Deck 10: Public Opinion

Question 1

What was the significance of the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913?

A) The American people gained even greater ability to influence government.
B) The Electoral College was abolished, giving the American people more power.
C) The ability to vote was extended to all Americans regardless of race or gender.
D) The restrictions on polling were lifted, increasing available public opinion polling data.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Ellen has decided to volunteer for the Democratic candidate running for president in the upcoming election. Although she is contributing her time as a volunteer to help coordinate and run fundraising events and get-out-the-vote efforts, she has also made financial contributions to the candidate's campaign. What is this an example of?

A) participating in an issue network
B) exercising Fourteenth Amendment rights
C) expressing public opinion
D) petitioning the government

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to James Madison, what was the primary reason for adopting the Constitution?

A) Ratification of the Constitution would mean a more orderly nation of people.
B) The Constitution would give the government additional powers over the people.
C) It would give the public more control and a greater voice through voting.
D) The American people overwhelmingly supported ratification of the Constitution.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The broad principles that form the foundation of American political culture that most Americans support and adhere to are referred to as ______.

A) beliefs
B) values
C) ideologies
D) orientations

Question 5

How did the 1787 Constitution allow for public opinion to influence the federal government?

A) through the direct election of the president
B) through free and regular elections of senators
C) through the election of members of the House
D) through open and regular elections of judges

Question 6

Which form of government emphasizes the role of the people?

A) democracy
B) aristocracy
C) monarchy
D) oligarchy

Question 7

The ability for public opinion to influence the federal government was expanded following the ratification of which amendment to the Constitution?

A) the Fifteenth Amendment
B) the Seventeenth Amendment
C) the Nineteenth Amendment
D) the Twenty-First Amendment

Question 8

What is one of the most widely used and highly visible expressions of public opinion in today's age?

A) public opinion polls
B) letters to the editor
C) newspaper op-eds
D) call-ins to talk radio shows

Question 9

Erica feels very strongly that the federal government should have a minimal role in the lives of individual Americans and should respect the natural rights that are outlined in the Bill of Rights. As such, she opposes any laws that attempt to infringe upon her First Amendment rights, and believes that the Tenth Amendment is critical to the proper function and balance of the American system of government. Erica's feelings are an example of ______.

A) an embodiment of the American value of equality
B) a predominantly centrist political orientation
C) support for the values of liberty and individualism
D) support for the American value of the rule of law

Question 10

Which is an example of expressing public opinion?

A) a technology website's poll asking how many people have purchased a brand's new smartphone
B) a man donating money to a local homeless shelter during the holiday season
C) a college student who starts a blog to discuss topics like fashion, beauty, and hair care
D) a group of women voicing their opposition to gender pay inequality at a rally in Washington, D.C.

Question 11

The American value of equality is expressed most clearly in ______.

A) Article I of the U.S. Constitution
B) the Preamble of the Constitution
C) Federalist No. 10
D) the Declaration of Independence

Question 12

A local news station has dialed 1000 random phone numbers in the area and asked respondents whether or not they support an increase in the local sales tax. The results of the poll were aggregated and will be presented on the evening news later in the day. What is this an example of?

A) persuading the public
B) measuring public opinion
C) interfering with an upcoming election
D) demonstrating political bias

Question 13

Which is one of the primary uses of public opinion?

A) The government uses public opinion to determine what actions might be favorable among the public.
B) News stations use public opinion data to determine what events to cover during news segments.
C) Public opinion data is released to the American people to help them understand the political climate.
D) Political scientists use public opinion data to analyze midterm and general election results.

Question 14

Over time, the potential avenues for expressing public opinion in America has ______.

A) drastically expanded
B) been largely stagnant
C) decreased outside of voting rights
D) remained in the hands of elites

Question 15

Public opinion is best understood as ______.

A) the aggregate of responses to polls conducted by media outlets and other groups.
B) the summation of individual opinions on a given issue or topic.
C) the ability of Americans to answer questions about American history and the government.
D) the popular vote results of a general election, not the Electoral College votes.

Question 16

James Madison prioritized public opinion and believed that the government should serve "the will of the people," which was a theory borrowed from ______.

A) Montesquieu
B) Plato
C) Aristotle
D) John Locke

Question 17

According to political scientist E. E. Schattschneider and President Abraham Lincoln, which factor is critical for determining the outcome of political battles?

