Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, September 10, 2007
Civil Liberties (continued)
Civil Liberties: What Problems Should Not Be Public?
3. Free Speech Against Security Threats
a) The Passions of War
b) The Case of Schenck v. U.S. (1919)
- The Espionage Act
- The "Clear and Present Danger" Test for Limiting free speech
c) The Case of Dennis v. U.S. (1951)
- "McCarthyism"
- The Supreme Court Majority Opinion
- Hugo Black's Opinion
4. The Right to Privacy
a) Not explicit in the Constitution
b) The case of Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
- The Supreme Court Majority Opinion
- Hugo Black's Opinion
Tolerance
1. What is Political Tolerance and who cares?
2. How do political scientists find out how tolerant Americans are?
3. So how tolerant are they?
Public Opinion: How Americans View Government and Politics
1. How Do You Find Out About Americans'
Political Opinions?
a. Why the Personal Approach Doesn't Work
b. Random
Sampling
- The most careful way to select people to ask for opinions.
2. A Consumer’s Guide to Well Conducted
Polls
Pay attention to
a). The Margin of Error
b). Whether or not the Sample is Random
c). The Wording of the Questions
d). Interpreting the Results
Warning:
Listen carefully for "Push Polls" that are trying to change your mind.
3. What do you find out when you ask Americans for
their political opinions?
a. Americans have limited knowledge of public affairs
b. Americans' opinions are not always logically consistent
Example: Political Tolerance
c. Americans' opinions can change, sometimes quickly
Example: Trust in Government