Marquez, Rolando I C.

POL 408 - American Gov't and Politics

POL 4A

Wednesday (2Pm-5Pm)

QUESTION NO. 1
What is public opinion? How public opinion, as the will of the people is assessed
or expressed? What are the factors that shape public opinion? What is the
possible effect - both positive and negative - of public opinion and the techniques
on how it is assessed in a government, especially a representative one? How does
the government, especially in America, uses public opinion in their policy and
political processes? How does public opinion adapt in the changing society and
technology? In the present time, is public opinion still relevant and reliable in
policymaking and political processes of the United States?

ANSWER:
According to George Gallup Public opinion is a collective evaluation expressed by
people on political issues, policies, institutions and individuals.
Public opinion is assessed and expressed by means of a national election, by
representation, and by sampling survey. National election is an official and binding expression
of the people's judgment. The representatives or legislators represent the interests of all the
voters in his constituency. His duty is to serve and represent the interests of all the people. The
other way to express public opinion is through sampling survey. It is the gathering and
measuring the opinion of a relatively small number of people about a certain issue.
Political leaders and public officials are one of the factors that shape the public opinion.
It has a broad impact on the views and perceptions of the public, whether political or societal
issues. The opinion of the public has an effect to leaders, especially legislators. Public opinion
can help them to know what programs they offered that the public mostly like. They will know
the judgment of the common people in policies they formed. Since they doesn't always know
what the public is thinking, it is difficult for them to know the true sentiments and views of the
masses.
Public opinion affect the policymaking and political processes. The government used the
public opinion as their guide for the general will of the common people. Public opinion may

influence the formulation of the policy which will surely represent their interests. It is the way of
the government to know how the people interact and response to the policies they formed. It is
easy for them to know how to response on the needs and demands of the people.
Expressing the public opinion is through calls, letters, and telegrams from their
constituents in the past. But now the technology has been evolved since then, public opinion
may now express and know through polling. in polling, it partially removes individuals' control
over the subject matter of their own expression. Polling helps to avoid the danger that the public
opinion poses to those in power. The polling helps to increase the potential for government
management of mass beliefs.
In the present time, in the United States, public opinion is still relevant and reliable in
policymaking and political processes. Because it is important to know how the public viewed
their government, if they still trust their public officials. It is still influence the formulation of
policies, what the government's action on a certain issues in the society. Public opinion is the
way to know how effective the leaders are. It is still the basis of how the masses support their
government. Public opinion poll is a type of survey or inquiry designed to measure the public's
views regarding a particular topic or series of topics. Trained interviewers ask questions of
people chosen at random from the population being measured. Responses are given, and
interpretations are made based on the results. It is important in a random sample that everyone
in the population being studied has an equal chance of participating. Otherwise, the results
could be biased and, therefore, not representative of the population. Representative samples are
chosen in order to make generalizations about a particular population being studied .
For more than 70 years, Gallup has built its reputation on delivering relevant, timely, and
visionary research on what humans around the world think and feel. Using impeccable data, our
advisers assist leaders in identifying and monitoring critical economic and behavioral indicators
that are vital to their strategic plans.
No other organization captures the human need to share opinions and the breadth of the
human spirit like The Gallup Poll. Since 1935, The Gallup Poll has chronicled reactions to the
events that have changed our world -- and in turn, those reactions have shaped who and what
we are today. Today, The Gallup Poll continues to be a reliable source of intelligence for a
changing world. Our data often answer the questions that are "top of mind" with leaders around
the globe. Through its offices worldwide, Gallup measures public opinion and attitudes on

virtually every political, social, and economic issue. Its data reach the highest levels of
government, the judiciary, business, and academia.
Gallup has committed the next century to achieving a global endeavor of peerless
magnitude, integrity, and strategic value -- the Gallup World Poll. Gallup's World Poll
continually surveys the wellbeing, behaviors, and attitudes of the worlds citizens in more than
130 countries and areas -- from the steppes of Central Asia to the savannahs of Africa -- and
provides a new access point to the voices, hearts, and minds of samples representing 95% of the
Earths adult population. Worldwide core questions, as well as region-specific questions, are
asked across countries over time, which enables leaders to compare data and spot emerging
social and economic trends.
Globalization requires leaders to scrutinize how their nations, economies, and
organizations not only fit into the dynamic global landscape, but also promote growth and create
partnerships. The World Poll provides these insights by continually measuring key indicators
such as Leadership, Law and Order, Food/Shelter, Work, Economics, Health, Wellbeing,
Migration,

Environment,

Education,

Entrepreneurship,

and

Engaged

Citizens

and

demonstrating their correlations with world development indicators such as GDP and Brain
Gain.
These indicators assist leaders in understanding the broad context of national interests,
establishing organization-specific correlations between leading indexes and lagging economic
outcomes, and identifying trends key to their strategic plans .

