Public Opinion
Abstract
American government rests on the consent of the governed. The support of public opinion underlies the legitimacy of our political system and leaders’ decisions. Sometimes it is expressed in an election, sometimes in votes within governments, and sometimes in the echoes of organized lobbies, media, or opinion polls. How well that works in practice has been the topic of debates as old as the republic. The framers of the Constitution argued over the role popular opinion should play. They compromised on a complex system of checks and balances in a divided federal government designed to both reflect and deflect citizens’ opinions.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Political Theory and Democracy
American Constitutional Law and Politics
Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 63–78
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter