Theme 2: Elite Influence on Opinion and Policy (Zallers + Gilens and Page

Zallers' RAS Model

Zaller’s RAS Model

Explains how elite messages can shape opinion; Receive, Accept, Sample

Receive

Receive messages from elites; exposure to elite messages and political awareness affects exposure

Accept

filtering through predispositions and accepting messages that fit prior beliefs; reject and ignore inconsistent information

We accept messages that fit prior beliefs via

• Partisanship

• Values

• Ideologies

Sample

expressing opinions on events or policies through context, recency, and salience; explains opinion instability in surveys

Revolving Door Phenomenon

• The movement of ex-federal public employees into lobbying 

• They are valuable due to their connections in Washington; have shaped connections with friends and colleagues that they can exploit later on behalf of their clients. 

• They are better at referring to policy matters, workings of the legislative process, and preferences of particular constituencies. 

• They are a gateway to many political contributions from other figures or organizations. 

Top of Mind Opinion

Public opinion that is formed after a salient event

Majoritarian Democracy

average citizens influence democracy via elections, voting, and providing public support for politicians

Pluralist Democracy

Interest groups influence democracy through channeling public preferences effectively.

Economic Elite Domination

Wealthy Americans influence democracy through money, connections, and resources

Biased Pluralism

Business groups influence democracy through resource inequality and collective action problems

Opinion formations

Top-down, bottom-up, interactive

Top-down

Elites and media direct opinion

Bottom-up

public preferences constrain elites

Interactive

Feedback between both

Public opinion is constantly

Accessible, not fixed

Gilens and Page’s Conclusion on Policy Outcomes

• Elites get their way even when the public disagrees

• Average citizens have near-zero independent influence

• Interest groups have substantial impact

• Public gets what they want when elites happen to agree

• American may not function as a majoritarian democracy in practice