Transcript APGP _2_Unit 2ALL PowerPoint

Chapter 6: Political Culture &
Public Opinion
In the United States public opinion is the opinion of the whole nation, with
little distinction of social class. The politicians, including the members of
Congress and of State legislatures, are perhaps not below, yet certainly
not above the average level of their constituents. They find no difficulty in
keeping touch with outside opinion. They are like the slaves who say “I
hear and obey.”
James Bryce from The American Commonwealth
Main Elements:
1) Liberty (rights)
2) Equality (equal vote; equal opportunity)
3) Democracy (government accountable to the people)
4) Civic duty (interest in community affairs, get involved)
“Every man knows that he is himself a part of the
government, bound by duty as well as by self-interest to
devote part of his time and thoughts to it. He may neglect
this duty, but he admits it to be a duty.” ~Bryce
5) Individual responsibility (actions and well-being)
~ A DISTICTIVE AND PATTERNED WAY OF
THINKING ABOUT HOW POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC
CARRIED
EconomicLIFE OUGHT TO BE
Political
OUT
What makes up the
political culture
in
the
United
equality of result
equality and following rules.
States?
1. Free enterprise
2. Equality of opportunity, not
1. Assert rights
2. Emphasize individualism,
3. Economic individualism
3. Strong sense of civic duty and
patriotism
The changing demographics of America....
Religion
has also played a significant role in political culture.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20187325
Orthodox vs. Progressive
James Davison Hunter
Definition: A citizen’s capacity to
understand and influence events.
Types of Political Efficacy:
1) Internal efficacy - confidence in one’s
ability to understand & influence
events.
2) External efficacy- belief that system
will respond to citizens.
TRUST???
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50149202n
There is evidence of mistrust of government since
the 1960s.
1) Diminished trust in the President & Congress
2) Stable trust in the Supreme Court
3) Increased trust in state/local governments
Why do we mistrust government?
1) Watergate
2) Vietnam
3) Clinton’s scandals
4) Election of 2000
5) Weapons of Mass Destruction
6) Hurricane Katrina
PUBLIC OPINION
“Those opinions held by private persons
which governments find it prudent to heed.”
-- V.O. Key
Definition~ Collective view of a group of people.
 Tends to be uninformed, unstable and can change rapidly.
 Americans do not spend a great deal of time thinking about
politics.
How do we determine public opinion? POLLING!
 Random sampling
 Large sample size
 Stratified quota sample is the best because of homogenous
nature of American subgroups
 The way a question is asked can affect the answers given
Web Resources: www.gallup.com & www.pollingreport.com
Psychological
Sociological
Factors
Factors
Party
Family
Identification
Political Socialization~ The process by which personal and
other background traits influence one’s views about
politics and government.
Occupation
Religion
Political
There are many factors that
affect your political attitudes.
1) Family
Socialization
2) Religion
3) Gender
4) Schooling
5) Occupation
Impact of these factors on political socialization is largely
dependent on the extent of exposure and one’s receptivity.
Politician
Schooling
GenderIssue
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Children learn a wide range of values—including
political values– from their parents.
Party identification of family is usually absorbed,
although the child becomes more independentthinking over time.
60% of children still follow parents- declining from
previous years.
Younger voters tend to be non-partisan; they register
independent.
Clear political ideologies are only passed on in a few
families.
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Families form and transmit political beliefs
through their religious traditions.
Religious make-up of the United States:
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53% Protestant
25% Catholic
2.6% Jewish
19% No affiliation or other
Protestants tend to be more conservative.
Jewish families tend to be more liberal.
Differences in public opinion are most
pronounced with respect to social issues.
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The gender gap refers to the differences in political
opinion between men & women.
Men have become increasingly more Republican
since the 1960s.
Women have continued to support the Democratic
party at the same rate.
These trends exist due to attitudinal differences
between men & women about the size of
government, gun control, social programs & gay
marriage.
Elementary School
1. Introduction of authority figures outside of the classroom
2. Teach national slogans, symbols, norms of group
behavior, and democratic decision making
3. Children leave with an idealized notion of government
Secondary School
1. Teach civic responsibility and exposure to explicit political
content
2. Children still told to adhere to authority dictates
College
1. Liberalizing effect, taught to begin to question status quo
2. Professors and campuses tend to be more liberal in
nature
A cleavage causes a division amongst ideological
lines for citizens about certain topics.
