Providing the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable treatment of public opinion and politics available, this text includes new material on Election 2000 and new examples from the latest NES survey. An in-depth analysis of public opinion, this text explores public opinion's origins in political socialization; the impact of the media on public opinion; the relevance of public opinion to democratic values; political trust and social capital; and the role of public opinion for elections, political parties, and interest groups. The Update Edition offers the most recent data and analysis of opinion on such contemporary issues as abortion, gun control, race relations, and health care, and continues to examine the relationship between public opinion and policy. American Public Opinion is unique in that it goes beyond a simple presentation of data, and includes critical analysis of the integral role public opinion plays in American democracy.