The purposes of this book are to summarize and analyze the nature of public opinion in contemporary America and to examine the implications of that nature for the possibility of a functioning democracy. Material in the four sections covers the following topics: "The Study of Public Opinion: Political Theory and Methodology"--opinions and democratic theory, and the measurement of public opinion; "Opinion Formation: Micro-Politics"--the psychology of opinions, political socialization, the sociology of public opinion, political culture, opinion manipulation, and individual opinion formation; "Public Opinion in Contemporary America: Macro-Politics"--belief systems of the American public, recent presidential elections and their implications, public opinion and Vietnam, ideology and the social issue, and the dynamics of public opinion; and "Public Opinion and Public Policy: Linkage Politics"--elections, political parties, and public officials. An index concludes the book. (JM)