Public Opinion: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - Public Opinion

• Public opinion needs to be defined
• Important to consider President Trump’s overall job approval rating
• The definition of ideology is relevant
• Most people in the United States do not have firm opinions on public affairs issues
• Latent opinion needs to be defined
• Political socialization needs to be defined
• Consider when a person’s political views start to form
• It is important to know when a president is likely to have their highest job approval rating
• White Southerners have generally affiliated with the Republican Party for a certain amount of time
• Parents and children tend to share the same political ideology and partisanship
• Affirmative Action tends to be less popular among white southerners
• Presidential approval tends to shift after a president has been in office for several months
• Politicians can shape public opinion by strategically framing proposals to persuade the public
• Mass surveys usually provide reliable public opinion estimates
• Focus groups aim to deeply understand why people hold their beliefs
• Question wording is important due to its potential impact on poll results
• Push polls are designed to influence, not measure, public opinion
• Nate Silver of 538 uses poll averaging to achieve accurate measurements
• Ideological polarization needs to be defined
• Most Americans hold a combination of conservative and liberal beliefs
• Policy Mood is the collective demand for government action
• Government tends to increase its role when the policy mood leans liberal
• Most people in the U.S. identify as independents

Chapter 7 - The Media

• Politicians recognized early that Americans learn about politics from the media
• Yellow journalism is the use of sensational headlines and illustrations to boost newspaper sales
• The equal time provision needs to be defined
• The role of the Federal Communications Commission needs to be understood
• Cross-ownership of various media products is increasingly common in America
• U.S. news media primarily operate as for-profit businesses
• A media conglomerate needs to be defined
• Newspaper circulation has been declining in recent years
• Many people lack political knowledge due to limited interest
• Journalists often act as watchdogs of the political system
• Talk radio is often a conservative medium
• The Internet has lowered publication barriers but increased unreliable sources
• Reporters can use information from officials "off the record" without revealing the source
• Leaking is generally legal
• Prior restraint involves federal officials attempting to suppress classified memos
• The First Amendment protects reporters
• Sean Hannity's show appeals to conservatives
• Donald Trump coined the term "Fake News" during his 2016 campaign
• Media influences people’s thinking
• Americans show low political interest
• "Horse race" journalism emphasizes certain aspects of campaigns

Chapter 8 - Political Parties

• Media provides the coverage Americans seek
• Political parties nominate candidates to win elections and set policy
• Party organizations consist of leaders and workers at all levels
• Party in the electorate refers to citizens identifying with a party
• The spoils system involves offering jobs for campaign work should the candidate wins office
• The Republican Party arose from the Whig Party's collapse
• Slavery disagreements led to the Republican Party's formation
• A political party's coalition includes its various member groups
• African Americans form a key part of the Democratic Party's coalition
• The Great Depression significantly influenced the New Deal
• An understanding of "realignment" is important
• Democrats and Republicans face increasing difficulty finding common ground
• The South transitioned from Democrat to largely Republican over the last 50 years
• 527 groups influence politics through voter mobilization and issue ads
• MoveOn.org supports the Democratic Party
• Elected officials are the public face of political parties
• Democrats in Congress have a "caucus," while Republicans have a "conference"
• Many independent voters lean toward major parties
• 90% of Republican voters supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election
• "Party Identification" describes loyalty to a major party
• Closed primaries are restricted to registered party members
• Party platforms outline the issues a party aims to address if elected
• George Wallace and Ross Perot are examples of third-party candidates who received many votes
• American parties are diverse in ideology

Chapter 9 - Elections

• U.S. citizens have an indirect impact on public policy
• General elections are the second step, following primary elections
• Retrospective evaluation is how voters assess officeholders
• 2018 was a "midterm" election, and 2016 was a "presidential election"
• Oregon conducts elections by mail
• California has 55 electoral votes
• The differences between a presidential primary and a presidential caucus is important to note
• Iowa and New Hampshire traditionally hold the first primaries and caucuses
• A state with 9 House members would have a determined number of electoral votes
• The House decides the winner in an Electoral College tie
• Swing states are crucial due to their potential to be won by either party
• Incumbents continuously campaign
• General election campaigns typically start in September
• Retail Politics involves engaging with voters in town hall meetings
• Opposition Research involves uncovering negative information about opponents
• Campaign ads are used to reach voters
• The Federal Elections Commission enforces federal election laws
• The definition of "soft money" is useful
• Primary election turnout is generally below 30%
• General election turnout is about 60%

Chapter 10 - Interest Groups

• Pluralists see interest groups as key players in democracy
• Lobbying is sometimes seen as "anti-majoritarian" due to its narrow benefits
• Pluralism views interest groups as the primary means of political participation
• The U.S. is sometimes called an “interest group” state, due to their influence on policy outcomes
• Interest groups tend to have centralized structures
• Interest group activity has risen in the last 50 years
• The revolving door involves movement between government and lobbying
• It is important to know why the revolving door is often regulated
• Lobbying firms often hire former members of Congress
• Selective, purposive, and solidary benefits need to be understood
• Direct lobbying targets legislators already aligned with the group's goals
• Amicus Curiae Briefs are used to influence court case outcomes
• Coalitions can bring conflict
• Grassroots lobbying involves direct contact from members
• Astroturf lobbying needs to be defined
• Understand what a political action committee (PAC) does
• Ballot initiatives allow voters to decide directly on issues
• Lobbyists focus on allies in government
• Interest groups reflect the conflictual nature of American politics