A) media coverage
B) lobbyist influence
C) public opinion
D) bipartisan support

Question 18

At which level of public opinion is consensus most crucial for the health and functioning of the American political system?

A) values and beliefs
B) political orientations
C) political ideologies
D) political preferences

Question 19

How has the expression of public opinion via the media changed in recent years?

A) Americans rely more heavily on journalists to provide commentary on political issues.
B) The Internet has provided opportunities to express one's opinion in nontraditional ways.
C) Many Americans have a more informed opinion as a result of the Internet.
D) Public opinion has become harder to measure with the increase in social media usage.

Question 20

Which option best describes beliefs as they relate to American political culture?

A) the facts that are derived from values that people take for granted about the world
B) the principles that form the foundation of political culture that most people adhere to
C) the tools that allow Americans to assess their political environment
D) the philosophical guide that people use to help them determine political preferences

Question 21

According to political scientist Walter Lippmann, why are citizens generally uninformed about politics?

A) Average citizens do not have the mental capacity to understand basic politics.
B) Citizens do not devote enough effort and energy to learn about politics.
C) The average person does not need to understand politics to have an opinion about it.
D) Average citizens lack the necessary financial means to learn enough about politics.

Question 22

What is the most likely reason political preferences are the most widely discussed level of public opinion?

A) Political preferences are more specific and allow government officials to gauge support for policies.
B) Political preferences provide insight into the stability and cohesion of the American political system.
C) Political preferences allow Americans to determine how they feel about specific policy issues.
D) Political preferences help Americans decide which political party they most closely identify with.

Question 23

Most public opinion polls measure which level of public opinion?

A) values and beliefs
B) political ideology
C) political orientation
D) political preferences

Question 24

According to a 2017 poll, how many Americans were unable to name any of the three branches of the federal government?

A) nearly half
B) one-third
C) one-quarter
D) two-thirds

Question 25

Which statement best summarizes the findings within The American Voter?

A) The average American is informed enough about politics to properly form an opinion about a policy.
B) More often than not, average Americans can correctly answer questions about American politics.
C) Ordinary citizens are generally uninformed about political issues and unable to understand politics.
D) Although Americans do not care about politics, they are still able to participate in the political system.

Question 26

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is an independent who believes that the government should provide free health care, forgive college loan debt, and make sure the top one percent of earners are paying their fair share of taxes. Given that information, Sanders has which political ideology?

A) liberal
B) conservative
C) Democratic
D) libertarian

Question 27

What have most recent studies indicated about the level of knowledge Americans have about politics in the United States?

A) Americans are more informed about politics than citizens of other nations.
B) Americans are generally well informed about American history and politics.
C) Americans lack knowledge of some important aspects of American politics.
D) Americans demonstrate a clear disdain for politics and the government.

Question 28

What is the relationship between partisanship and political ideology?

A) Partisan orientation toward one party or another helps an individual to develop his or her political ideology.
B) They are interchangeable terms for adherence to conservative (Republican) or liberal (Democratic) values.
C) Both are means of orientation by which values and beliefs are translated into political preferences.
D) A person's political ideology and partisan orientation are the most significant determinant of their values and beliefs.

Question 29

What can be said about the political preferences level of public opinion?

A) It is broader and more common among Americans than the other levels.
B) It is more specific to certain policies and the function of the government.
C) It is a tool that Americans can use to decide which political party they identify with.
D) It is useful when translating ideas about values and beliefs into an ideology.

Question 30

Cynthia has been chosen to participate in a survey that will test her knowledge of the American political system. If Cynthia is like most Americans, her results likely will indicate that she ______.

A) lacks knowledge of some important aspects
B) has sufficient knowledge of American politics
C) is largely ignorant of the American political system
D) has a solid understanding of American politics

Question 31

What was one concern the Founders had about the influence of public opinion?

A) Lawmakers would reject public opinion out of disdain.
B) Public opinion would corrupt the president and Congress.
C) The whims of the people would lead to a tyranny of the masses.
D) People would be too uninformed to make proper decisions.

Question 32

An individual's feelings toward the minimum wage are part of which level of public opinion?

A) values and beliefs
B) political ideology
C) political orientations
D) political preferences

Question 33

Who would most likely have a more conservative political ideology?

