1.Discusspublicopinionandwhyitissoimportantinahealthydemocracy.

Explainwhypublicpolicyoftendiffersfrompublicopinion.

RoderickHarthasarguedthatdemocracyisthreatenedbyhopelessness,aimlessness,contentedness,
rigidity,anomieandhegemony.Collectivelytheseforcescancausearealdragonourpoliticalefficacy.
Inthisunitwewillbeassessingthestrengthofourdemocracybylookingatourcriticallinkage
institutions.WhenourAmericangovernmentandpoliticsworks,itdoessobecauseofahealthy
relationship.Linkageinstitutionslikepoliticalpartiesandelectionsconnectwethepeopletothe
governmentofourchoosing.Theresultofgovernmentactingunresponsivelyisadeclineinpolitical
efficacy.Butwhenthecriticallinkageinstitutionslikepoliticalpartiesandelectionsbuildatruly
representativeandresponsivegovernmentourefficacyincreases.Andwhenthathappensour
democracyremainsstrong.

Politicalhopelessnessandaimlessnessisassuagedbyourabilitytoactivelyparticipateinour
government.Todosoonemustfirstformulateaclearsetofideas.Aclearsetofattitudes,opinionsand
ideasiscalledapoliticalideology.Surprisinglyourpoliticalideologyisformedatayoungage.Here,
familyplaysthebiggestrole.Thepoliticalorientationsofourparentshaveanenormousimpactonour
worldview.Sotoododemographiccharacteristicsthatoftenlayoutofourcontrol.

Certaindemographiccharacteristicshaveaprofoundinfluenceonourpoliticalattitudes.Theyare:
gender,age,religion,race,education,occupation,economicstatusandregion.Together,alongwith
parentalinfluences,wehaveaseeminglyinherentpoliticalbent.Thesepoliticaldispositionsalignto
certainlabelsusedinourdemocraticsystemtosimplifyandorganizethecitizenry.Politicalscientists
havetraditionallyusedapoliticalspectrumtosimplifyandprovideclaritytotheconsequencesofourcivic
opinions.

Publicopinioninourdemocracyisvitalbutitdoesnotwieldunfetteredinfluence.Elitescontinuetoexert
adisproportionateinfluence.Additionally,ourconstitutionhasputintoplacemanychecksuponthe
influenceofpublicopinion.OriginallyonlymembersofourHouseofRepresentativesweredirectly
elected.Theothernationalofficeswerechosenbyothermeans.Senatorsandfederaljudgeswere
appointedpresidentschosenbyanelectoralcollege.Neverthelessourpoliticalcontinuestogrowmore
andmoredemocratic.Practicallyspeakingthismeansthatpublicopinionisgrowingmoreandmore
important.
Eachunitofstudyisbrokendownintoten(10)essentialobjectives.Eachobjectiverequiresacontextof
understanding.Youwillfindthatcontexthere.Readcarefully.Eachwordmatters.Intheendwehope
thatbydistillingthecontentofAmericangovernmentandpoliticstoitsbareessentialsalargernumber
thenbeforecancountthemselvesaseducatedcitizens.Withoutsuchacitizenryourhopeforabright
futureisinperil.

2.DiscusswhereAmericansgettheirpoliticalvaluesandexplaintheprocessofpolitical
socialization.
Explainthesignificanceofthepoliticalspectrum.

Learningtothinkpoliticallyisaprocessknownaspoliticalsocialization.Asstatedabove,thistypically
doesnothappenwhilecontemplatingdeepthoughtsinyourroom.Accordingtopoliticalsciencedata,
demographiccharacteristicsjumpstartourengagementinthepoliticalprocess.Belowyouwilllearn
aboutwhatthelatestdatasuggestsaboutthesecharacteristics.Checkoutifitisgenerallytrueforyou.
[Note:thesearegeneralizationsandnotabsolutecharacterizations].


Gender:MentendtobemoreconservativeandthereforesupportersoftheRepublicanParty.Women,on
theotherhand,aremoreliberalandsidewithDemocrats.Canyouguesswhy?

Age:Theruleofthumbhereistheolderyouarethemorelikelyyouaretobeconservative.

Religion:Fewdemographiccharacteristicsareastellingasthis.Citizenswhofaithfullypracticetheir
religiontendtobemoreconservative.Protestantismisthemostconservativereligion.BaseRepublicans
tendtobeactiveProtestants.Oftenlabeledtheconservativeright,thesefaithfulRepublicanvotersare
calledevangelicals.Catholics,despitetheirconservativeviewsonsocialissues,leanleftonthepolitical
spectrum.SlimmajoritiesofCatholicsstillvotefortheDemocraticParty.Jewshistoricallyhave
overwhelminglysupportedliberalDemocrats.TheirreligiousalsosidewithDemocrats.

