Political Culture Def set of widely shared political

Political Culture • Def: set of widely shared political beliefs and values • Values/Beliefs about Political System – Liberty – Equality-oppurtunity/due process/equal protection – Individualism (limits on this? ) – Democracy/Pop. Consent – Civic Duty – Justice – Nationalism/Idealism • If ideals shared, why so much conflict?

Sources of Pol. Culture • • • Experience with British: mistrust authority/power Political Parties/Linkage Institutions Religious Diversity Family Values Class Inherent conflict – Personal freedom v. control – Majority v. minority rights

Where Do You Stand? • War in Afghanistan • National Security • Rights of Terror Suspects • Nuclear Weapons • Immigration • Gun Control • Debt • Campaign Finance • Policy Towards Iran/N. Korea • • • The Death Penalty Gay Marriage Global Warming Abortion Healthcare Affirmative Action Welfare Syria Tax Policy English = Nat’l Language

Public Opinion Where Do You Stand on the Issues?

Political Socialization • Political Socialization – Process thru which a person acquires their knowledge, feelings, & evaluations of the pol. World (political values)…continual process • Public Opinion = End result of this process

Influences on Political Socialization • Family – Most influential earlier in life – Trend of passing on party ID ↓, why? • Media – Huge increase w/ internet; 24 hr. news cycle – Narrowcasting • School/Education – National values – Liberalizing effect of college – Higher levels of participation • Peers & Social Groups • Growing influence around High School

Influences on Political Socialization • Region • Political Events – Major events shift thinking—New Deal; 9/11 • Religion – Catholics/Jews—Liberal – Protestant/Evangelicals—Conservative • Occupation – Professors/Lawyers—Liberal – Oil Industry/Defense--Conservative

Impact of Demographics • Age – Youth: More liberal; Least likely to vote – Elderly: Highest pol. Participation; Conserv. • Gender – Gender Gap: Women more liberal – Men more conservative • Income Level – Wealthier—more conservative • Race – Minorities—more liberal

What’s Meant by Liberal & Conservative • Ideology: – Coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, & role of government – Measure in terms of frequency of self-identification – Gives meaning to pol. events/policies/personalities

What is Meant by Liberal & Conservative • Left…Liberals – – – Social Reform Govt. Reg. of Economy Nat’l Healthcare Pro-Choice Loose Constructionist Judicial Activism • Dealignment • Trend of more Americans moving to center on pol. spectrum • Right…Conservative – – – Social Conservative Less Govt. Reg. of Econ. Private Health Insurance Pro-Life Strict Constructionist Judicial Restraint Elites & Activists (Ideologues): • More Consistent Ideologies • More informed • Intensity of beliefs

• Def: What is Public Opinion? – Attitudes about instit. , leaders, issues, & events – Specific groups thoughts about a certain policy issue or event at a given point in time • Unstable • Many Americans Uninformed • Subject to many influences…What influences public opinion? • Uses – Measure popularity/success of policy – Define issues & guide decisions • What influences public opinion? Groups? • History of trying to infl. pub. opinion

Measuring Public Opinion • How are Ideology, Socialization, & Public Opinion related? • How is public opinion measured? – Polls – Elections – Interest Groups – Media Coverage

What are polls? • What are polls used for? – Measure of public opinion – Track/monitor short term developments; influence strategy • Key Elements to Scientific Polling – Picking a sample…is it representative? Random Sampling – What is an effective sample size? – Contact: When/How? . . . phone/face to face • Exit Polls – Phrasing Questions…avoid bias – Questions must provide an option – Findings influenced by the process – Pens & Polls: Nicaragua’s 1 st Dem. Election – Analyze & Report Data – Margin of Error

Political Polls • Tracking Polls: – Monitor short term developments and impact strategies (daily) – Small samples • Exit Polls – Election Day… – What’s a common criticism of Exit Polls? • Polls: A tool for democracy? – Provide way for public to express its opinions – Enables politicians to implement public preferences on key issues

Criticisms of Polls • Polls transform leaders into followers • Distort Election Process – Bandwagon Effect; Exit Polls • Bandwagon Effect: polls can influence people to support a candidate simply because they see others doing so – Media & Polls • Influences Elections/how public perceives an issue • Iowa Straw Poll • Sampling Error/Quality of Sample • Sample’s knowledge of topic – Can’t measure intangibles (sample’s intensity/ stability of beliefs) • Power of wording Colbert Interviews Frank Luntz: The G. O. P. Whisperer

Power of Words…Frank Luntz • Language Error: “Estate Tax” • Adjustment: “Death Tax” • Language Error: “Relaxed Air Quality Standards” • Adjustment: “Clear Skies Initiative” • Language Error: “Smaller Government” • Adjustment: “More Effective & Efficient Govt. ” • Language Error: “Control the growth of Social Security & Medicare” • Adjustment: “Save & Strengthen Entitlements”

Media and Public Opinion • How does the media play a role in public opinion? – Agenda Setting (Gatekeeper) – Bias – Source of Pol. Info – Differences between media • Criticisms of media – Oversimplify complex issues – Reduce major stories to sound-bites – Focus on the sensational & trivial – Constant polling leads to… Polls: Telling America What to Think

Pew Research Polls: Partisan Politics, Distrust in Government…What gives?