REFERENCES:
Gallup ,George. Polling the Public (1939)
Ginsberg,Benjamin .How Polling Transforms Public Opinion (1986)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/

QUESTION NO. 2:
Briefly describe the party system in the United States. What is the role of
political parties in American politics and policymaking? What is the advantages
and disadvantages of the present party system of the United States? Based on the
case readings and to the situation at the present, is the present party system of
the United States effective or not, and why? If it is not, then what are the ways
that will make the present party system effective?

ANSWER:
Political parties are organized group[s that seek to gain power in the government. The
United States has a two-party system. It means there are two major parties dominating the
United States government. Although other parties exist in U.S, but the Democratic and
Republican dominate the political arena. It is where the American choose a better party that will
be accountable to the public.
The political parties serve as the agent for bringing the notion about liberty, majority rule
and leadership. It is necessity for a more effective formulation of general policies and programs.
The representative of a party has a task to integrate all the activities of the government. Their
role is to strengthen the public attitudes toward the work plans of the government. The public
policy requires broad range political base. These base can be provide by the parties. Political
parties provide electoral accountability and discipline in government.
The advantages of the party system in U.S, it provide order in the order of the political
arena. The two-party system of the U.S discourage the changes in political trends which threaten
the stability of the government. The U.S allows their citizens to participate in the government by
means of voting. The two-party system balance the interest and opinion of the people.
The two-party system of the United States has been criticized because of its
disadvantages. It ignore the other party's views. It limit the viewpoint in the government. It
discourage the independent party for running in the government. It is also been criticized for
representing special interests rather the general will.
The present party system of the United States still believes that they have two party
system. But For me, United states does not officially have a two party system of governance.
The fact that no third party has held lasting and successful appeal in the eyes of the voter speaks
eloquently as to the answer to your question. The binary opposition of Republicans and

Democrats brings with it many troubles which a government by multiple parties in coalition
lacks. It also offers advantages of its own, which currently seem to be enough to sustain the
present American system of Governance.

REFERENCES:
American Political Science Association. A Report of the committee on Political Parties toward a
More Responsible Two-Party System (1950)
Fiorina, Morris. The Decline of Collective Responsibility in American Politics (1980)

QUESTION NO. 3:
Briefly describe the electoral process in the United States - from the
primaries/caucuses up to Election Day. Why do the American people vote as they
do in elections? What are the factors that influence the voting behavior of
Americans? Why Americans are said to have low voter turnout as compared to
other countries? How does electoral campaigning evolved through the years?
With the issues concerning the American electoral system, especially on the
Electoral College (which elects the President and Vice-President of the United
State), do you think that this system deserves to have an overhaul? If yes, what
reforms must be done to improve it?

ANSWER:
In the United States, they have the two-part election. The first part is the political parties
elect to choose their candidates for the general election. The second part is the General Election.
The primaries and caucuses, in which the people elect delegates for the presidential nomination
convention. Presidential nomination convention is one of the highlight in the year of election in
the U.S. From primary, the people will vote for whom the delegates should vote. It is the event
where the presidential candidate where chosen.
After being chosen by their party, the candidates will now attempt to mobilize their
supporters and to de-mobilized their opponent's supporters. Candidates will conduct campaigns
to let their supporter know their agendas and plans if they win. They also engage in debate. They
will answer, give their ideas and share their personal opinions on the policies and issues. It will
help the citizens to decide which among the candidates they will vote.
Many causes have been proposed for this decline; a combination of factors is most likely.
When asked why they do not vote, many people report that they have too little free time.
However, over the last several decades, studies have consistently shown that the amount of
leisure time has not decreased. Wealth and literacy have some effect on turnout, but are not
reliable measures. For example, the United Nations Human Development Index shows some
correlation between higher standards of living and higher turnout.
The age of a democracy is also an important factor. Elections require considerable
involvement by the population, and it takes some time to develop the cultural habit of voting,
and the associated understanding of and confidence in the electoral process. Demographics also
have an effect. Older people tend to vote more than youths, so societies where the average age is

somewhat higher, such as Europe; have higher turnouts than somewhat younger countries such
as the United States. Institutional factors have a significant impact on voter turnout.
Rules and laws are also generally easier to change than attitudes, so much of the work
done on how to improve voter turnout looks at these factors. Making voting compulsory has a
direct and dramatic effect on turnout. Simply making it easier for candidates to stand through
easier nomination rules is believed to increase voting. Ease of voting is a factor in rates of
turnout.
In the United States and most Latin American nations, voters must go through
separate voter registration procedures before they are allowed to vote. This two-step process
quite clearly decreases turnout. U.S. states with no, or easier, registration requirements have
larger turnouts.

