ELECTIONS AND PUBLIC OPINION

I.  Introduction

II.  Influences on Public Opinion and Voting Choice

A.  Overview
B.  Party and Ideology
C.  Shifts in Party Identification

III.  Sources of Party Identification and Ideological Orientation

A.  How Do People Choose?
B.  Socioeconomic Status (SES)
C.  Gender Gap
D.  Other Influences on Party Choice
        1.  Psychology
        2.  Regional Factors
        3.  Religion
        4.  Race and Ethnicity

IV.  Other Factors Influencing Political Behavior

A.  Candidate Evaluation
B.  Mass Media
        1.  News Bias
        2.  Negative Advertising
C.  Economic Performance
D.  Sum-Up:  A Model of Voting Choice and Opinion Formation

V.  Voting

A.  What Affects Turnout?
B.  Economic Status
C.  Electoral Systems
        1.  Single-Member Districts
        2.  Proportional Representation
        3.  A Quick Assessment
D.  Drawing District Boundaries
E.  Public Opinion Polling