AP Gov Essay 10/30/13

Since the 1780's, one branch of government has been voted on by the people. This branch is the legislative branch, specifically the House of Representatives. Going forward, our government later developed a system of checks and balances that limited majority rule and helped the government create a system of safeguards. Also the separation of powers helped limit majority rule.

As our country becomes more advanced, so have our election systems. Every four years primaries are held to select nominees for each political party. This a helpful system because everyone has the opportunity to vote, the downside is that not many people actually do. Another example of evolution is the expansion of suffrage. As the government has evolved so has our view on equal rights in all aspects including voting.

But as our government advances, somethings have only been made worse. One of these issues is a lack of political participation. The United States has one of the lowest voter turnouts rates of any country in the world. But to mention nobody is actually engages in politics. Some examples of political participation include working on a political campaign and protesting. Working on a campaign is a benefit because you can gain work experience and can support a cause you feel strongly about. Also you get a chance to meet political candidates and form your own opinions. In the case of protesting, you are allowed to more freely express your opinions and it's not restricted by time like voting.

**Are public opinion polls a benefit or a curse to American politics? What influence do they have on campaigns? On governing? What do critics point to as the key weaknesses of public opinion polls? Do you agree? Explain?

**Are public opinion polls a benefit or a curse to American politics? What influence do they have on campaigns? On governing? What do critics point to as the key weaknesses of public opinion polls? Do you agree? Explain?

Public opinion polls are both a benefit and a curse to American politics. It's a good thing that by conducting opinion polls, the media and others can get a read on where people stand on the issues. The problem is that the polls are not always accurate because of the limited spectrum of people polled. Also it can be used in political campaigns to dictate policy choices in government. In my opinion, polls are something we need to have because they are an easy way of keeping up with the state of an issue/event. But when looking at them, I keep in mind the fact that they aren't always accurate.