A) Marta, who does not think the government should restrict a woman's right to get an abortion
B) Anna, who believes that the economy will improve itself due to free market forces
C) Carl, who supports the right of same-sex couples to get married in every state
D) Josh, who feels that the government should universal health care to its citizens

Question 34

Which level of public opinion tends to be the most stable and long-lasting?

A) party identification
B) political preferences
C) political orientation
D) political socialization

Question 35

The feelings that Americans have about policy issues, elected officials, and the overall performance of the government are considered part of which level of public opinion?

A) values and beliefs
B) political orientation
C) political ideology
D) political preferences

Question 36

Two students are engaged in a debate about the issues surrounding the lack of knowledge Americans have regarding the politics. Kylie believes that uninformed voters are a real problem and that there should be some way to better educate the public or ensure that only those who are informed are casting votes. Megan, on the other hand, does not see the lack of knowledge as that big of a problem. Which argument can Megan make to best support her position?

A) The public has always been uninformed, and it has not been a problem historically.
B) It would be impossible to educate every citizen about the American political system.
C) Restricting the voting rights of the uninformed citizens would be ineffective.
D) Voters are capable of acting rationally, even when they do not have all available information.

Question 37

Based on the ideas of political scientist Walter Lippmann, why is it important for the public to be informed about politics?

A) An uninformed public means that public opinion generally lacks any real value.
B) In order to have access to the right to vote, a person must demonstrate an understanding of politics.
C) Elected officials only pay attention to the opinions of those who are informed about politics.
D) Voters cannot confidently cast a vote if they do not know who or what they are voting for.

Question 38

Who proposed a republican form of government as a way to safeguard against the tyranny of the masses brought on by the influence of public opinion?

A) James Madison
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) George Washington

Question 39

The translation of values and beliefs into a way of assessing the political environment is generally referred to as ______.

A) political orientation
B) liberal ideology
C) party preference
D) conservative ideology

Question 40

According to the text, what is required in order for a nation to confidently rely on public opinion?

A) an informed public
B) wealthy campaign donors
C) a large voting population
D) a generally moral citizenry

Question 41

Which effect is political socialization in post-elementary schools most likely to have?

A) High school graduates will have greater influence over their peers when it comes to politics.
B) In college, individuals will likely develop positive attitudes about democracy and basic American values.
C) Those who have learned about and understand civics will be more likely to be politically active.
D) Individuals will use what they learned in school to form their lifelong political orientation.

Question 42

Which value about the American political system and culture do the schools instill in individuals?

A) respect for authority
B) equality
C) rule of law
D) individualism

Question 43

The process by which people develop their values, beliefs, and opinions about politics is known as ______.

A) political growth
B) political socialization
C) political development
D) political radicalization

Question 44

By which grade level are children cognitively capable of understanding politics?

A) third grade
B) fifth grade
C) eighth grade
D) eleventh grade

Question 45

Why is it important for those running for office to clearly explain their positions on certain policies and issues when campaigning?

A) Providing a clear framework of policy positions allows voters to make an informed decision without fully understanding the whole of American politics.
B) It is required by law that anyone running for elected office to clearly outline their policy platform in writing for all voters to consider.
C) Without a clear stance on policies and issues, it is impossible for voters to select someone to represent them in the federal government.
D) Americans are better able to apply their existing knowledge of politics to a candidate when they know that candidate's position on policies and issues.

Question 46

Which statement best describes political socialization?

A) It is a lifelong process of development that can even extend beyond politics.
B) It is a primarily childhood phenomenon that ends once a person reaches voting age.
C) It is a process that happens within an individual's immediate family.
D) It is a process that is unique to the American political culture.

Question 47

Ryan is a college graduate who constantly watches the news and gets updates about current events sent to his phone throughout the day. Objectivity is important to Ryan, so he gets notifications and information from a variety of news sources that offer different perspectives and challenge his own beliefs. Which statement about Ryan is likely accurate?

A) Ryan is politically informed and supportive of basic American values.
B) Ryan has clearly defined preferences on most political issues.
C) Ryan came from a family that did not consume political news.
D) Ryan's family and peer groups had similar political orientations.

Question 48

Suppose Nadine grew up in a household with parents who were political activists and held strong liberal ideologies. Based on the primacy tendency theory and the process of political socialization, as an adult, Nadine is most likely to ______.

