POLI 2051 Chapter : Exam 2 Review
Document Summary
6 - public opinion- the collected attitudes of citizens on a given issue or question. It is important because, in a democracy, there must be some link between what the public thinks, and what the government does. The nature of that link can vary greatly. Elected officials because public opinion may influence government decision making. Surveys show that people: are not very interested in politics. are ignorant of much that goes on politically rely heavily on ques and shortcuts. Political socialization: a complex process through which individuals become aware of politics, learn political facts, and form political values. We learn these things; they occur throughout our lives. Generational effects- specific age group uniquely affected by a set of historical events (vietnam, great depression) Life cycle effects- political views are influenced by maturation. Period effects- historical events affect everyone (ex: the end of the cold war caused everyone to want to spend less on defense. )