Examples:
1. Race
2. Region
3. Occupation
4. Age
5. Social class
Some cleavages cause more passionate responses
from citizens.
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Definition- A coherent and
consistent set of political beliefs
about the proper purpose and
scope of government.
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Ideology is measured by how
frequent and consistent someone
is over time with their policy
preferences.
Early 1800s liberals supported personal and
economic freedom; conservatives wanted power in
the state, church and aristocracy.
 FDR ( New Deal)- changed the meaning of liberalism
to mean support for an activist government.
 Conservatives -favored free market, states’ rights, &
economic freedom.
 Today’s meanings are less precise.
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Liberal or Conservative????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngzx-1Rq1gE
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Pure Liberals- liberal on economic and social
issues
Pure Conservative- conservative on economic
and social issues
Libertarians- conservative on economic issues,
liberal on social issues
Chapter 8
“I have already intimated to you the danger of
parties in the State, with particular reference to
the founding of them on geographical
discriminations. Let me now take a more
comprehensive view, and warn you in the most
solemn manner against the baneful effects of
the spirit of party generally.”
What is a political party?
An organization that sponsors a candidate
for public office under the organization’s
name.
Nominate- (Obama) name or recruit candidates, present
candidate to the voters
 Inform- inform and stimulate the voters about a candidate,
pick and choose issues
 Approve- keep the party bonded by approving actions of
candidate
 Government- many voters decide winner by party, Congress
works on a partisan basis, and appointments are made
according to party
 Watchdog- party watches the conduct of those in power,
attempts to convince voters to oust those in charge
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Living Room Candidate
History
 Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
 Plurality, winner-take-all system
 Voters do not want to “waste” vote on minor party. Only
“third party” to win was the Republican party in 1860.
Election Laws
 Minor parties often find it difficult to flourish because
election laws have been written by officials who are
members of the major parties.
 Ballots, debates, funding
Public Opinion
 Critical elections- An election that produces a sharp change in the existing pattern of
party loyalty among groups of voters; changed pattern is called electoral
realignment.
▪ When have there been critical elections:
▪ 1800
▪ 1828
▪ 1860
▪ 1896
▪ 1932
 Critical elections can often led into eras of dominance for one of the major parties.
Between 1800 and today, there have been four eras in which one party or another
has dominated national politics.
▪ Democrats- 1800- 1860
▪ Republicans- 1860- 1932
▪ Democrats- 1932-1968
▪ Republicans- 1968-today ?
 1968 Richard Nixon (R)
 1974 Gerald Ford (R)
 1976 Jimmy Carter (D)
 1980 Ronald Reagan (R)
 1988 George H.W. Bush (R)
 1992 William Clinton (D)
 2000 George W. Bush (R)
 2008/2012 Barack Obama (D)
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What do these classifications stereotypically imply?
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Political Spectrum
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Political parties use the issues as tools to persuade
voters and eventually their vote.
Parties will shift positions to wherever public opinion
sits.
Ex:
The Republican Party will back a moderate/ liberal
Republican candidate for an elected office in a
predominantly Democratic area.
(Senator Arlen Specter, PA. 1980-2010, Governor Mitt
Romney Governor, MA. 2003-2007)
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DEMOCRATS
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Pro-choice
Anti-war
Social programs
Public Education
Pro-unions
Same Sex marriage
Stricter Gun Control
REPUBLICANS
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Pro-life
Strong National Defense
Smaller gov’t…less taxes
Vouchers
Big business
Traditional Family values
2nd Amendment Rights
Links to the Party Platforms for 2012
www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform
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Minor parties are third party choices that tend to fall into one
of four categories:
(1) Ideological parties- devoted to an overriding set of beliefs that
are radically different from the general view of society
Communist Party
(2) Single issue-parties- pushes one or few issues, generally
avoids all other issues
Know-Nothing, Prohibition
(3) Economic protest parties- during times of economic hardship
these groups form to protest the current conditions
Populist party
(4) Splinter/faction parties- Branches off of one of the major
parties
T.Roosevelt’s- “Bull Moose” Progressive party
Ross Perot- Reform Party
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Why are parties getting weaker?
1.
2.
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5.
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7.
Independents
Ticket-splitting
Divided government
Cynicism & political apathy
Decentralized party structure
Mass media
Interest groups
“Suppose you go to Washington and try to get at your government.
