Directed Reading
The founding fathers did not have great trust in the general public and thus created a constitutional framework, which limits the influence of the public: indirect election of Senators, the Electoral College, and a representative system of government.
However, public opinion may greatly influence national security decisions. Congress and the President are understandably sensitive to shifts in public support for their positions on national security matters.
A fundamental question of governance is the degree to which executive and legislative leaders should reflect the opinions of their constituents on the one hand, or follow their own informed understanding of the national interest on the other. Consensus is important but so is leadership and the decision maker should not be beholden to the will of the people in all matters.
Topic Objective
- To understand the effect of public opinion on the process.
Questions for Consideration
- Do voters give Congress and the President mandates in the area of national security?
- What reliance should be placed on polls? Are they too manipulative in that they suggest or prompt certain answers?
- Are decision-makers really leaders if they follow public opinion?
- How should a member of Congress decide the conflict of 'vote one's district or state' as opposed to voting the 'national interest'?
Required Readings
* Jeremy Rosner, "The Know-Nothings Know Something," Foreign Policy (Winter 1995/1996), pp. 116-129. (Reprint)
* Todd G. Shields & Robert K. Goidel, "Taking Credit and Avoiding Blame: Good News, Spin Control, and Democratic Accountability" Political Communication (Volume 15, Number 1 (Jan-March 1998), pp. 99-110. (Reprint)
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