American Politics 2047: Public Opinion and the Media

A voter on the losing side of an election is...

• ... systematically more likely to be happy with his representative and with Congress as an institution.

• ...systematically more likely to be unhappy with his representative and with Congress as an institution.

• ...is barred from voting.

• ...is permanently placed on the electoral roll.

In 2010, what happened to the Democratic Party in the midterms?

• It suffered a crushing defeat to the Republicans.

• It extended its majority over the Republicans.

• Not much changed really.

• The Republicans and Democrats were tied in seats.

George W Bush (2000-2008) was seen as unpopular by who?

• Just Democrats.

• Just independents.

• Democrats, Independents and some Republicans.

• He was seen as acceptable by all.

What does this graph represent?

• The favourability rating given to each 2008 Presidential candidate by voters.

• The self-described turnout of Americans by political persuasion in 2008.

• Voters' Placement of Obama on the Liberal‐Conservative Scale.

• The approval rating given to Obama during 2009.

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) began under which president?

• GW Bush

• Clinton

• Obama

• Reagan

Edwards (2009) argued what?

• "Realities beyond (the President's) control place severe constraints on any president's ability to move the public."

• "The President is unparalleled in power."

• "Obama will fail as President due to his cerebral nature."

• "No President will ever be able to pass healthcare reform due to the nature of the American government."

According to Zaller (1999), what are the three principal actors in media politics?

• The President, the press barons, and the journalists.

• Politicians, the Vice President, and citizens.

• Citizens, politicians, and journalists.

• Lawyers, journalists, and politicians.

What are journalists animated by according to Zaller?

• "...the goal is to sell newspapers and to demonstrate hypocrisy."

• "... to use mass communication to mobilize the public support they need to win elections and to get their programs enacted while in office."

• "...the goal of media politics is to produce stories that attract big audiences and that emphasize the "Independent and Significant Voice of Journalists.” "

• "...the goal is to monitor politics and hold politicians accountable on the basis of minimal effort."

Anthony Downs' study, An Economic Theory of Democracy (1957) argued what?

• Party competition for the support of rational voters could explain many of the most salient features of democratic politics.

• Party competition often drove away rational voters.

• Rational voters do not pay attention to electoral campaigns.

• The richer the voter, the less likely they are to vote.

Downs argued what about the two party system?

• There is no true two-party system.

• Both parties will converge to the position of the “median voter."

• The median voter does not exist, and a two party system is always extremely polarised.

• It will always break down about once every fifty years, and the parties will either die or renew themselves.