A) hold conservative views
B) identify as Republican
C) be politically active
D) be apolitical

Question 49

Tanya has just been elected president and is currently enjoying the presidential "honeymoon period." She campaigned on an ambitious policy platform and intends to keep her promises to the electorate. According to the research of Samuel Kernell, what, in terms of public opinion, does Tanya need to do in order to enact this agenda?

A) provide a framework for voters to understand politics
B) focus on the rational discussion of the issues
C) examine public opinion data for meaningful patterns
D) maintain high levels of public support

Question 50

Suppose a father and his son are at a baseball game. Before the game begins, the national anthem is sung, and the father removes his cap, stands, and urges his son to do the same. What is this an example of?

A) informal political socialization
B) the adoption of a political orientation
C) the American value of the rule of law
D) the primacy tendency in action

Question 51

Which agent of political socialization has become increasingly significant in the twenty-first century?

A) social media
B) television
C) radio talk shows
D) universities

Question 52

As children grow older, which agent of political socialization tends to further reinforce their existing political beliefs learned from family members?

A) friends and peers
B) the media
C) teachers
D) religious figures

Question 53

The work of V. O. Key Jr., Benjamin Page, and Robert Shapiro differ from that of Walter Lippmann in their ______.

A) focus on political knowledge rather than values
B) indirect link between public opinion and public policy
C) more optimistic view of the American public
D) examination of short-term over long-term trends

Question 54

What is the significance of Protestantism in relation to political socialization?

A) The Protestant work ethic emphasized volunteerism, which has become a critical way for individuals to develop political identities today.
B) The Protestants emphasized the family and local community, which remain the most important agents of political socialization.
C) The Protestants were responsible for the establishment of the American public school system, which are central to the socialization process.
D) The Protestant work ethic emphasized hard work and individualism, which persist as basic American values today.

Question 55

According to political scientist V. O. Key Jr., who is responsible for providing a rational framework for the public to understand politics?

A) teachers
B) political leaders
C) parents
D) the media

Question 56

What did Benjamin Page and Robert Shapiro find upon analyzing decades of public opinion data?

A) Americans often make irrational decisions when voting.
B) Public opinion is relatively stable and moves in logical directions.
C) Americans tend to vote in ways that contradict their values and beliefs.
D) Public opinion changes dramatically from year to year.

Question 57

What is the correlation between news media consumption and political knowledge?

A) Those who watch less news take it upon themselves to research issues and are more informed.
B) Heavy news media users are often more politically informed than lighter users.
C) Individuals who watch the news regularly tend to make irrational decisions when voting.
D) Those who watch heavy amounts of news media do not have well-formed values and beliefs.

Question 58

What is the broader significance of the political socialization process in American political culture?

A) Political socialization gives the federal government the ability to influence values and beliefs.
B) Political socialization is critical to the overall development of children as individuals.
C) Political socialization is an important way for families to bond with one another.
D) Political socialization allows for the transmission of beliefs and values between generations.

Question 59

How has the Christian-based fundamentalist movement attempted to influence political opinions?

A) by demonizing certain political groups
B) by framing politics through a religious lens
C) by shaming others into certain beliefs
D) by contributing to political campaigns

Question 60

Which agent of political socialization likely has the greatest primacy tendency effect?

A) the media
B) friends
C) family
D) schools

Question 61

A poll that measures whether the public views a policy as favorable or unfavorable is measuring ______.

A) continuity
B) changeability
C) direction
D) intensity

Question 62

Last night, there was a debate between the Democratic Party candidate for president and the Republic Party candidate for president. A news organization conducts an informal poll of a studio audience that asks them if they approved or disapproved of the overall message of the incumbent president. What is this poll measuring?

A) direction
B) intensity
C) continuity
D) bias

Question 63

How do modern-day polls achieve a random sample to be considered scientific?

A) Polls are conducted exclusively online.
B) Phone numbers are dialed at random.
C) Canvassers go door-to-door to ask questions.
D) Average Americans are stopped at malls.

Question 64

Why are online polls like log-in polls or polls conducted on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter not considered scientific?

A) These types of polls often receive too many responses to be considered scientific.
B) Since only those who come across the polls have a chance to participate, they are not random.
C) People are able to respond to these polls more than once, which skews the data.
D) These polls are often biased in their wording so as to elicit a certain response.

