POLI 2051 Lecture : Lecture Ch5
Document Summary
Public opinion: definition: the collected attitudes of citizens on a given issue or question. 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. If govt ignores our opinions and wants, then how democratic is our govt. Should the public just periodically elect representatives, or should they actively engage in the policy-making process. It"s the delegate vs. trustee distinction we made earlier: also the question of whether the public is capable of governing. Surveys show that people: are not very interested in politics, are ignorant of much that goes on politically, rely heavily on cues and shortcuts rather than informed issue positions. Another way to address this question is to consider who is most interested in po. Elected officials po may influence govt decision-making. Academics seek to understand why people behave the way they do.
