assignment

PSC 101 Discussion Topics Module Week-6, Chapter 7 Political Participation and Chapter 8 Public Opinion

Due: Friday, October 6, before 11:55PM

Instructions: The discussion topics below are based on information you have read in Chapter 7 Political Participation

and Chapter 8 Public Opinion, which includes the course material on the Module Week-6 content pages, gathered

relevant chapter information for study guide number 2, and engaging in the online activities embedded in discussion

topics and by reading any resource information embedded in discussion topics.

PART 1 – POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Topic: Political Participation

1. Which of the three categories of participatory practices is important to you? Explain why.

• Electoral activities • Civic voluntarism • Political voice

2. Growing up, how often did you see your parents or other relatives actively participate in politics,

including voting?

PART 2 -POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Topic: Political Socialization:

Most people acquire their political attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values, ideology and knowledge through a learning

process called political socialization. This process begins early in childhood and continues throughout the person's

life. There are several agents of political socialization; family, religious institutions and traditions, schools and

educational attainment, the media, opinion leaders, major life events, peer groups, general effects or life-cycle

effects, major life events, opinion leaders, economic status and occupation.

1. Discuss: your first political impression, that is, the first political event or issue you can recall. In what ways do

you think those events or issues may have shaped your views toward government and politics? Did it leave you

cynical/ distrustful? idealistic/ energetic? apathetic/uninterested?

2. The family is the primary and most important political socialization agent. The family shapes a child’s political

attitudes, beliefs, values and political orientation.

3. Discuss: Did your parent(s), guardian(s) or grandparents' introduction to the political world affect their attitudes

differently towards government than from your own attitude?

4. How have other agents (other than the primary family agent) shaped your views and attitudes on government,

politics and issues?

In sum, the agents of political socialization develop public opinion. Public opinion has an effect on voting behaviors.

PART 3 -PUBLIC OPINION Topic: Gallup Poll Daily Tracking of the President. The Presidential "honeymoon" is

the short period after a President is inaugurated (especially) when the opposition party refrains from attack,

Congress is inclined to support some of the President's initiatives, and the President receives high public approval

ratings in public opinion polls. Within a month or two partisan attacks generally resume and the honeymoon period

ends.

Topic: President Obama Gallup Daily Tracking Job Approval Ratings

Overall, President Obama consistently maintained higher approval ratings. Certain events and issues can effect

presidents' approval ratings. Events and issues have effected president Obama’s approval rating, such as; the capture

and death of Osama Bin Laden (5/2/2011), the Benghazi Attack (9/11/2012), the launching of the national

healthcare program, its website, and government shutdown (10/1/2013), and the handling of the 2012 and 2013 U.S.

federal budget.

See/Click here for the Polling report.com Gallup Daily Tracking on President Obama’s first and last job approval

rating from 1/21/09 to 1/17-19/17:

http://pollingreport.com/obama_job1.htm

See/Click here for Gallup.com full report on President Obama’s last job approval rating:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/202349/president-obama-leaves-white-house-favorable-

rating.aspx?g_source=position3&g_medium=related&g_campaign=tiles

1. Discuss what you think might be other reasons for President Obama’s high and slightly high job approval ratings

in his presidency?

Topic: President Trump Gallup Daily Tracking Job Approval Ratings

See/Click here for Polling report.com Gallup Daily Tracking on President Trump’s job approval rating from 1/20-

22/17 to 9/25-27/17:

http://pollingreport.com/djt_job1.htm

[During 9/25-27/17 the job rating for President Trump has a 36 % approval rating and a 59% disapproval rating for

daily tracking. Note this result in the polling report URL above for the exam.]

