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Connecting to the Political Process: Socialization, Parties, and Interest Groups. Unit 3. Public Opinion. Definition The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues. How do we measure public opinion?. The American People.
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Connecting to the Political Process: Socialization, Parties, and Interest Groups Unit 3
Public Opinion • Definition • The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues. • How do we measure public opinion?
The American People • What factors have shaped the demographics of the U.S.? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32l3sTFRFX8 • Have our attitudes toward immigration changed? • Illegal immigration • Minority Majority http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/1/griswold-give-us-your-engineers-yearning-to-innova/
The American People • The Regional Shift • Reapportionment: The process of reallocating House seats every 10 years. • What shift has changed the apportionment of seats in the last 30 years? Figure 6.2
The American People • How has age distribution in this country changed? • Fastest growing group is over 65 • What public policy concerns does this raise?
Political Culture • Definition • An overall set of values widely shared within a society. • What is the political culture of the U.S.? • How does political socialization serve to maintain political culture?
Measuring Public Opinion • How Polls Are Conducted • Why is random sampling important? • What is sampling error? • How can question wording impact the outcome of polls? • How important is polling to American politics? • Is it too important?
Measuring Public Opinion • What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information • How much knowledge do Americans have about politics? • How do Americans feel about their government?
Political Ideologies • Definition: • A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. • How do we define “liberal” and “conservative”? • Has there been a turn toward conservatism?
Liberals: Less military spending Opposed to prayer in schools Favor affirmative action Tax the rich more Solve the problems that cause crime Conservatives: More military spending Support prayer in schools Oppose affirmative action Keep taxes low Should stop “coddling criminals” Political Ideologies From Table 6.3
Political Ideologies • Do People Think in Ideological Terms? • Ideologues: think in ideological terms- 12% of the population • Group Benefits: rely on party labels- 42% of the population • Nature of the Times: current times are good or bad- 24% of the population • No issue content: based on personalities- 22% of the population
Political Participation • Definition: • All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. • Conventional Participation • Voting in elections • Working in campaigns / running for office • Contacting elected officials
Political Participation • Is protest political participation? • Civil disobedience: A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.
How Americans Participate in Politics • Class, Inequality, and Participation Figure 6.5
The Meaning of Party • What is a political party? • Parties can be thought of in three parts: • Party in the electorate • Party as an organization • Party in government
The Meaning of Party • Tasks of the Parties • Linkage Institution • Pick Candidates • Run Campaigns • Give Cues to Voters • Articulate Policies • Coordinate Policymaking
The Meaning of Party • What is the rational-choice theory? • Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the pros & cons. Figure 8.1
What does this mean? How has this changed in recent years? Split ticket voting The Party in the Electorate
Types of Party Systems • States operate different systems: • Closed: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party • Open: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party • Blanket: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label
The Party Organizations - Local • What is meant by the term “grassroots”? • Party workers stuff envelopes, make calls and door-to-door visits, and plan events • District and county committee – governing body for that region • County chairperson leads the committee • Sheriffs carry out the objectives of the political party
The Party Organizations - State • State committee develops statewide party policy • State chairperson heads the committee • Governor serves is influential on party politics – especially in appointments
The Party Organizations – National • Senators propose laws often in line with party platform • National Committee coordinates state activities • National chairperson leads the committee
The Party in Government • What does this mean? • Coalition: • A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends. • How often do politicians do what they say they will do during elections?
Party Eras inAmerican History • Party Eras • Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power. • Critical Election • An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge. • Party Realignment • The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election.
Third Parties • What is the impact of third parties on American politics? • How does the winner-take-all system prevent the ascendance of third parties? • What is the alternative to winner-take-all? • Coalition Government: • Two or more parties join to run government
Understanding Political Parties • Responsible Party Government • 1. Parties have distinct comprehensive programs. • 2. Candidates are committed to the program. • 3. Majority party must carry out its program. • 4. Majority party must accept responsibility.
Understanding Political Parties • What are the issues with this model? • How does the American political system serve to keep government relatively small? • Why are parties in decline? Will they fade out completely?
The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups • Definition • An organization of people with shared policy goal entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. • Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are policy generalists.
The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups • Why does “interest group” have a bad connotation? • The writers of the Constitution disliked organized groups- parties and interest groups. • Dishonest lobbyists get more press than the honest ones- even though there are far more honest lobbyists.
Interest Groups & Pluralism • How do interest groups fit into pluralist theory? • Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. • No group wins or loses all the time. • Groups provide the key link between the people and the government. • Lobbying is open to all.
Interest Groups & Elitism • How do interest groups fit into elitist theory? • Societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule. • Power is not equally divided among groups; some have much more. • Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few at the expense of the many.
Interest Groups & Hyperpluralism • How do interest groups fit into hyperpluralist theory? • Groups are so strong that government is weakened. • Iron Triangles keep government from working properly. • Interest groups have become too powerful since the government tries to serve every interest, making policy confusing and contradictory.
What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups • What is the Free-Rider problem? • The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem. • Small groups are better organized and more focused on the group’s goals. • Groups that can provide selective benefits overcome the free-rider problem.
What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Intensity • Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a narrow interest and dislike compromise. • Financial Resources • Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy • Lobbying • “communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of influencing his decision.” • Lobbyists are a source of information, can help politicians plan political strategies, and inspire legislation.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy • Electioneering • Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by corporations, interest groups, and unions to donate money to candidates and otherwise work to influence elections.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy • Litigation • Amicus curiae briefs to support their position • Class Action lawsuits • Going Public • Groups use marketing strategies and advertising to influence public opinion of the group and its issues.
Types of Interest Groups • Economic Interests • Labor • Agriculture • Business • Environmental Interests • Equality Interests • Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies
Understanding Interest Groups • Do interest group activities promote democracy? • Do interest group activities enlarge the scope of government?