Chapter 6: Public Opinion

If a person's parents are strict adherents to one political party, what is the likelihood that the person will also affiliate with the same party?

About 67%

Which political figure understood that democratic government must be responsive to the will of the people and once claimed, "Our government rests on public opinion"?

Abraham Lincoln

Which statement accurately identifies party identification of Latinos and African Americans?

African Americans are more likely to be Democrats than Republicans, and both parties compete for Latino support.

The phone rings and a person answers the call. A computerized voice on the other end asks the person, "Regardless of how you are registered to vote, do you tend to think of yourself more as (1) a Republican, (2) a Democrat, or (3) an Independent voter?" The person selects the answer that best aligns with their political party affiliation. Why type of poll is this?

Automated

A student in the class thinks there should be tougher laws prohibiting marijuana. The student also thinks that if the government runs out of money it should cut back on services instead of raising taxes or borrowing. Which political ideology best fits with the student's beliefs?

Conservative

Which term refers to the extent to which people believe their actions affect the course of government?

Efficacy

Which type of poll is conducted as voters are leaving the voting booth?

Exit

Which term describes the differences in political attitudes between men and women?

Gender gap

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were a defining event that caused Americans to change their views on national security and express a willingness to give up some personal freedom to reduce the threat of terrorism. Which term best captures this effect?

Generational Effect

What have preliminary studies of twins suggested about the formation of political attitudes?

Genetics may play a role in the formation of political attitudes.

Who is the only president to receive an approval rating higher than 90 percent?

George W. Bush

How has party polarization in Congress changed from the 1970s to present?

It has increased steadily over this period.

Which problem is most specific to internet polling?

It may be biased against older and poor Americans who are less likely to have internet access.

When thinking about the relationship between religion and public opinion, which of the following statements is most accurate?

Muslims respond with less support of same-sex relationships than Americans more generally.

Which concept concerns the psychological attachment someone has to a political party?

Party Identification

A group of voters concerned with the issue of climate change believes that the government will act in their best interest, but does not think what they do really matters. Given this information, which of the following statements is true about political trust and efficacy?

Political trust is high, whereas efficacy is low

One U.S. president read daily newspaper clippings, another held public meetings at the White House, and still another rode his horse into the countryside to talk to the people. Each of these presidents is attempting to influence what?

Public Opinion

What polling technique enabled George Gallup to predict correctly the outcome of the 1936 election?

Random Sample

What is the term for people who have blue-collar jobs and support the Republican party because they believe in a conservative social agenda and a decreased role for government welfare-based programs?

Reagan Democrats

Mariella was a Democrat when she was young, but as she got older and began making more money she became a Republican because she believed Republicans have pursued tax policies that protect individual wealth. In this case, Mariella is choosing a political ideology based upon what?

Self-interest

Two people grow up in different states, eat different kinds of foods, and have different family traditions. Their families are different sizes, practice different religions, and have jobs in different sectors of the economy. Given these major life differences, which of the following terms best describes how each person will have different ideas about their family, community, and politics?

Socialization

Which phrase best defines political trust?

The extent to which people believe the government acts in their best interests

What was wrong with the 1936 Literary Digest poll conducted during the presidential campaign?

The poll's sampling was biased

How do college graduates differ in their perspective about immigration reform when compared with those who have a high school education or less?

They are more in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens.

How did the Framers feel about the public's capacity to be politically informed and make good choices?

They were concerned about the public's ability to make good political decisions.