Unit 3 – Politics of Democracy

Unit 3 – Politics of Democracy

Chapter 9“A government can be no better than

the public that sustains it”Franklin D.

Roosevelt

Public OpinionAttitudes or beliefs shared by a significant portion

of adults about politics, public policy, or issues.– Measured in percentages– Must be a topic that calls for political action

• Expressed through interest groups, media reports (most unreliable), election results (most reliable) and public opinion polls (most common)

Public Opinion Polls• Straw polls

– Random samples– inaccurate

• Sample polls– Scientifically calculated– Cross section of the population

• Problems with polls– Wording can change the result– Yes or no answer to complex issues– Creates public opinion for people on

the fence– Sampling errors can effect results

The Political Spectrum• Ideology

– Set of basic beliefs on culture, life, government and society.

• Often separated into conservative and liberal views in America

• What is Conservative?• What is Liberal?

One Way to Look at things

Liberal Economics Conservative

Economic liberals favor broad government involvement in economic policymaking and regulation of business.

Economic conservatives favor limited government involvement in economic policymaking and reg. of business.

Liberal Political/Social Conservative

Social and political liberals favor limited government regulation of individual behavior.

Social and political conservatives favor broad government regulation of individual behavior.

Liberal Constitutional Conservative

Loose interpretation of the Const. Strict interpretation of the Const.

Other view• Moderates – tend to compromise important ideas on both sides• Radicals – no compromise – only one way to do things• Ideologues – opinions don’t fit either conservative or liberal views

– Tend to focus all of their energy in one issue

Most Americans hold much stronger opinions about policies that affect their own lives– Change as their lives change– Neutral about other issues

What effects ideology?Political Socialization –• The process through which an

individual acquires a particular political orientations; the learning process by which people acquire their political beliefs and values

Agents of Political Socialization

• Family– Party Identification– Most important– informal

• Schools– Public Schools– Higher Education =

more politically involved

• Peers, Friends, & Opinion Leaders– Unions and CEOs– Teachers, Talk Show

Hosts, the President

• The Media– Focus on stories that

they want to form peoples opinion

– Jay Leno & The Daily Show

– MTV “Choose or Lose”– Candidate Appearances– The Internet

• Generational Events– The Depression– WW II & the Cold War– Vietnam, Watergate,

Monica Gate– JFK, Challenger, &

9/11/01

Interest Groups• An organization of people with

common objectives who actively attempt to influence government policy makers– There is strength in numbers– Examples:

• AARP• NRA – national rifleman’s association• NEA – national education association

Purpose of Interest Groups• Influence public policy• Bridge the gap between citizens and

government– how

• Raise public awareness• Give “expert” information to public officials• Check public officials

How interest groups shape public policy

• Lobbying• Provide election support• Political Action Committees (PAC)

– Advertise for the candidate (issue ads)

– Soft money• Bring lawsuits• Demonstrations• Use of the media• Mass mailings/rate legislators