Unit 2

Ch 6-11

Inputs to US Government

Quiz

1. Briefly explain the 3 “waves” of immigration.

2. What is the #1 source of a citizen’s political socialization?

3. Explain the “gender gap”.4. What is the mandate theory of

elections?5. How does personal income influence

which party someone votes for?

Demography

• Statistical study of populations

• Ex. of demographic groups– Income

–Race/ethnicity

–Age

–Marriage status

–Education

–Religion

–Occupation

–Gender

–Urban/rural–Home ownership

Generations

• Baby boomers (born 1946-mid 60s)– Highest birthrates in last 90 years– In 1965, 40% of USA was under 20– Oldest ones are retiring now

• 3 most recent presidents– Clinton & GW Bush born 1946– Obama born 1961

# of babies born in USA

Other generations

• Generation X (mid 60s-early 80s)

• Millennials/Gen Y (80s-early 90s)

• Later generations tend to be:– More cynical / less trusting

– More likely to be independents

– MUCH less politically active

Graying of America

• Average age in US higher than ever– Fewer babies born

• Fertility rate dropping

– Elderly are living longer• Better healthcare than ever before• Strong 20th C economy – people could

retire then live long & prosper

Demography

• Dependency ratio

– Measures how much of population supported by productive population

– Low dependency ratios: better ability for country to grow economically

Immigration

• Movement of people into a country

• Emigration – movement away

• Slaves don’t count in immigration numbers – assumes intentional

Immigration

• Phases:– Colonies – most immigrants were

European indentured servants

– Mid-19th C – most from north Europe

– Late 19th- early 20th C – south & east Europe

– Post 1965 – Latin America & Asia

Movement within US

• Urbanization– Urban = 2500– Rural % of population in steady decline

• 1800 – 95% rural / 5% urban• 1890 – 65% rural / 35% urban• 1920 – urban > rural• 1990 – 25% rural / 75% urban

Movement within US

• Great Migration (1914-1960s)– Blacks moved from rural south to big

cities (often in other areas of US)

African American concentration

Movement within US

• Rust Belt to Sun Belt

• Since 1960s/1970s

• 25 electoral votes moved from Rust to Sun since 1970

• All elected presidents 1964-2004 were from Sun Belt

Sun Belt Migration

• Invention of air conditioning

• Transportation / communication

• Retirement

• Industry moved from MW to SE/SW

• Immigration

Political beliefs

• Ideology– Beliefs of an individual

• Political culture– Beliefs of society as a whole

• Americans basically agree on virtually all issues

Political ideology

• Easily broken out into 2 areas:

• Economic Policy– Taxation level

– Amount of business regulation

– Free trade v. protectionism

• Social Policy– Gov involvement in private lives

Major American Ideologies

• Conservatism– Limited economic policy

• Fewer business regulations

• Lower taxes & spending

– Active social policy

• More rules on personal life

Major American Ideologies

• Liberalism– Active economic policy

• More business regulations

• Higher taxes & spending

– Limited social policy

• Fewer laws restricting behavior

Less Common Ideologies

• Libertarianism– Limited both economic & social policy

– As little government as possible

• Socialism– Active both economic & social policy

– Government major player – all of life

Ideology and Political Parties

• Ideology ≠ political party membership– Liberals tend to be Democrats– Conservatives tend to be Republicans– BUT NOT ALWAYS

Party identification MUCH more complicated

Ideology and Political Parties

• Political Socialization– Process people develop political beliefs

– There are many sources:

• Media / school / peers

• Race / age / income / religion / gender

– ABSOLUTE #1 source:

PARENTS

Does media influence us?

• Not as much as we think

• More influence:– Which issues are important

• Less influence: – What to believe about issues

Cleavages

• Divisions of society that cause people to vote differently

• Differences in voting reflect differences in demographics

Cleavages

• Reinforcing cleavages– Social differentiations coincide

– If incomes, regions, races, religions create redundant political divisions

– Pushes people farther apart

– Less chance of compromise– More oppressive / civil war more likely

Cleavages

• Cross-cutting cleavages– Social differentiations cancel out

– If region, religion, race, etc. don’t result in same difference over & over

– Healthier society – not always us vs. them (because they’re evil)

– Relatively moderate, non-ideological, weaker political parties – like USA