Opinions and Politics

Public Opinion &Public Policy

• Public Opinion – the attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics

• Public Policy – All of the many goals that a government pursues in all the many areas of human affairs (school, warfare, trade)

• If politicians want to be re-elected, they make public policy based on public opinion as much as possible

Public Opinion

• There are many Publics of people– Publics refer to a group of people who share a

common attitude on a matter– Membership of groups shift from topic to topic– Public opinion is specific to attitudes on Public

Affairs• Politics• Public issues• Legislation • Enforcement

Public Opinions

• Opinions are formed through a combination of differing agents of socialization– Family– School– Media– Peers– Opinion Leaders– History

Measuring Public Opinion

• Public opinion polls– Devices that attempt to collect information about

people’s attitudes on public affairs• Straw polls

– Ask huge numbers the same question– Not scientific– Not reliable because the sample group is too narrow

Measuring Public Opinion

• Public opinion polls– Devices that attempt to collect information about

people’s attitudes on public affairs• Scientific polling

– Five step process» Define the population (group) you want to study» Construct a sample of about 1,500 people (yeah, that

small works!)» Create carefully worded questions» Interview the sample group» Analyze the findings

– Fairly reliable at the national level

Political Parties Linking People to Politics

• The goal of political parties is to try to influence government through getting members elected to office

• There are two strong political parties in the USA– Democrats

• Left wing• Liberal

– Republicans• Right wing• Conservative

– Most people in the USA are MODERATES; in between far left wing and far right wing

Political Parties Linking People to Politics

• There are four reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA1. History• Not mentioned in the Constitution• Started almost immediately after Constitution was

signed• Tend to moderate, not alienate

2. Tradition• It is important because it’s always been important• Distrust of a third party

Political Parties Linking People to Politics

• There are four reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA3. Electoral System• Winner take all system• Favors the major players• Third party vote is “wasted vote”

4. Close political ideology• No large communist element• No large fascist element• Mostly all center-right republican element

Political Parties Linking People to Politics

• There are five basic activities parties do1. Nominating candidates2. Informing and Activating members

• Campaigning• Getting out the vote!

3. “Bonding” Agent• Guaranteeing the actions of elected officials • Makes sure they “do the right thing”

4. Governing• Organization of legislatures to pass the “right” laws

5. Watchdog• Pointing out the mistakes of the other party

ElectionsLinking People to Politics

• Claiming a Mandate– When a political party wins a lot of the elections– When an individual wins by a lot of points– Politicians claim that the people DEMAND that

they carry out their versions of public policy

ElectionsLinking People to Politics

• Cool things other states have that PA doesn’t– Initiative • The PEOPLE can introduce laws, not just the legislature

– Referendum• The PEOPLE can pass laws, not just the legislature

– Recall• The people can demand new elections to get rid of

elected politicians, not just wait until the next election day

ElectionsLinking People to Politics

• Voter turnout in USA is low compared to most other democratic nations– Mostly because of lack of interest– Even lower in the years we don’t elect a president– People get disappointed in politics• Nothing changes• Only the rich can afford to run for office

Mass MediaLinking People to Politics

• Mass Media – is communication that reaches a large audience.

• This includes: television, radio, advertising, movies

• Goals of the mass media– Inform the public– Entertain the public

(so they buy the medium and the company makes money)

the Internet, newspapers, magazines and so forth.

Mass MediaLinking People to Politics

• Media play large roles in – Setting public agenda• What the public feels is a big problem that needs

immediate attention• Focus on certain news items, downplay others

– Doesn’t often change opinions on the solutions to the problems

– Doesn’t often change opinions on voting– More informed people tend to not be influenced

as much

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Interest Group – an organization which tries to influence public policy by influencing those people who get elected to office, NOT by getting themselves elected to office

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Interest Groups are different than political parties – IG do NOT nominate candidates – they support

them– IG are concerned with influencing policy, not

controlling government– IG have a narrow focus on issues– Private organizations

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Types– Economic• Business groups• Labor groups

– (Special) Issue-oriented• Devoted to a special cause• Examples

– Saving endangered species – Rights to use medical marijuana – Rights to own guns

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Types– Public Interest• Special interests of the members• To benefit all people

– Political Action Committees (PACs)• Private interest groups• Raise money• To influence the results of elections

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Types– Group Organizations• Segments of the population• Examples

– AARP (retired people)– Veterans groups

Interest GroupsLinking People to Politics

• Working the system– Lobbyists

• People who try to persuade politicians to favor their cause

• Most are professionals

– Try to influence politicians• At all levels of government

– National– State

• All branches of government– Legislative– Executive– Judicial