglo-Saxon majority)
SALAD BOWL
1.Largest component of the MINORITY MAJORITY currently
is the AFRICAN-AMERICAN population
2.If current immigration and birth rates continue - HISPANIC
population will outnumber the AFRICAN-AMERICAN
population in the 21st century
3.Asians Americans are the most highly skilled immigrant
group
4.Native Americans are the worst off; least healthy, poorest,
least educated
SIMPSON-MAZZOLI ACT - required all employers to
document the citizenship of their employees starting June,
1987
Must prove that they are US citizens are legal immigrants in
order to work. Employers who knowingly employed
undocumented immigrants would receive civil and criminal
penalities.
Immigrant groups worried that employers may simply
decline to hire members of such groups.
Proposed solution - controversial is denying all benefits from
gov’t programs to people who can’t prove legal residents of
US.
VIDEO
Proposition 187 - won the vote lost in enforcement.
Courts said violated rights of illegal immigrants as well as
national laws concerning eligibility for federal funded
benefits
Held to be unconstitutional state scheme to regulate
immigration
Courts said states can’t deny public services to illegal aliens
Republican platform stated illegal aliens should not receive
public benefits except for emergency aids
Those who become parents while illegally in US should not
quality to claim benefits for offspring.
Political Socialization - process through which an individual
acquires his or her own political orientations
Only a portion of political learning is formal
Agents of socialization - family, mass media (new parents),
schools,
Politics is a lifelong activity
Aging increases one’s political participation and
strength to party attachment
Political behavior is learned behavior
WHICH ARE YOU? LIBERAL or CONSERVATIVE

Economic liberals favor broad
government involvement in
economic policymaking and
regulation of business.
Favor higher taxes,
particularly progressive
(based on income level).
Programs assisting the poor
such as Medicaid and Head
Start.
Redistribution of income
(welfare; social security).
Anti-trust legislation.
Sympathize with labor in
Labor-Management issues.
Extreme: Socialism, Communism

Economic conservatives favor
limited government
involvement in economic
policymaking and regulation
of business.
Favor lower taxes,
particularly regressive (flat
tax, sales taxes).
Fewer programs with the
goal of redistributing income
(private charitable
assistance; invest own
money for retirement).
Oppose government
regulation of market
choices.
Sympathize with business in
Labor-Management issues.
Extreme: Laissez-Faire, Monopoly
Govt.
Control
Freedom
Conservative
Totalitarian
Libertarian
Liberal
Economic Issues
Govt.
Control
 Liberal
 Conservative
Support for greater
government
control/regulation
in economic matters
and less government
control/regulation
of individual
matters.
 Libertarian
Support for minimal
government control
of both economic
and social issues
Support for less
government
control/regulation
in economic matters
and greater
government
control/regulation
of individual
matters.
 Totalitarian
Support for complete
government control
of economic and
social issues
 Favor
loose
construction – a
broad interpretation
 Constitutional
interpretation may
change as modern
society evolves
 What are our
standards today?
Liberal
 Favor
strict
construction – a
narrow
interpretation
 Constitutional
interpretation should
remain constant
through the years
 What did the
founders mean?
Conservative
 Favor
change over
status quo
Liberal
 Rights
of the
Individual are more
important
 Favor
tradition over
change
Conservative
 Rights
of the
community are more
important
Voter A: “I worked my
way up from poverty to
become the successful
business owner I am
today. I get frustrated
when I think that my tax
money goes to support
people who won’t help
themselves. I think part
of the blame belongs with
the media – they promote
all the wrong values.”
Voter B: “I really don’t
care what other people do
in their free time, as long
as they don’t bother me.
I sure don’t like it when
the government tells me
what to do with my
money or in my own home
– I’m certainly not going
to turn around and do the
same thing to my
neighbors.”
Ideology?
Ideology?
Voter C: “I really worry
about the state of the
world today. It seems
like more and more kids
are growing up in
poverty and there’s no
one there to help them.
I think we need to do
more toward providing
healthcare and
education programs for
our young people.”
Voter D: “These days, you
can’t be too careful. I think
we need to spend a lot more
money on the national
defense. I wish there was a
police officer on every
corner! The police could
search my car all they want,
since I don’t break the law.
I also think the government
should crack down on the
media – their reporting gives
our enemies an inside look
at all our military
preparations.”
Ideology?
Ideology?
Govt.
Control
Conservative
Totalitarian
Most people will fit
somewhere within the
parameters of this circle.
Libertarian
Freedom
Liberal
Economic Issues
Govt.
Control
MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION
Public Opinion - distribution of people’s belief and politics and
policy issues
Polls measure public opinion developed by George Gallup 1932
Polls rely on a sample of the population
Sample is 1500 - 2000 can represent a “universe”
ex. Literary Digest Poll
Key to accuracy is RANDOM sampling - everyone should have an
equal possibility of being selected
Sampling Error (margin of error) - 3-5% error –
level of confidence
Computer and telephone technology is less expensive - random
digit dialing
ROLE OF POLLS IN AMERICA
1. Supporters of polling consider it a tool for democracy which
policy makers can keep in touch with changing opinions on issues
2. Critics of polling thinks it makes politicians more concerned
with following than leading
3. Polls actually Weaken democracy b/c permits gov’t to think
that it has taken public opinion when passive
4. Polls weaken democracy by distorting the election process bandwagon effect support candidate only b/c others doing it
5. Exit polls are most criticized- altering wording of questions.,
imposing a bias (Time Zone Fallout)
POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES
Def - is a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy
LIBERALS vs. CONSERVATIVES
Authors of The American Voter looked carefully at the ideological sophistication of the
American electorate in the 1950s. They divided the public into 4 groups according to
ideological sophistication.
1. Ideologues - 12% could connect their opinions and beliefs with
broad policy positions taken by parties or candidates.
2. Group benefits voters - 42% of Americans thought of politics mainly
by the groups they liked or disliked.
3. Nature of the times voters - the “handle on politics” of 24% of the
population was limited to whether the times seemed good or bad
to them
4. No issue content voter - 22% of the voters were devoid of any
ideological or issue content in their political evaluations; voted
routinely for a party or judged the candidates by their personalities.
Reagan’s victories in 1980s was analyzed that people liked
Reagan but not his policies (in practice, they support
increased government spending and intervention for most
domestic programs) which runs contrary to the notion of a
swing toward conservatism
Clinton’s centrist policies remain popular, again counter to
claims that public opinion has shifted to conservatism.
No shift to conservatism b/c many swing voters care more
about results than ideology.
ex. 1980 election more about getting Carter out of office
than voting Reagan in; 1992 economic downturn, same
swing voters propelled Clinton into White House pursued
centrist policies and enjoyed a good economy.
HOW AMERICANS PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS
Political participation encompasses the many activities used
by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders.
Political scientists distinguish 2 broad types of participation
1. Conventional participation includes many widely accepted
modes of influencing gov’t such as voting trying to persuade
other, ringing doorbells for a petition and running for office.
2. Unconventional participation includes activities that are
often dramatic such as protesting, civil disobedience and
even violence
Protest - form of political participation designed to achieve
policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics
Civil Disobedience - consciously breaking the law that they
think is unjust (ex. Rosa Parks)
Can be nonviolent (MLK) or violent (Vietnam)
Participation is a class-based activity with citizens of higher
socioeconomic status participating more than others.
Minority groups participate less.