Brainstorm a list of what you value.
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The widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.
Rule of law
Warm Up1.Equality2.Justice3.Tolerance4.Self Reliance5.Community6.Freedom7.Democracy8.Stability9.Security10.Cooperation
EmploymentFreedom from unfair competition Housing, Medical care, Education, Social security
Divided GovernmentOne party does not control executive and Legislative branches
Effect
Distrust in Gov.Partisanship, Gridlock, Frustration
WHY?
“I am not a crook”
Vietnam
Clinton/LewinskyWatergate Divided Gov.
Democrats
Republicans
Cost of Elections$745 million
Political Efficacy
One’s own understanding and competence of government.
Has stayed steady through time
Belief one can have an impact on government
Has declined through time
What impact can a declining external political efficacy have on political behavior and why?
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• Abundant and fertile land• Property Rights• Countless opportunities to acquire land/make
living• Lack of feudal society• Independent spirit• To adapt Gov. to time and place
SalientEmotion attached
Dormant emerging
Uses:• Inform the public• Inform candidates• Inform office holders• Exit polls
Date Obama
McCain
AVERAGE X 45.9 43.3
ABC News National Polls
9/19-22 52 43
CNN National Polls 9/19-21 48 45
Cook Political Report National Polls
6/17/08 44 40
Democracy Corps National Polls
9/8-10 46 48
Diageo National Polls 8/29-31 48 39
Fox News National Polls
9/22-23 45 39
• Representative Sample
• Random Sampling• Respondent’s
Knowledge• Objective Wording• Accuracy: Straw
Poll
Rasmussen Tracking9/25 - 9/27 Obama 47 Romney 46
Early projections
Process in which people acquire their political beliefs
• Strongest• Fairly equal influence of mother and father• When differ, associate with closest parent• Impact of growing number of Independents
• Higher income More conservative and supportive of Republicans
• Lower incomes- More liberal and supportive of Democrats
2. Income
(ideology: conservative/liberal)
• Conflicting results• More education, more conservative
• College students more liberal than general population
• Most prestigious- most liberal
Whites: More conservative (more Republican)
Blacks: More liberal (strongest support of Democratic Party) >90%
Hispanics: Cubans v. Mexican Americans
Asians:
• Protestant: More conservative generally• Evangelicals more on social issues and econ• Catholic: Traditionally more liberal
(Economic) than on social issues (Abortion issue)
• Jewish: Most liberal (Strong support for the Democratic Party)
• 1900’sconservative• 1992 Year of the Woman• Clinton and Soccer Moms• Gender Gap: Sex sensitive issues, compare to past• Security Moms• NASCAR Dads
• Coastal Cities: environment• Urban areas: immigrants,
minorities• Solid South
• Rust Belt• Rural areas
(religion?)
Set of beliefs and values that shape a person’s view
• Limited role of govt.
• Govt. seen as chief threat to liberty
• Protect property rights
1. Classic Liberalism
• Expanded role of govt. (New Deal)
• Corporations seen as chief threat to liberty
• Need govt. to “smooth out the rough edges of capitalism”
• Role: protect people’s well being
Less likely to rely upon govt. to solve problemsNot as involved as “New Deal” liberals Edwards
• Reagan/Bush 41/ Bush 43• 104-109th Republican Congress• Strength in formally “Solid South”• Reversal in 1930’s trend to automatically
look to govt. to solve problems• Emphasis on private sector to solve
problems• Strong support for tax cuts
• Prayer in school
• Anti-Gay Marriage
• Anti-Abortion
• Emphasis on “free market”
• Free enterprise
• Means of production are in Gov. Hands• Land • Labor • Capital
Comparison with other countries
U.S. Europe
Why?
Suffrage Qualifications
Religion & PropertyState Legislatures eliminated theseRace 15th Amend
Gender 19th Amend.
Income 24th Amend. Literacy
Voting Rights Act 1965
Age 21 26th Amend.
• Property restrictions (Andrew Jackson)• Race: 15th Amendment• Women: 19th Amendment• Income: 24th Amendment• Literacy: Voting Rights Act of 1965• Minimum age of 18: 26th Amendment
Impact of expansion
Less voting power per person
• Registration (motor voter Bill)• Long Ballot: Excessive number of
issues to vote on• Type of election: General, Primary,
midterm, state, delegates • Difficulty in obtaining absentee ballots• Too many elections: Ballot fatigue• Weekday, non-holiday voting
(Voting is a linkage institution, interest groups,political parties & media)
• Lack of political efficacy• Dissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.• Weakness of parties’ ability to mobilize voters
Don’t like either, so why vote?
• Level of Education: Level of edu. Highest predictor• Income: High vs. Low• Age: 18-24 lowest 45 and up highest• Race: White vs. minorities• Cross-cutting cleavages • Religious Involvement
Characteristics Of those likely to
Vote wealthEducation
RaceAge
In your opinion, what is the single most influential reason for not voting?
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Issue Liberal Position Conservative Position
Health Care It’s a right, government health plan
It’s a privilege, private plan, national clearinghouse for
insurance, H.S.A.Crime/Punish Rehabilitation, no Capital
PunishmentEye for an eye, Capital
PunishmentBusiness Reg. Regulation on
businessesFree market solutions,
deregulation
Military Spending
Decrease spending, smaller military
Increase spending, larger military
Taxes Tax increase on wealthy, progressive tax
Tax cuts, regressive tax, flat tax
Welfare Expand welfare, medicare, medicaid,
social security
Faith based initiatives, privatize social security