You will always find that while you are politely listened to, the men
really consulted are the men with the biggest stake – the big bankers,
the big manufacturers, the big masters of commerce.”
Definition: Any organization that seeks to influence
public policy through lobbying.
 Two types – institutional and membership
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 Institutional - deals with individuals or organizations
representing other organizations such as: business firms
and unions
 Membership – deals with social, business, veteran,
charitable, religious issues
Differences among Americans has led the proliferation
of interest groups
 Huge variety of issues including abolition, prohibition,
gun rights, farm issues, religious associations,
environmental groups, political reform, balanced
budget, businesses, unions, even older Americans
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Reasons for Interest Groups
1. Cleavages
2. Constitutional System
3. Non-Profit Perks
 Section 501 (c) (3)- Donations are Tax-exempt,
no lobbying or campaign contributions (religious,
educational, amateur sports, etc.)
 Section 501 (c) (4)- Not tax-exempt, but can lobby
and give campaign contributions (PSEA, AARP)
4. Weakness of Political Parties
1.
Solidary incentives—enjoyment, companionship
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2.
Material incentives—money, things, services
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3.
Solidary incentives require organizations to structure themselves as coalitions
of small local units
Facilitated by the importance of local governments in the U.S.
Examples: League of Women Voters (LWV), NAACP, Rotary, Parent-Teacher
Association, American Legion
Organization may also influence how laws are administered to bring benefits to
members
Examples: farm organizations, AARP
Purposive incentives—goal/purpose of the organization itself
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Though this group also benefits nonmembers, people join because:
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They are passionate about the goal(s) of the organization
They have a strong sense of civic duty
Cost of joining is minimal (American Legion)
Interest groups have long been involved in a variety of
social movements such as: abolition, the
environment, feminism, and unions
Funding for interest groups comes from four sources:
1. Dues (*minor)
2. Foundation grants (Green Knight)
3. Federal grants and contracts
4. Direct mail
Size
Power of AARP – 25% of the population 50 and over
Intensity
Single-Issue groups: groups that focus on a narrow interest, dislike compromise, and often draw
membership from people new to politics
Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with a psychological advantage
Intensity encourages non-conventional means of participation, i.e.—protests
Money
Not all groups have equal amounts of money.
Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians, such as a phone call, meeting, or
support for policy.
Form a PAC (Political Action Committee) – donate money to campaigns and advertising
Wealthier groups have more resources— and presumably more access—but they do not always win
on policy.
LINKAGE INSTITUTION
 Interest groups pursue their
goals in many arenas.
 Interest groups and political
parties promote U.S.
democracy by linking citizens
to the political process.
Interest groups are distinct
from parties.
 Political parties fight election
battles; interest groups do not
field candidates for office.
 Interest groups are policy
specialists; political parties are
policy generalists.
METHODS OF PROMOTING
POLICY
Methods of Promoting Policy
1. Electioneering
2. Lobbying Government: The Iron
Triangle
 Congress
 President/Agency
3. Publicity/Ads
4. Grassroots activities/mass
mobilization
5. Use of the courts
▪ amicus curiae briefs
▪ class action suits
In 1953, The Supreme Court upheld the Federal Regulation of
Lobbying Act (1946), but narrowed its scope significantly.
 The Court determined that it applied only to paid lobbyists who
directly communicated with members of Congress on pending
legislation.
 This created a number of loopholes including:
 It does not regulate people who give money to influence
legislation, only those who solicit or collect money.
 It does not define "principally." A lobbyist can argue that his
principal goal is not influencing legislation.
 It does not include those who communicate with Congressional
staffers.
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Here’s an interesting phenomenon??
Many people leave public office, get
hired by a PAC and then return to
Washington to lobby. It can happen
over and over again (ex. Donald
Rumsfeld). This can lead to a conflict
of interest and an unfair
manipulation of government agencies.
Imagine you are a member of the President’s cabinet. The
Treasury secretary advises that the President makes cuts in
federal spending to save the economy.
He/she must make some tough choices and you must advise him.
The spending areas under review are:
1. Social Security
2. Environmental Protection Agency
3. Women’s health clinics
4. Education
5. Medicare
You must get rid of one, cut spending in two, maintain spending in
one, and raise spending in one.
Discuss what interest groups you feel would lobby your
administration before you make your decision. Consider their
arguments.
Explain the reasons for your choices and the potential political
consequences for your decisions.