Although system is evolved, makes it very hard for third parties to win elections and
almost impossible for a third party to win the presidency, the Electoral College system makes it
quite possible for a small third-party showing in a single state or two to change the outcome of
the whole national election.
This happened in 2000, when Ralph Nader, running as the Green Party nominee,
finished third in the popular vote with just 2.74 percent, and received just 1.6 percent in Florida,
but those votes (plus a number of other weird factors about which some people are still arguing)
probably shifted the state from Democratic nominee Al Gore to Republican George W. Bush.
And, because of winner-take-all, that one state also tipped the outcome of the national election.
There has been the proposal to remove the winner-take-all system and base electoral
votes on congressional districts. Already, the states of Nebraska and Maine have made
provisions that award electoral votes based on which candidate wins each congressional district,
meaning that both candidates could receive a portion of the state's overall electoral votes .
Ultimately, congressional districts would increase the accuracy of votes in proportion to the
population. Reforming the Electoral College would allow voters their chance to be heard as well
as solidify the fact that every vote is considered and counted.

I do not agree with the fact that the Electoral College does not comply with the
democratic ideals that our nation was founded upon. Ultimately, the Electoral College is in great
need of reform. A reform in which the American people are accurately represented, each and
every vote is counted, and the president is ultimately elected by the people, not by a handful of
state electors. Now, more than ever, this country needs to reform its election process in order to
restore the voting rights of the people and restore America's pride and faith in its elected
leaders.

REFERENCES:
https://www.boundless.com/political-science/textbooks/boundless-political-sciencetextbook/political-participation-and-voting-9/voter-turnout-69/factors-affecting-voterturnout-382-10708/
https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2012/10/10-reasons-why-electoral-college-problem
http://writing.colostate.edu/gallery/talkingback/v5.1/geiseracademic1.html
Key, V. O., Jr. The Voice of the People: An echo (1966)
West, Eileen Shields. Give em hell These Days is a Figure of Speech (1988)

QUESTION NO. 4:
Explained briefly the concept of federalism and separation of powers under the
American Constitution. Why did the framers chose federalism as their form of
government? Why did they imbibe the principle of separation of powers and
checks and balances in the American constitution? In spite of its old age, why did
the U.S constitution endured the years and became still applicable and relevant
in the present American society and government? At present, what are the
problems that the American federalism that it experience? Does the US
Constitution needed to be changed in order to respond to these issues? If yes,
then what kinds of changes might make the Constitution a more workable basis
for governing the United States? If not, then why it does not needed to be
changed?

ANSWER:
In federalism, the legal sovereignty is shared between the federal government and the
states. They chose federalism because it is the solution to the problem of organizing the
territorial distribution of power. It brings the government close to the people. It limit the power
of political groups. They believe that there is a productive government if there is checks and
balances and separation of powers among the branches of government.
The constitution of the U.S has been with the Americans like what a king has been with
the other nations. The constitution of the U.S was made not only for the generation that was
existed but also for the posterity, a perpetual posterity of the future generation. Even the society
and the generation changed, the US Constitution still relevant and applicable in the present
time. Their constitution was their evidence of how Americans guarantee their freedoms.
Some are arguing that there is a need for a stronger central government. It is one of the
problems that the American federalism being encountered. Some argues that there is an in

capacity of government to satisfy the needs and demands of the society. Americans are expecting
for a better pattern of politics in the U.S.

The Americans may still consider a change in their constitution if they felt a need
for reforms. According to the Gallup poll The 54% who say the federal government
has "too much power" is in the same general range as it has been since 2005.Only
8% of Americans say the federal government has "too little" power, while 36% say
the government has about the right amount of power.

The fact that almost half of Americans see the federal government as an immediate
threat to their lives and freedoms may appear alarming at first, perhaps conjuring an
image of Americans worrying that the government will be breaking down their doors
and engaging in random arrests of private citizens.
But two findings mitigate against this type of more dramatic interpretation. First, the
fact that Democrats and Republicans have flipped in their probability of holding these
views when the administration changed in 2009 shows that these attitudes reflect more
of a response to the president and disagreement with his policies than a fundamental
feeling about the federal government in general.
Second, the explanations offered by those who hold this view reveal more traditional or
political types of complaints about things the government is doing, rather than more
radical beliefs about the government using power or force against its citizens.
Gallup does not have survey data extending back to the late 1780s when the Constitution
was ratified and the federal government began to exercise control over the lives of its
citizens. Clearly, there has been tension between the government and the people at
many times in history since that point, and it may be that such tensions are a natural
part of the system by which the people willingly give up power to government
institutions that in turn intrude on their daily lives.
Still, the persistent finding in recent years that half of the population views the
government as an immediate threat underscores the degree to which the role and power
of government remains a key issue of our time. As a case in point, a question in this
same survey asked Americans to name the most important problem facing the nation,
and found that issues related to government were the most frequently mentioned. Plus,

numerous other measures show that the people give their government some of the
lowest approval and trust ratings in the measures' history.
From the people's perspective, then, a focus on the appropriate role for government
should be at the forefront of the nation's continuing political discourse and should be a
key point of debate in the current presidential election campaigns.

REFERENCES:

http://www.gallup.com/
Lauter, David. We the People: The American Constitution after 200 years: Celebrating the
Nations Charter as Problem and Solution(1978)
Jones, Charles. It aint Broke (from Back to Gridlock: Govenrment in the Clinton years,1995)