Political Culture Quest

Describe the relationship between core beliefs of U.S. citizens and attitudes about the role of government.

Different interpretations of core values, including individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, and limited government, affect the relationship between citizens and the federal government and that citizens have with each other.

Explain how cultural factors influence political attitudes

and socialization.

- Family, schools, peers, media, and social environments (including civic and religious organizations) contribute

to the development of an individual's political attitudes and values through

the process of political socialization.

-The relative importance of major political events to

the development of individual political attitudes is an example

of political socialization.

- Generational and lifecycle effects also contribute to the political socialization that influences an individual's political attitudes.

- As a result of globalization, U.S. political culture has both influenced and been influenced by the values of other countries.

Describe the elements of a scientific poll.

Define population, make sample, construct unbiased questions, conduct poll, and analyze and report data

Public opinion data that can impact elections and policy debates is affected by such scientific polling types and methods as:

Opinion polls: interviews or survey with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.

Tracking polls: Includes questions that go too far; designed to give negative or even untruthful information about a candidate's opponent with the goal to push them AWAY from that candidate and toward the one paying for the poll.

Entrance polls: a poll taken before voters have cast their votes at polling stations.

i.e. similar to public opinion polls, meant to gauge public opinion on who they voted for and why .

-younger voters were found more likely to fill out a whole survey in a 2008 study.

Exit polls: a poll of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted.

i.e. election exit polls are polls taken immediately after they have exited polling stations.

Explain the quality and credibility of claims based on public opinion data.

- Importance of public opinion as a source of political influence in a given election or policy debate

- Reliability and veracity of public opinion data

The relationship between scientific polling and elections and policy debates is affected by the:

- Importance of public opinion as a source of political influence in a given election or policy debate

- Reliability and veracity of public opinion data

Explain how ideologies of the two major parties shape policy debates.

Democratic Party: today the core values of the Democratic Party align with liberal ideology. The definition of liberalism has changed over time, but modern-day liberals tend to believe that government should intervene in the economy and provide a broad range of social services to ensure well-being and equality across society; Liberals usually believe that the government should not regulate private sexual or social behaviors, and are said to fall on the "left wing" of the axis of political beliefs—a convention that dates from the place where supporters of the revolution sat in assembly during the French Revolution.

Republican Party: Today, the core values of the Republican Party align with conservative ideology. Conservatives tend to believe that government should be small, operating mainly at the state or local level, favoring minimal government interference in the economy and prefer private sector-based solutions to problems; "social conservatives" believe that government should uphold traditional morality, and therefore should impose restrictions on contraception, abortion, and same-sex marriage—conservatives are said to fall on the "right wing" of the axis of political beliefs, a convention that dates from the place where conservatives sat in assembly during the French Revolution.

Explain how U.S. political culture (e.g., values, attitudes, and beliefs) influences the formation, goals, and implementation of public policy over time.

a: Because the U.S. is a democracy with a diverse society, public policies generated at any given time reflect the attitudes and beliefs of citizens who choose to participate in politics at that time.

b: The balancing dynamic

of individual liberty and government efforts to promote stability and order has been reflected in policy debates and their outcomes over time.

Political Socialization

The process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.

The family is the most important agent of political socialization. Children usually have the same party affiliation as their parents. Be ready to enumerate other agents.

Linkage institution

The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Horse-race journalism (scorekeeping)

The media's tendency to focus on polls, personalities, and sound bites rather than an in-depth analysis of key issues.

Affect of media on political parties

Since candidates can appeal to voters through the media, parties have weakened.

How are American political beliefs formed and how do they evolve over time?

The main way in which political beliefs are transmitted are through the mass media. They are formed from the way that people live. If some for example are in a more middle class area then they will most likely side with the democrats.

How do political ideology and core values influence government policymaking?

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What factors account for an accurate poll? An inaccurate poll?

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Explain how US political culture (e.g. values, attitudes, and beliefs) influences the formation, goals, and implementation of public policy over time.

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Political ideology

Political ideology is a coherent set of views on politics and the role of the government in our lives.

What are some things that influence your political attitudes?

Parents party ID, education, ideology, profession, race/ethnicity, religion, income, geography

How has our political culture affected public policy over time?

immigration laws, government surveillance

Public opinion

How the population collectively views vital policy issues and evaluates political leaders.

Measured through scientific polling.

The results influence political candidates, government officials, and public policy.

Demographics

are the statistical data relating to a given population, such as race, educational level, income, or religion.

Census

an enumeration of the population utilizing demographics. Required by the Constitution to be taken every ten years.

Straw polls

unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies. poor sample size (like asking your friends)

Constructing the sample in a scientific poll

Random

Representative

Relatively small size... but large enough!

Small margin of error

preparing valid questions

Directions should be clear and questions should be phrased and ordered in a way that does not lead the respondent to a particular answer

Bradley Effect

The difference between a poll result and an election result in which voters gave a socially desirable poll response rather than a true response that might be perceived as racist

bandwagon effect

A shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

How might politicians use polling data?

Collecting information on how to conduct their campaign

Collecting information to shape policy

Promoting themselves to the public (platform formation)

Conducting opposition research

Collecting information to inform votes on bills/actions

Gaining support from donors

When do politicians ignore public opinion?

Think of themselves as trustees, not delegates

Loyalty to particular interest groups (e.g., large donors)

Not worried about reelection

Principle (stop laughing)

Believe that public opinion will change

Individualism

A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control. Someone can make it ahead on their own, people fled the old world because they wanted nothing to do with the government.

Laizzez-faire

The idea that government should play a small role in economic affairs

Populism

The political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite

Egalitarianism

The belief that all people should have equal political, economic, social, and civil rights

scorekeeper role

The press keep track of and help make political reputations. They put an emphasis on the horse race element of elections at the expense of issues.

watchdog function

The accepted responsibility of the media to protect the public from incompetent or corrupt officials by standing ready to expose any official who violates accepted legal, ethical, or performance standards.