Race:Caucasiansasagrouparemostoftenfoundontherightsideofthepoliticalspectrum.
AfricanAmericansarethemostreliablesubgroupontheleft.NinetypercentofallAfricanAmericans
voteDemocratic.PacificRimcitizens,duetotheirreligiousandfamilytraditions,tendtotherightandthe
RepublicanParty.

Education:Themoreeducatedyouarethemorelikelyyouaretobeconservative.Theoneexception
wouldbethosecitizensholdinggraduatedegrees.Statisticallycollegegraduatesnarrowlyvote
Republican.ThosewithlesseducationnarrowlyvoteDemocratic.

Occupation:Educationinfluencesthisdemographiccharacteristicmorethenanyother.Those
occupationsrequiringmoreeducationtendleanmoretotheconservativeside.Whitecollarjobslean
RepublicanwhilebluecollarjobstendtobemoreDemocratic.Thismeanslaborunions,asmallerand
smallerpercentageofourtotalworkforce,arereliablevotersontheleft.

Economicstatus:TheRepublicanPartyanditsvaluestendtoaappealtothemiddleclass.The
DemocraticPartychampionslowerclasses.Thewealthyaremoresplitintheirpoliticalallegiances.
Determiningthepoliticalpersuasionofthewealthydependsuponotherleadingdemographicingredients.

Region:DemocratsdobetterinurbanenvironmentswhileRepublicanswinmoreinsuburbanandrural
areas.LiberalDemocratsdominatetheNortheast.TheSouthisSOLIDLYconservativeandRepublican.
TheWestcoastnowleansstronglyliberalthoughthePlainsareclearlyconservative.Manyofthefiercest
politicalbattlegroundstatesnowresideintheMidwest.

3.Discusstheaffectsofcrosscuttingcleavagesinpublicopinion.

Butwhatifcertaindemographiccharacteristicscontradicteachother?Forinstance,whereonthe
spectrumwouldIbeifmyreligionpushedmerightbutmyracepushedmeleft?Thesedemographic
tensionsarecalledcrosscuttingcleavages.Therearenoeasyruleswhenitcomestoreconcilingcross
cuttingcleavagesonthepoliticalspectrum.Certaindemographiccharacteristics,however,havegreater
influence.Thesewouldbereligion,raceandeducation.Crosscuttingcleavagesremindusthatlabels
canhelpusunderstandourpoliticsbuttheyarenotabsolutelydeterminative.Intheendyourpolitical
viewsareabyproductnotonlyofdemographiccharacteristicsbutlifeexperiencesthataretrulyunique.
Ithasbeensaidthatzipcodeisdestiny.Thoughnotcompletelyaccurateitisahelpfulstartingpoint
whentryingtounderstandAmericangovernmentandpolitics.

4.Explainthefactorsthataffectthevalidityofpublicopinionpolls.

Politicaldata,suchaswehavelearnedabove,isculledfromscientificallycollectedpublicopinionpolls.
Publicopinionpollsmeasurewhatwethepeoplethinkatanygivenpoint.Yetnotallpollsareaccurate
measurementsofpublicopinion.Therearecertaincautionarystepsweshouldtakebeforeacceptingthe
validityofapublicopinionpoll.Accuratepollsareunbiased.Pollsamplesneedtoberandom.A
sufficientsamplesizeisalsorequired.Perhapsmostimportantisthemarginoferror.Whatistherange
ofresultsonecouldexpectifaninfinitenumberwereincludedinthepoll?A+/4marginoferroris
consideredacceptable.Thewayquestionsarewordedinapollisalsoimportant.Notunlikeideological
labelspublicopinionpollsprovidethepoliticalprocessanimportantshortcut.Theycanbeused
improperly.Pushpolls,forinstance,donotmeasureopinionbutratherattempttoshapeopinion.Push
pollsareconsideredunethical.

Inarepresentativegovernmentlikeoursitisabsolutelynecessarytoknowwhatthepeoplewant.First
labelandgrouptogetherlikemindedcitizens.Thencollectopinionsontheissues.Takentogetherthese
shortcutsenableourelectedofficialstoproperlyrepresentthecitizenry.Whendoneproperlyourpolitical
efficacyisstrong.Moreimportantlyitdemonstratesthatourdemocracyworks.

Onceweunderstandthepoliticalsocializationprocessandaccepttheimportanceofmeasuringpublic
opinioninscientificpollswehaveanimportantquestiontoanswernowwhat?Democracyisaverb.
WithcomparativelyhighlevelsofpoliticalefficacycitizensintheUnitedStatesactupontheirbeliefs.
ThoughvotingisthehighestformofpoliticalparticipationintheUnitedStatestherearemanymoreways
todemonstrateourcivicwill.

