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Understanding Public Opinion in the US: Influences, Ideologies, and Questions

Explore the dynamic landscape of public opinion in the US, from political ideologies to the factors that shape views. Delve into key questions on minority rights, factors like education and religion, and the trend of mixed ideologies.

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Understanding Public Opinion in the US: Influences, Ideologies, and Questions

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  1. Chapter 5 Public Opinion

  2. What is Public Opinion? “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address The people want… • A balanced budget • The ERA ratified • Term limits for Congress • Lower taxes • No electoral college Is the US Gov’t giving the people what it wants?

  3. Policy & Opinion at Odds US Gov’t not intended to do “what the people want” • What happened? • Political parties • Large v. small states • Majority rule may not protect minority rights • Voter turnout—who’s voting

  4. What Influences Public Opinion? • Education • Political Parties • Family • Religion • Age • Social class • Race • Region • sex

  5. Political Ideologies Conservative • Republican • Family values • Strong military • Less gov’t • Lower taxes for wealthy • Free market • More educated Liberal • Democrat • Jobs for all • Taxation of the rich • Tolerant • More gov’t to help less fortunate • Subsidized medical care and education • Less educated

  6. The Tweeners • People can mix ideologies • Pure Liberals • Pure Conservatives • Libertarians—conservative on economic issues, liberal on personal issues • Populists—liberal on economics, conservative on personal • New Class—youth of America, some college, urban, critical of business & gov’t, conservative on some social issues, liberal on others

  7. Questions • What do you think is the one thing that voters want the most? Explain. • In the US system of gov’t, is the minority view protected, or is there too much power to the majority view? Explain. • Examine the following factors of public opinion: Education, Political Parties, Family, Religion, Age, Social class, Race, Region, sex. Rank the order of importance of these factors (the least being #1). • Why are many Americans leaning towards mixed ideologies? Explain.

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