Question 65

What is the primary method for measuring the opinions of large groups of people?

A) voting
B) public opinion polling
C) canvassing
D) lobbying

Question 66

Of the discussed characteristics of public opinion that analysts seek to measure, which is the most basic?

A) intensity
B) changeability
C) direction
D) continuity

Question 67

Why has the National Council on Public Polls instituted a list of information that must be provided about any poll that is released to the public?

A) This information helps them track which polling agencies have the best polls.
B) The information is used to help the public evaluate the quality of the poll.
C) The information must be disclosed to comply with campaign laws.
D) This information prevents other polling agencies from copying the poll.

Question 68

A poll in which the sample of people who are polled cannot be generalized to apply to the broader population is considered which type of poll?

A) a scientific poll
B) a randomized poll
C) an unscientific poll
D) a biased poll

Question 69

The amount of error in a poll that results from interviewing only a subset of a population is known as the ______.

A) sampling adequacy
B) confidence interval
C) nonresponse error
D) sampling error

Question 70

Omar is a political scientist developing a poll to gauge how the American people view the current president to help news outlets and others determine the president's chances for being re-elected. In order to be considered valuable and valid to the public, which requirement must Omar's poll meet?

A) It must get the responses of at least one million Americans.
B) It must be conducted online for ease of accessibility.
C) It must be able to be replicated by other polling agencies.
D) It must include a randomly-generated sample.

Question 71

Why is question wording important to a poll?

A) Questions can sometimes be worded in a way that elicits a specific response.
B) Questions must be rid of any politically-biased language for unscientific polls.
C) Questions that are too simple can lead to a misunderstanding of the question.
D) Questions that are complex and long tend to lead to more accurate responses.

Question 72

What is the main purpose of a push poll?

A) to gauge public opinion about a certain issue
B) to only measure the opinions of one group
C) to persuade citizens to vote a certain way
D) to bolster the news media's narrative

Question 73

Teresa has just logged into Twitter to catch up on the day's news and some of her friends' posts when she sees a poll a presidential candidate has posted asking how people feel about a certain policy that is part of his agenda. Teresa decides to participate in the poll to voice her opinion about the policy. Which type of poll has Teresa participated in?

A) an unscientific poll
B) a randomized poll
C) a pseudo-poll
D) a straw poll

Question 74

Which statement best characterizes direction in terms of public opinion polling?

A) Direction allows an analyst to determine the preference a majority of people hold.
B) Direction gives a pollster a good idea of how strongly the public feels about a certain policy.
C) Direction is an indicator of how stable the public's opinion of an issue is over time.
D) Direction permits an analyst to ask any number of questions about a variety of topics in one poll.

Question 75

Polls that involve consumers calling in to respond to a poll question are known as ______.

A) self-selected listener opinion polls
B) intercept polls
C) computerized response audience polling
D) log-in polls

Question 76

A sample that uses the theory of probability to select a random population to poll is considered ______.

A) biased
B) unscientific
C) scientific
D) partisan

Question 77

A poll that is conducted by a member of a political action committee to push a certain narrative about an opposing candidate without actually measuring anything of value is considered which type of poll?

A) an intercept poll
B) a random poll
C) a straw poll
D) a pseudo-poll

Question 78

Why is it important that a population be selected at random when conducting polls?

A) Random sampling is the most convenient and inexpensive sampling technique, allowing for frequent measurement.
B) Without a random sample, the poll would be considered unscientific and therefore invalid.
C) Random samples are the only accepted way to conduct public opinion polls in America.
D) A sample must be completely random so as to not violate anti-discrimination laws.

Question 79

Mindy and a group of friends are at the mall shopping when they are stopped by a woman with a clipboard who gets their permission to ask them a few questions about their feelings toward a policy that is up for a vote in the state legislature. Mindy and her friends agree to answer the questions and go about the rest of their day shopping afterwards. Which type of poll did Mindy and her friends participate in?

A) a scientific poll
B) an intercept poll
C) a self-selected opinion poll
D) a straw poll

Question 80

When a pollster asks questions to determine the public's preferences about a certain policy or the performance of the government, what are they trying to measure?

A) partisanship
B) direction
C) continuity
D) intensity