5.ExplainwhatitmeanstobeaLIBERALand/orCONSERVATIVEaDEMOCRATand/or
REPUBLICAN.

Nowthatwehaveexplainedtheimpactofdemographiccharacteristicsonourcivicdispositions,letslook
attheessentiallabelsfoundontheAmericanpoliticalspectrum.

Thepoliticalright:Therightsideofthepoliticalspectrumisreservedforconservatives.TheRepublican
Partyrepresentsconservativesinourgovernment.Conservativestendtolookback.Theyarefondof
theglorydaysofthepast.Conservativestendtoholdtraditionalmoralvalues.Theyapproveof
governmentinterventionwhenupholdingthesevalues.Forinstance,conservativespushtheRepublican
Partytoadvocateagainstabortion,druguseandsexualpromiscuity.Theydonot,however,welcome
governmentinterferenceinprivatebusinessaffairs.Conservativesspeakloudlyaboutmarketforcesand
thefreeflowofcapital.Republicanpoliciessupportsmallbusinessandlowertaxes.Ontherightsideof
thepoliticalspectrumyoufindconservativeswhoaresupportedbytheRepublicanParty.

Thepoliticalleft:Theleftsideofthepoliticalspectrumisreservedforliberals.TheDemocraticParty
representsliberalsinourgovernment.Liberalstendtolookforward.Ratherthenrelyinguponoldideas,
theyfavorpolicyexperimentation.Thisattitudeaffectstheirvalues.Theyopposegovernment
interventionwhenitcomestoprivatechoices.Forinstance,liberalspushtheDemocraticPartyto
maintainawomensrighttochooseanabortion.Liberalsdo,however,advocategovernmentintervention
whenitcomestotheeconomy.OftenliberalDemocratsarecharacterizedasthetaxandspendparty.
Democratsfavorpoliciesthatredistributewealthacrosstheeconomicbase.Ontheleftsideofthe
politicalspectrumyoufindliberalswhoaresupportedbytheDemocraticParty.

6.Discussthevariousformsofpoliticalparticipation.Whataregrassroots?

SheldonWolinwrote,Theexperienceofdemocracyisnotultimatelyaboutwinningbutaboutdeliberating
andactingtogether.Thiskindofpoliticalparticipationtakesonmanydifferentforms.Youcanwrite
electedofficials,joinacivicgrouporclub,contributecampaignmoney,litigate(takesomeonetocourt),
joinaprotestmovementorengageinpoliticalconversations.Byfar,however,themostcommonformof
politicalparticipationinAmericaisvoting.

Politicalscientiststellusthatthemostimportantwaytoinvolvepeopleingovernmentistoengagethem
atthegrassrootslevel.Justfocusingonthebignationalissuesbywatchingthepartisanfingerpointing
usuallyisaturnoff.Gettingcitizensengaged,rather,atthelocallevelinrealworldproblemsolvingall
butassuresgreaterparticipationdowntheroad.

7.DiscussvoterturnoutpatternsinAmericatoday.
ExplaindifferencesbetweenDONOTvotersandCANNOTvoters.

Turnoutratesarehigherinmostdemocraciesaroundtheworld.HereintheUnitedStatesvotingturnout
inpresidentialelectionsrarelyexceeds60%ofeligiblecitizens.Innonpresidentialyearsturnoutismuch
lower.Citizenswhoarewhite,older,collegeeducated,withprofessionaljobstendtovoteathigherrates.
ForthisreasonconservativeRepublicanstendtofocusonvotingintegrity.Forinstance,Republicans
favorstrictregistrationlawsthatalsorequirepictureidentificationofallvoters.Incontrast,liberal
Democratslookforwaystomakevotingeveneasier.Theyareworriedthattheirconstituents,citizens
lesslikelytovote,areunderrepresented.Democratspushforearlyvoting,samedayregistrationand
touchscreenballots.Undoubtedlythereareinstitutionalbarriersthatdomakevotingmoredifficult.

Aninstitutionalbarrierisaruleorlawthatpreventseligibleadultsfromvoting.Onesuchbarrieristhe
citizenshiprequirement.UnlessyouareanAmericancitizenyoucannotvote.Registrationrequirements
inmoststatesalsomakevotingmoredifficult.Unlessyouhavesignedupinadvanceyouareprohibited
fromvoting.Moststatesalsoprohibit,foraperiodoftime,convictedfelonsfromvoting.Ourfederal
electiondayisalwaysonaworkday.ThissimplefactmakesitdifficultformanyworkingAmericans.
SomecomplainthathereinAmericawehavetoomanyelectionsandthatourballotsaretooconfusing.
Votingturnoutislowhere.Grassrootsefforts,workdoneatthelocallevelbyrealcitizens,likeSuffrage
@17inIllinoishaveworkedtoincreasepoliticalefficacyandsubsequentlyincreasevoterturnout.
ParticipatingatthegrassrootseffortisoftensuccessfulatencouragingmoreAmericanstovote.Of
coursethatpresumeswewantmorevoters?Right?

