Unit 2: American Political Behavior
The diverse American public is a major component of the American political system. Politics touches the lives of all Americans – voters, politicians, the young, the old, and everyone in between. Political scientists are extremely interested in studying how the public participates in the American political system. This unit will explore the processes by which citizens learn about politics, political participation and voting behavior, the influence of public opinion, the role of the media, and the variety of factors that predispose citizens to differ from one another in terms of their political perceptions, values, and attitudes.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 12 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- compare and contrast various American political ideologies and attitudes about the role and scope of government;
- describe public opinion, how it is measured, and how it has evolved in American politics;
- define the major factors of political socialization in American society;
- discuss how public opinion polling influences electoral outcomes;
- explain American political culture and values and their connection to social and demographic characteristics;
- differentiate the various methods by which voters participate in politics.
- explain the characteristics of voter turnout, party identification, and issue preferences on how people vote;
- determine the factors that explain why people choose not to vote; and
- describe how the media influences the American public and political behavior.
2.1: Political Opinion and Political Socialization
Read this brief list of questions, which will be addressed over the course of Unit 2. You should use this list as a guide to each subunit. At the end of each unit, use it as a resource to review important terms and concepts.
2.1.1: Defining and Measuring Public Opinion
This lecture discusses public opinion and political socialization. Public opinion is a complex phenomenon, and scholars have developed a variety of interpretations of what public opinion means. Political socialization is a process by which people develop the attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors that are conducive to becoming good citizens. This lecture also notes how many people's understanding of the political world comes through their exposure to and interaction with the media.
Read this chapter, which examines public opinion – what it is, what it measures, and how it has evolved – and makes a case for the importance of public opinion in a democracy. This chapter also addresses the increasingly complicated relationship between the media and public opinion.
2.1.2: Polling and Public Opinion
Public opinion polls are often used in order to gauge a candidate's public appeal. Read this article to learn more about America's fascination with public opinion polls and how these polls influence elections. The author makes a strong case regarding the need for polls, stating that they perform the important function of revealing the innermost thoughts, feelings, biases, values, and behaviors of the body politic. Do you agree or disagree with this assertion?
2.1.3: American Political Culture and Ideology
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
2.2: The Media
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Media lecture.
Read this chapter. The media, in particular the print media, have been called the "fourth estate" and the "fourth branch of government". The news media pervades American politics and generally helps define American culture. New communications technologies have made the media more influential in American society and serve as a link between politicians, government officials, and the public.
Watch these video clips to learn about the impact that new media has had on American elections and the government. Think about how Barack Obama was able to utilize the power of new media, including social media, in the 2008 election to connect with voters and strengthen the "grassroots" component of his campaign.
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
2.3: Political Participation and Voting
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Political Participation lecture.
2.3.1: Voting Behavior and Voter Turnout
Watch this two-part presentation on voting behavior, voter turnout, and how these change depending on certain conditions.
Read this report, which discusses key voting trends, such as the wide gap in youth turnout between presidential and midterm elections, the rise in early voting, and the continued growth of the Latino electorate. The report concludes with a discussion of issues related to voter registration, early voting, and their potential to improve – or hinder – future voter participation.
2.3.2: Enfranchisement and Trends in Political Participation over Time
Read this article, which discusses the women's suffrage movement in the United States and how women finally won the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
Unit 2 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
