American Government - Public Opinion | Accounting

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Study GuideAmerican Government–Public Opinion1. Public Opinion and How It’s MeasuredPublic opinionrefers to the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs that Americans hold about issues facing thecountry. These opinions help shape political debates and can influence government decisions,especially when many people feel strongly about an issue.1.1How Public Opinion Forms and ChangesPublic opinion is oftendeeply divided on emotional or controversial issues, such as affirmativeaction or gay rights. On many topics, opinions changevery slowly, if they change at all. For example,Americans’ views onabortionhave stayed fairly stable since the early 1970s.Sometimes, however, opinions can shift more noticeably. A president’sapproval rating, for instance,often rises during a national crisis. After theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, President George W.Bush’s approval rating increased sharply. Over time, though, it dropped significantly as publicopposition to thewar in Iraqgrew during his second term.1.2When Public Opinion Influences Policy—and When It Doesn’tIn rare cases where public opinion changes quickly and clearly,government policy often changestoo. Still, public opinion does not always determine what policies are adopted.One reason is that some groups feelmuch more intenselyabout certain issues than others. A goodexample isgun control. Although most Americans support stronger gun control laws, people whooppose such laws often feel more passionate and are more politically active. Their strong involvementcan give them more influence.Another important factor is theSupreme Court. Even when a majority of Americans support certainpolicies, the Court may rule against them if they violate the Constitution. For example, although manyAmericans supportschool prayeror lawsbanning flag burning, the Supreme Court has ruled thatsuch policies would infringe on the constitutional rights of minorities.

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Study Guide1.3The History of Polling Public OpinionThe scientific measurement of public opinion throughpollsis a fairly recent development. In the1930s, researchers likeGeorge GallupandElmo Ropercreated early statistical polling methods.Over time, these methods improved as pollsters learned from mistakes.One famous example occurred in1948, when Gallup incorrectly predicted thatThomas DeweywoulddefeatHarry Trumanin the presidential election. This error led to changes in how poll respondentswere selected, making polls more accurate over time.1.4Polling Techniques: What Makes a Poll ScienƟfic?You may have seen TV shows, websites, or newspapers asking people to vote on an issue by callingin or clicking a link. While these are often called “polls,” they arenot scientific. The people whochoose to respond are usually more motivated or opinionated and do not represent the generalpopulation.Scientific polls rely on arepresentative sample, meaning every person has an equal chance of beingselected. Today, this is usually done byrandomly dialing phone numbersusing computers and thenrandomly choosing which person in a household will be interviewed.1.5Sample Size and Margin of ErrorNo poll is perfect, but a properly conducted national poll usually needs only1,200 to 1,500respondentsto accurately reflect public opinion.Poll results include amargin of error, which shows how much the results may vary from the trueopinion of the population. A common misunderstanding is that the “true” result must fall within themargin of error. In reality, even a well-run poll will be off aboutone time out of twentysimply due tochance.1.6Avoiding Bias in PollsPolls can also be affected bybias, which comes from poorly worded questions or the way a poll isconducted. Questions should beneutralto avoid influencing answers. For example, asking “Do youbelieve serial murderers should be executed?” will produce very different results than asking “Do yousupport capital punishment?”Interviewers must also avoid expressing their own opinions through tone or wording. Finally, pollsdepend on respondents beinghonest, since inaccurate answers reduce the reliability of the results.

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Study Guide1.7Why Polls MaƩer in American PoliƟcsPolls play a major role in U.S. politics. News organizations regularly conduct and report polls, andprofessional pollsters often work on political campaigns and within the White House.This strong focus on measuring public opinion shows how important it is for leaders to understandwhat Americans think. While public opinion does not always determine policy, it remains a powerfultool for understanding the priorities and preferences of the American people.2.PoliƟcal SocializaƟonPolitical socializationis the lifelong process through which people develop their political beliefs,values, and attitudes. It explains how we learn what politics is, how government works, and where westand on political issues.Several forces shape this process, especially thefamily,schools,peer groups, and themassmedia. Early in life, family and school have the strongest influence. As people grow older, however,peers and media sources play a larger role in shaping political views.2.1The Role of the FamilyThefamilyis usually the first place where political ideas begin to form. Parents rarely sit down andformally teach politics to young children. Instead, children pick up political attitudes fromcasualconversations, comments about the news, or reactions to political events at home.Family influence is especially strong when it comes toparty identification. This is why people oftendescribe themselves as a “lifelong Republican” or a “lifelong Democrat.”That said, the family’s influence may be declining. As children spend more time in schools, childcareprograms, and other institutions, parents may have less direct impact on their political developmentthan in the past.2.2The Role of SchoolsSchoolsplay a key role in political socialization by teaching students how democracy works.Students first experience elections bychoosing class officers, and as they move into high schooland college, they learn more about campaigning and voting.

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Study GuidePolitical knowledge also comes from classes inAmerican history and government, where studentslearn about political institutions and constitutional principles. At their best, schools encourage studentstothink criticallyabout government and public policy rather than simply memorizing facts.Schools are also involved in politics themselves. Debates overcurriculum changes, schoolfunding, and government support for private schoolsoften bring together students, teachers,parents, and community members.2.3The Role of Peer GroupsPeer groupsinfluence many aspects of teenage life, though they tend to have less impact on politicalbeliefs. An important exception occurs when political issues directly affect young people. For example,theVietnam Warstrongly influenced the political attitudes of young Americans during the 1960s.As adults, peers are often defined byoccupation, and this can shape political views. People insimilar professions—such as teachers, doctors, or bankers—often share political opinions, especiallyon issues that affect their careers and economic interests.2.4The Role of Mass MediaThemass mediais one of the most powerful forces in political socialization, especially for adults.Newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet provide most of the political informationpeople receive.Television has long been the dominant source of political news, particularly with the rise of24-hourcable news channels. TV not only reports on political events but also influences public opinionthrough analysis and commentary. Even entertainment programs often address political and socialissues such asdrug use, abortion, and crime.TheInternethas become increasingly important as well. News organizations maintain websites, andblogs and social media platforms offer a wide range of political opinions, information, andperspectives.In SummaryPolitical socialization is a continuous process shaped by many influences over time. While family andschools lay the foundation early in life, peer groups and mass media become more important aspeople grow older. Together, these forces help explain why people develop different political beliefsand how those beliefs change—or remain stable—over time.

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