Student Learning Objectives

Name ______A.P. Government & Politics Chapters 6: Public Opinion and Political Action Date______Homework (65 pts)

Student Learning Objectives: 6-1: Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics 6-2: Outline how various forms of socialization shape political opinions 6-3:.Explain how polls are conducted and what can be learned from them about American public opinion 6-4: Assess the influence of political ideology on Americans’ political thinking and behavior 6-5: Classify forms of political participation into two broad types 6-6: Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior

Using your textbook, please answer the following questions. (Homework must be typed.) Objective 6.1 1. What did John F. Kennedy mean when he said that America is “not merely a nation but a nation of nations”? Does Kennedy’s conception of America still hold true? (4 pts.)

2. List the three great waves of immigration to the United States? (3 pts)

3. Explain this new concept “minority majority.” (1 pt)

4. What was the goal of the Simpson-Mazzoli Act? (1 pt)

5. Explain the overall concept of reapportionment. (1 pt.)

6. Do you believe aging affects political behavior. Explain your answer. (2 pts.)

Objective 6.2 7. Define political socialization and explain what the significance of family is in the process. (3 pts)

8. Compare and contrast the different agents of political socialization. What effect do they have on political learning? (4 pts.)

9. Government/Schools (1 pt)

10. How closely do your political beliefs correspond with those of your parents? Explain your answer. (2 pts.)

11. Cedric is a high school graduate who works as an assistant manager at a big-box retailer located in the suburb of a major metropolitan center. Gayle lives in the Midwest, has two master’s degrees, and works part-time as an estate planner. Who is more likely to vote, Cedric or Gayle? On what evidence is your conclusion based? (2 pts)

12. Albert is a 55-year-old high school science teacher and a father of three. Is he more or less likely to vote than his 22-year-old college-educated daughter? (2 pts)

Objective 6.3 (Revised 7/2014) 13. What is random-digit dialing, and why are most polls conducted this way? (2 pts)

14. Some critics contend that public opinion polls weaken American democracy. Explain public opinion polls and how they can weaken American democracy. (3 pts)

15. What are Election Day exit polls, and why have they been so widely criticized? (2 pts)

16. What type of research error would you expect from a public opinion poll about support for women in combat roles that sought responses only from female college students who described themselves as feminists? (2 pts)

17. Would you expect public support for a taxpayer-funded program to raise the high school graduation rates of African Americans to increase or decrease as trust in the government increases? Why? (2 pts)

18. Why do you believe there has been a declining trust in government since the 1960s? (2 pts.)

Objective 6.4 19. Make a chart showing the political ideology of liberals vs. conservatives. (8 pts)

20. Explain how the role of religion influences political ideology in the United States. (1 pt)

21. Analyze why there is a gender gap in public opinion.(2 pts)

Objective 6.5 22. List the two types of participation and explain the difference between the two. (4 pts.)

23. What is the relationship between political protests and the media? (2 pts)

24. Explain the relationship between social class and political participation and its implications for equality in America. (2 pts)

Objective 6.6 25. What do the public opinion polls reveal about Americans and their views concerning the size of government? How might the contradictory nature of public opinion affect political decision making? (4 pts.)

26. Public opinion data shows Americans to be uninformed and uninvolved in politics, what do you believe this says about the strength of American democracy? Do you believe there are any shortcuts citizens may take to evaluate the government rationally but without extensive knowledge of government and policy? (Explain your answers.) (4 pts.)