take the comparative “quiz” with your partner. bell ringer
TRANSCRIPT
Take the Comparative “Quiz” with your partner.
Bell Ringer
Polling & Test Review
Today we will …
Examine the usefulness of opinion polling, including exit polls
Review demographic data to determine the likelihood of liberal & conservative ideology
Review civil rights policies & the impact on AA voting patterns
Review for Unit 3 Test Polling video & opinion
poll partner activity Exit polls & voter
demographics African American
voting patterns & practice FRQ
Objectives Agenda
Public Opinion
What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at a given time
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/pros-and-cons-of-public-opinion-polls-jason-robert-jaffe
Cleavages Social Class Race and ethnicity Region
How do we measure public opinion?
Scientific Polling Random Samples Representative Sample Question Wording Large Sample Size gives a lower margin of
error
Check for understanding
What do we call the group pf people that respond to questions during a public opinion poll?
Why do people tend to give socially desirable answers to poll questions?
Scientific Polling
PEW 2014 Midterm polls, Topline Questionnaire Random sample of entire population Comprehensible ? Questions asked fairly Categories carefully considered Sampling difference, sampling error
Check for understanding
What are two characteristics of a valid scientific, public opinion poll?
Usefulness of Polling Results
Public opinion polls are a way to link the public with elected officials. Members of Congress often use polls to understand the views of their constituents, but they must also pay attention to other political considerations. Polls influence Congress
Explain why strong public opinion, as expressed in polling results, influence the voting decisions of members of Congress
Polls have limited influence on Congress Legislator’s voting records Party Leadership
Pair Activity
How might public opinion influence the voting decisions of members of Congress during competitive re-elections?
1. Each partner will have a poll of support for Medicaid expansion in Virginia.
2. Use questions 1, 2 and 5 to help you analyze the information.3. Answer the question 6 together & be ready to share your
findings.
What is your reaction to each article’s polling data & polling questions? Did it persuade you of anything?
Va. legislators approve budget deal, reject Medicaid expansion - The Washington Post
Political Elites
How do they influence public opinion? Elite: people who have disproportionate amount
of some valued resource- money, schooling, prestige, athletic ability, political power, etc. Activists: hold office, run for office, work in
campaigns/ newspapers, social movements, speaking out. -
Higher rates of participation come w/more information
Association with like-minded people Elites direct attention to topics
What can they tell us about who participates and their ideologies?
Demographics
Changing Demographics
Race/Ethnicity Age Family/Family Size Gender Composition of Workforce
Demographic Chart: 2012
Gender Religion Region Race Education
Random sample of entire population
Comprehensible ? Questions asked fairly Categories carefully
considered Sampling difference,
sampling error
What does the chart say about:
Polling
Look at past demo dataAge, income, religion, education, gender
Who participates in Politics?
Who is more likely to be politically active? College educated
High level of political information? More control over time
Older than 45 Regular religious involvement
Participation could be increased by Automatic registration Compulsory voting laws Political party strength
Democrat v Republican VotersExamine the exit poll demographic data from the presidential election of 2000. What “type” of person was more likely to
vote for Gore/Democrat? What “type” of person was more likely to
vote for Bush/Republican? Annotate your Right vs. Left handout
with the information you uncover.
Check for understanding
Draw a picture of a “typical” Conservative & Liberal.
African American Voting Patterns
15th Amendment - 1870
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
"The first vote" A.R. Waud. Wood engraving. 1867.
1965 Voting Rights Act
A Time for Justice: 3 min and 11 minutes What kind of discrimination did
African Americans face concerning suffrage?
In what other ways did African Americans participate in the political process other than voting?
• Be sure to answer all the parts of the question. What does the question ask, define or explain?
• Use specific content vocabulary & avoid generalizations. You are proving what you know!
US FRQ
CLOSURE/ HOMEWORK
FRQ - US What is the difference between political culture and public
opinion? What factors contribute to the likelihood of voting? Governmental requirements decrease/ increase voter turnout Public opinion polls influence law makers behavior Discrimination of African Americans in the political process,
15th amendment FRQ - Comparative
Define Welfare states Influence of Colonialism Social Cleavages choose a country, what methods does a
country use to respond to that cleavage?