Unit 9 Public Opinion

What is the correct definition of the term public opinion?

• the surveys and polls that politicians and other public officials study to gauge the public’s level of interest or passion on a given topic

• the government projects and programs that are undertaken to benefit all members of the public rather than members of one specific group

• the ideas and feelings that people have about political candidates and issues, the government, its elected officials, and its programs

• the articles or essays published in public newspapers that express the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the paper’s editors

Which option is an important source of public opinion?

• personal background

• surveys

• the Constitution

• foreign policy

Which option is one important source of public opinion?

• the Bill of Rights

• mass media

• pollsters

• public officials

Which option is one important source of public opinion?

• interest groups

• the judicial branch

• polls

• shield laws

What is the correct definition of opinion polls?

• pieces of writing meant to convince readers to share the writer’s opinion on a political issue or candidate

• unbiased reports issued by oversight agencies about government programs and offices

• special elections that focus on a single political issue that affects many people in a region

• surveys that ask people to share their ideas and feelings about a particular issue or person

How do public officials use public opinion polls?

• to prevent their political opponents from attacking their voting records

• to learn what citizens think about issues and to help guide their decisions

• to calm or sooth citizens who are upset about their positions or decisions

• to publish their positions on issues and keep the public informed

Which statement describes one benefit of public opinion polls?

• They elevate the power of the media to act as a watchdog on government activities.

• They stop corrupt public officials from continuing to take advantage of their positions.

• They allow officials to learn what is important to voters without having to wait for the next election.

• They offer politicians opportunities to leak important information to reporters and members of the public.

Which statement describes a drawback of public opinion polls?

• They can force members of the public to reveal sensitive private information and personal beliefs.

• They can shape the decisions of federal appellate court judges and justices on the Supreme Court.

• They can take the place of elections and thereby disenfranchise citizens who do not participate in them.

• They can influence officials to try to please the public rather than make wise decisions for the common good.

How would a major newspaper’s decision to highlight the wasteful spending of a government program in a series of in-depth articles on that program most likely influence public opinion?

• It would likely lead the officials involved in the program to ignore public opinion polls.

• It would likely turn members of the public against the program and the officials who ran it.

• It would likely garner a great deal of public support for the goals of the program.

• It would likely cause public officials to leak information about the program to the newspaper.

Which choice describes the media being a government “watchdog”?

• by publishing leaked information, the media can share key facts and ideas about the government without having to identify their anonymous sources

• by publishing false information that damages a government official’s reputation, the media can forfeit its status as impartial observer of our democracy

• by observing and reporting on government corruption, the media can inform the public of wrongdoing and influence officials to behave appropriately

• by agreeing to regulations imposed by government agencies, the media can be seen as a loyal and trustworthy fixture of American society