Agenda Quick-write Syllabus review Public Opinion Political Ideology

◦ Framework◦ Trends

Who are Conservatives and Liberals?

Take out: Pen/Pencil Paper

Homework: Pages 200-210 in

textbook Continue study guide

questions Parent signature on

syllabus

Sept 4 – Political Beliefs in America

Which would you consider yourself to be?◦ Radical Liberal◦ Liberal◦ Moderate Liberal◦ Moderate Conservative◦ Conservative◦ Radical Conservative

How did you get that way? What brought you to that point? What has influenced you to think in such a way?

Write a brief explanation

Quick-write:

Teaching Approach: A College Experience

More than ever before, this means that you must strive to meet the principles of good scholarship:

Responsibility Initiative Leadership

Syllabus review:

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY ◦ keeping current with all readings and

assignments. (we move fast, you get behind—hard to catch up. Not everything covered in class.)

◦ Just as in college, your instructor will not remind you, nag you or plead with you to get things done. That’s your job.

You are responsible for:

TAKING INITIATIVE ◦ to go beyond ideas and information presented

in the class or text◦ to share with class◦ to ask the questions that need to be asked ◦ to work with me to help clarify confusing

ideas (and Comparative Politics is full of them)

You are responsible for:

Finally, students in a college class are expected to exert a certain degree of LEADERSHIP◦ you are responsible for your education, and you

can help others learn ◦ USE EACH OTHER!

You are responsible for:

2 hours and 25 minutes long 45 minute multiple choice section (60

questions) 100 minute free-response section (4

questions)

You will be taking at least three practice exams this semester

The AP US Gov Exam

1. Political Beliefs and Behaviors (Chapters 6, 7 and 10) Political Socialization, Citizen Attitudes, Public Opinion, Voting Patterns,

Mass Politics and Protest2. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Media (Chapters 8,

9, 11) Political Parties (functions, history, organization), Elections and the

Electoral Process, Interest Groups, and Political Action Committees (PACs)

3. Constitutional Foundations (Chapters 1-3)4. The Institutions of the American National Government

(Chapters 12-14, 16) Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, Courts

5. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (Chapters 4-5) Bill of Rights, Role of the Judiciary in the Development of the Meaning

of Rights, Minority and Special Group Rights

US Gov – Course Outline

The reading is the major expectation of the course. ◦To be successful, students must complete

assigned readings on time. This gives us all a common starting place to launch into deeper, more meaningful discussions. learn more

◦ I will not cover basic ideas that you’ve read; Some things will ONLY come from the text.

◦ If you’re not reading, I can’t clarify what you have questions on

◦And the class as a whole will be held back.

DO THE READING

Read through the ENTIRE syllabus Have a parent do the same Read and sign the statement

The slip on the last page is due FRIDAY

The Syllabus – Due Friday

When we study what Americans believe, why we believe what we do, and how we formed our beliefs, we study PUBLIC OPINION

According to the reading, what makes studying public opinion difficult to do/understand?

Studying Public Opinion

Complexity of public opinion comes from:◦ Diversity◦ Various issues◦ Different “publics”◦ Un-informed public◦ Interest groups◦ Individual opinion and

experience

Studying Public Opinion

Return to your quick-write Based on your response, what sort of things

influence public opinion?

School

Family

Media

Public Opinion

The Family, Media and School are aspects of Political Socialization◦ The process by which people acquire their political beliefs

Political beliefs may also be influenced by a “formative political event” – something specific that draws an individual to politics◦ For example: the death of Princess Di, the war in Iraq, the

occupy Wall Street movement

What is your earliest political memory?

Public Opinion

Political socialization and political opinion shape an individual’s view of government, or their political ideology

Political Ideology: A set of political beliefs and values about the goals of government or what government should be doing.

Political Ideology is a spectrum…

Political Ideology Framework

Public Opinion analysts can often guess your political ideology just by finding out where you are from and what your parents think about politics

If that is combined with a profile of your social group characteristics (such as gender, age, religion, race, social class, and educational level), your political attitudes can often be predicted.

Traditionally in America, we really have just two ideological positions about what government should be doing:◦ Liberals/ Conservatives

Political Ideology Trends

By looking at WHO votes Conservative and WHO votes Liberal, we will fit them into the spectrum of American Political Ideologies by seeing what they want government to be doing.

One form of expressing public opinion is through voting so a way to find out what different groups of Americans want from government is to study demographic trends to see how people vote

This activity will introduce you to demographic data regarding ideologies

Who are Conservatives and Liberals?