Topic: President Trump is Viewed as a Strong Leader Who Can handle the US Economy but Continues to

Receive Below Average Approval Ratings

See: Click here for Gallup.com full report on President Trump’s Leadership Qualities

http://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/219833/trump-leadership-qualities-assessed-year-

later.aspx?g_source=THE_PRESIDENCY&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles

See: Click here for Gallup.com full report on President Trump handling the Economy

http://news.gallup.com/poll/219017/slim-majority-approves-trump-handling-

economy.aspx?g_source=THE_PRESIDENCY&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles

See: Click here for Gallup.com full report on President Trump’s daily job approval rating:

http://news.gallup.com/poll/201617/gallup-daily-trump-job-

approval.aspx?utm_source=link_newsv9&utm_campaign=item_185273&utm_medium=copy

[Optional: Other Gallup Poll Presidency Surveys: http://news.gallup.com/topic/the_presidency.aspx]

2.Discuss what you think might be other reasons why President Trump has a less than average job approval rating,

eight months into his presidency?

Topic: Major Polls of the President’s Job Rating

See the president’s job ratings from MAJOR POLLS. For MAJOR POLLS Go to:

http://pollingreport.com/trump.htm

3.Discuss why the Fox News approval rating poll for President Trump is on average with most of the other approval

rating polls. In the beginning of the year 2017 President Trump’s Fox News approval rating polls were slightly

higher than the other poll ratings.

[Optional: Students can also see ratings concerning the TRUMP ADMINISTRATION and FAVORABILITY

RATING. Go to: http://pollingreport.com/trump.htm ]

Topic: Healthcare: Government or Non-Government Responsibility

Over time the American view of government funded healthcare has varied. A Gallup poll concerning healthcare was

ascertained through September 11-13, 2009. It asked Americans whether healthcare should be the responsibility of

government or a not by government; and by political party breakdown. Read and analyze the Gallup Poll survey

responses chart and explanation for this discussion; which is posted on the Gallup.com websites:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123332/Many-U.S.-See-Health-Insurance-Personal-Responsibility.aspx

or view convenient pdf version on course content. As of November 16, 2011 Gallup poll found that Americans

maintain a negative view on US healthcare coverage:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150788/Americans-Maintain-Negative-View-Healthcare-Coverage.aspx

4. Discuss: why you agree or disagree with the responses that are expressed in the September 11-13 2009 Gallup

poll on government responsibility of healthcare, or agree or disagree with the November 16, 2011 survey?

Topic: Healthcare and the Uninsured

Gallup poll released a report on January 24, 2012 concerning healthcare and the uninsured. The report revealed

whether there is a decrease or increase of Americans who are uninsured from 2008 to 2011. Read and analyze the

Gallup Poll survey responses chart and explanation for this discussion, which is posted on the Gallup.com websites:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152162/Americans-Uninsured-2011.aspx

On February 11, 2013 Gallup Poll.com released a report that ‘Fewer Young Adults in U.S. Lack Health Insurance in

2012.’

http://www.gallup.com/poll/160376/fewer-young-adults-lack-health-insurance-

2012.aspx?g_source=Fewer+Young+Adults+in+U.S.+Lack+Health&g_medium=search&g_campaign=tiles

On July 10, 2015 Gallup Poll reports after the Supreme Court decision in late June turned back a second legal

challenge to the 2010 Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Americans' approval rating of the law rose to 47%, the

highest level since 2012. Americans are still divided on the healthcare law. Equally the number of Americans are

likely to disapprove and to approve of the law:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/184079/americans-views-healthcare-law-

improve.aspx?g_source=CATEGORY_HEALTHCARE&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles

As of August 2017 Americans still feel that the issue of healthcare is an important problem following the top issue

of dissatisfaction with government:

http://news.gallup.com/poll/215645/government-healthcare-important-

problems.aspx?g_source=CATEGORY_HEALTHCARE&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles

5. Discuss: should government provide healthcare when there is no alternative for individuals or families to purchase

or attain healthcare?

[Optional: additional Gallup poll recent 2017 reports on US healthcare and the

uninsured http://www.gallup.com/topic/category_healthcare.aspx]

[Optional: Other helpful Public Opinion Poll Links:

Gallup http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx

Polling Report http://www.pollingreport.com/

Rasmussen Report http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

Pollster http://www.pollster.com]