202 Chapter 6Chapter 6 || Public OpinionPublic Opinionwell informed that they have ready opinions on a wide range of political and policy
questions. Moreover, even when people do form opinions in advance, they may not
remember every factor that influenced their opinions. Thus, an individual may
identify as a liberal or a conservative or as a supporter of a particular party but may be
unable to explain the reasons behind these ideological leanings.^7
Opinions also vary in intensity. For example, one individual might strongly favor
policies that allow handgun ownership and open carry in public, while another might
oppose both policies but with less intensity. Intensity matters because it shapes
whether and how people act on their opinions. The strongly pro-gun individual would
be more likely to consider a candidate’s gun rights policy when deciding how to vote,
while the individual who opposes gun ownership (but less intensely) would likely base
his or her vote on other issues. Variation in intensity is one reason why government
policies sometimes reflect minority opinions. In the case of gun rights, members of
Congress are well aware of polls showing that a majority of people support restrictions
on gun ownership. However, polls also show that most supporters of restrictions do not
feel strongly about this issue, while people who oppose restrictions are more likely to be
intense in their opposition. Thus, when responding to public opinion about gun control,
members of Congress reflect the intense minority opinion, not the weaker opinions
held by the majority.A person’s ideological perspective is
relatively stable over time. People who
subscribe to a conservative ideology
generally support small government
and decreased spending.Images of confrontation between
pro–gun control and anti–gun control
protesters may conceal the more
nuanced considerations that underlie
most Americans’ opinions about the
issue.“Why
Should
I Care?”
In a democracy, elected officials stay in office by keeping their constituents happy.
As a result, knowing what public opinion looks like—what citizens believe, what they
want government to do—helps us understand the choices elected officials make.
New policy initiatives such as stricter gun control laws are unlikely to be enacted
in the absence of strong, sustained public support. Conversely, even controversial
proposals such as Obamacare can be enacted over strong opposition, as long
as there are enough enthusiastic supporters. In both ways, public opinion both
motivates and constrains elected officials.Full_07_APT_64431_ch06_198-231.indd 202 16/11/18 1:37 PM