The process through which individuals develop and acquire their political beliefs and values

 A young child may be influenced politically by his parents depending on their political views.

What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time

Most of the American public are against the war in Afghanistan.

Interviews or surveys with samples of citizens to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

The Los Angeles Time did a poll on January 14th, 2005 about abortion. 41% favored making it illegal with a few exceptions. 24% favored making it legal. 19% favored making legal most of the time. 12% favored making it totally illegal. 

Unscientific surveys used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies.

The Ames Straw Poll is popular straw poll surveying in Ames, Iowa by Iowan Republicans.

A subset of the whole population selected to be questioned for the purposes of prediction or gauging opinion.

The Literary Digest took a straw poll in 1936 attempting to predict who would win the presendtial election. The sample was drawn from telephone directories and lists of automobile owners. 

A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected

Telephone polls dial random numbers to contact people to survey them.

A variation of random sampling; census data are used to divide the country into four sampling regions. Sets of countries and standard metropolitan statistical areas are then randomly selected in proportion to the national population.

National surveys use stratified sampling buy surveying random people but in proportion to the national population. 

Polls taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, a push poll was made against John McCain asking questions like "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew he fathered an illegitimate black child?" 

Continuous surveys that allow a campaign to chart its daily rise or fall in support

 Tracking polls on the popularity of Obama have showed that his approval rating has been decreasing since he took office.

Polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day

 Exit polls conducted for the 2008 Presidential Election showed that 56% of women voted for Obama while 49% of men voted for Obama.

A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll

 On January 30th, 2008, a poll showed that 44% of democrats supporte Clinton while 41% supported Obama with a margin of error of three points.

The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals

A conservative's political ideology is likely characterized by supporting smaller and less activist governments, limited social welfare programs, and reduced government regulation of business.