American Government Study Guide

Chapter 6 Public Opinion and Political Behaviors

Overview Obtaining the opinion of the public is not only signi�icant for the political parties but for the bas ic operation of the government. Understanding how public opinions work ultimately help to determine political behaviors of individuals and how they might ultimately vote and even feel on speci�ic issues. Learning Objectives 1. Identify what public opinion and political socialization means. 2. Identify ways that people can get political information and become civically involved. 3. Explain how political ideologies affect public opinion. 6.1 What is Public Opinion? There are many polling companies and educational institutions that gather data from people based upon their public opinion. This can be opinions about certain issues, candidates, or even direction of the nation. The measuring of public opinion can allow government of�icials and future candidates an opportunity to adjust their platforms, adapt for the opinions of citizens, and initiate policies that re- �lect the data. Public opinion is a collective of the ideas of people about certain issues, people, and topics that are collected and analyzed. An individual’s opinion usually comes from childhood through socialization with their family, expe- riences, or shared feelings between otherswith similar ideologies. Attitudes and beliefs about speci�ic things change based upon new experiences or challenges that will be made to those foundational beliefs. Ultimately, these opinions will have a common pattern or basis to them that will make one’s Political socialization is the process where people obtain a political identity and ideology. This be- gins at childhoodwhere most mirror the ideas and beliefs of their familymembers. As young students in schools, children will be exposed to a number of different political ideas and symbols. Basic civic education has objective elements but students are also exposed to the subjective experiences of the educator. Eventually, as the students becomesmore independent, theywill use their own experiences to determine where their political identity will end up, still being in�luenced by things like, education and the media. political and social ideology. 6.2 Political Socialization

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