8.ExplainhowsuffragerightshaveexpandedthroughoutAmericanhistory.
Explaintherelationshipbetweenincreasingsuffragerightsandvoterturnout.

Historicallythequalificationstovoteweredeterminedbystateandlocalgovernments.Earlyinourhistory
suffrage,therighttovotewasrestrictedtomalepropertyowners.Thefranchise,anothertermforvoting,
hasbeengreatlyexpanded.The15thAmendment(1870)extendedtherighttovotetoAfricanAmerican
males.The19thAmendment(1920)gavewomentherighttovote.The26thAmendmentgaveeighteen
yearoldsandoldertherighttovote.Otherfederalactionshavebeentakentomakevotingeasier.The
24thAmendment(1964)eliminatedpolltaxes.TheVotingRightsActof1965notonlyremovedliteracy
testsasavotingbarrierbutalsogavefederaloversightinSouthernpollingplaces.Despitetheexpansion
ofourdemocracyandtheincreaseinthenumberofpeopleeligibletovotefewerandfewerAmericans
chooseto.

9.DiscusswhichdemographicgroupsvoteconsistentlyforDemocratsand
Republicans.Stuff

RememberDemocratsrepresentliberalsontheleftsideofthepoliticalspectrum.Democrats,although
malleable,traditionallyadvocateforprogressivesocialpolicies.Thisrequiresbiggergovernment.
AlthoughgovernmentshouldserveastherefereeinregulatingeconomicpolicyDemocratsbelievesocial
issuesshouldbeleftuptoprivatechoices.ForthesereasonsbaseDemocratstendtobemoresecular
andyounger.TherankandfileoftheDemocraticPartyapproveofhighertaxesontherich,agreewitha
womensrighttochooseanabortionandseegovernmentasanimportantagentinassuringequalityfor
all.Immigrantgroups,AfricanAmericans,youngpeopleandtheworkingclassclearlyfavorthe
DemocraticParty.

RememberRepublicansrepresentconservativesontherightsideofthepoliticalspectrum.Republicans,
althoughmalleable,traditionallyadvocateforstricterregulationwhenitcomestosocialpolicies.
Republicansbelieveintraditionalmoralvalues.Neverthelesstheyadvocateforsmallergovernment.
Governmentshouldpracticealaissezfaireeconomicpolicy.ForthesereasonsbaseRepublicanstendto
bemorereligiousandolder.TherankandfileoftheRepublicanPartydesirelowertaxesforall,pushfor
arighttolifepolicyandseegovernmentasanimportantagentupholdingconservativevaluessuchasa
traditionalviewofmarriage.OlderAmericans,ruralAmericansandwhitemiddleclassprofessionals
clearlyfavortheRepublicanParty.

10.Discusstensionsovervotingrightsintodayspoliticalarena.
Whoismostlikelytofavorreformsthatimprovevoteraccess?
Whoismostlikelytofavorreformsthatimprovevoterintegrity?

OnemightimaginethatuniversallyAmericansdesiremorepeopletovote.Thiswouldbefarfromthe
truth.InrecentyearsDemocratsandRepublicanshavefocusedtheircivicendsondifferentmeans.
Democratshavepursuedpoliciesthatbroadenaccesstovotingbyeasingregistrationrestrictions.Then
DemocraticpresidentBillClintonpushedtheMotorVoterBillin1993.Liberalshavefoughtincourtany
attempttomakevotingmoredifficult.Republicans,incontrast,looktoassurevotingintegrity.Republican
presidentGeorgeW.BushsignedintolawtheHelpAmericaVoteAct(HAVA)in2002.Thislaw
modernizedvotingproceduresinhopeofreducinganyElectionDayshenanigans.Intheendbothgoals
arenobleyetreflecttheinterestsofeachpoliticalparty.ItisarguedthatDemocratsareadvantaged
whenturnoutishigherwhileRepublicansarehelpedbytheturnoutofmoretraditionalvoters.
Beyondpartisanpoliticswecanallagreethatthehealthofourdemocracydependsupontheactive
participationofitscitizenry.JamesMadisonsaidnolesswhenhewrote,Theverysuccessofdemocracy
dependsupontheknowledgeandskillsofitscitizens.InessenceMadisonwassaying,Democracyisa
verb.