Updated in a new 8th edition, this book goes beyond a simple presentation of data to include a critical analysis of the role of public opinion in American democracy. It provides an in-depth analysis of public opinion, beginning with its origins in political socialization, the impact of the media, the extent and breadth of democratic values, to the role of public opinion in the electoral process. Using the most current survey data from the 2008 elections and the latest literature on the subject, Erikson and Tedin analyze public opinion and its role in the policy and politics of the United States.