Deck 6: The Politics of Public Opinion

Question 1

How do polls affect presidential elections?

A) Polls help voters research information about each of the candidates.
B) Polls tell voters the issues that candidates support.
C) Polls identify the top candidates and the media interview those candidates.
D) Polls explain which candidates should win the election.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Why are social policies controversial?

A) They require people to accept the authority of the government.
B) They require government to balance the rights and liberties of different groups.
C) They require the government to increase spending.
D) They require a decrease in regulations and laws.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is not an agent of political socialization?

A) a family member
B) a religious leader
C) a teacher
D) a U.S. senator

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Why would House of Representative members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?

Question 5

Which of the following is not part of a scientific poll design?

A) a leading question
B) a random sample
C) a representative sample
D) a low margin of error

Question 6

Which institution has the highest average public approval ratings?

A) the presidency
B) the U.S. House of Representatives
C) the U.S. Senate
D) the Supreme Court

Question 7

Presidential approval ratings ________ over a president's term of office.

A) increase
B) decline
C) stay relatively stable
D) seesaw

Question 8

How have changes in technology made polling more difficult?

Question 9

How do the media use public opinion polls during election season?

Question 10

Why might one branch's approval ratings be higher than another's?

Question 11

Where do your beliefs originate?

Question 12

Which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?

A) the president
B) U.S. Senate
C) U.S. House of Representatives
D) U.S. Supreme Court

Question 13

When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?

Question 14

Which agents of socialization will have the strongest impact on an individual?

Question 15

How are most attitudes formed?

A) in adulthood, based on life choices
B) in childhood, based on early childhood experiences
C) in college, based on classes and majors
D) after college, based on finances

Question 16

The Bradley effect occurs when people ________.

A) say they will vote for a candidate based on the candidate's name
B) say they will vote against a candidate because of the candidate's race
C) say they will vote for a candidate but then vote against him or her
D) say they will vote in the next election but instead stay home

Question 17

Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most?

A) presidential actions
B) foreign events
C) Supreme Court actions
D) domestic events

Question 18

Why do pollsters interview random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election?

Question 19

________ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader or viewer know upfront there is a political bias or position.

A) Overt
B) Covert
C) Explanatory
D) Expository

Question 20

A poll states that Hillary Clinton will receive 43 percent of the vote. There is an 8 percent margin of error. What do you think of the poll?

A) It is a good poll and the margin of error is small.
B) It is a good poll and the margin of error is acceptable.
C) It is a non-representative poll and the margin of error is too high.
D) The poll accurately predicts Clinton will receive 43 percent of the vote.

Question 21

Critical Thinking Questions


-When should political leaders not follow public opinion, and why?

Question 22

Critical Thinking Questions


-What are the ways the media socialize a person?

Question 23

Critical Thinking Questions


-Why should a poll be scientific rather than informal?

Question 24

Critical Thinking Questions


-What heuristics, or cues, do voters use to pick a presidential candidate? Are these a good way to pick a president?

Question 25

Critical Thinking Questions


-Why is diffuse support important to maintaining a stable democracy? What happens when a government does not have diffuse support?

Question 26

Critical Thinking Questions


-Is public opinion generally clear, providing broad signals to elected leaders about what needs to be done? Why or why not?