The Constitution balances small state and large state interests by creating a bicameral Congress, limiting popular control over the electoral process, and establishing a limited judiciary. The elastic clause reserved broad and undefined authority for Congress. Ratification of the Constitution was controversial. Federalism describes the relationship between state, local, and federal government. Federal power has grown substantially over time, especially between 1935 and 1980.
Fiscal federalism describes the flow of money from the federal government to the state governments.
Public Opinion and the Broadcast Media. Public opinion data provide a measure of the responsiveness of Government, a channel for the communication of political demands, an indicator of political behavior, and a source of information about the organization of political life. Sample bias and framing problems complicate the measurement of public opinion. Education and income, along with race and religion, are arguably the most important demographic characteristics that explain diverse political beliefs. Socialization describes the influence of people and cues in our immediate environment on our beliefs and preferences.