Social Sciences and History / Unit 9 SSH 0805 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Who Listens to Polls, and When
Captions available
The idea
Polls matter most at elections: candidates who poll well draw coverage and donations. A mandate, high approval, lets a president push Congress. House members track opinion with two-year cycles. Opinion does not move senators' votes, but it costs them seats.
In practice
Whether justices follow the public is unclear.
Where people slip
Diffuse support: belief that the country and its laws are legitimate.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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