Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, February 11, 2013

Reminder: Exam 1 at 9:30 on Wednesday. Please be here at 9:30

---

Current Events 

 

Civil Liberties: What Problems Should Not Be Public?

 

3. Free Speech Against National Security Threats
     

    The Smith Act (1940) - makes it a crime to join an organization advocating the violent overthrow of the government

 

    The Case of Dennis v. U.S. (1951)

 

    - The Supreme Court Majority Opinion upholds the Smith Act

 

    - Hugo Black's Minority Opinion

 

4. The Right to Privacy
 

    The case of Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) - Griswold arrested for making contraceptives available

 

        - The Supreme Court Majority Opinion rules there is a right to privacy

 

        - Hugo Black's Minority Opinion

 

 

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: Scientific Polling
    - 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 can change, sometimes quickly

 

                       

c. Americans' opinions are not always logically consistent
   

                            See also Jillson, "General Principles versus Real Choices," page 108

 

 

    An example: Tolerance