Final answer:
Public opinion is the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues. It is shaped by political socialization through various agents like family, schools, friends, religious organizations, and the media.
Step-by-step explanation:
Public opinion is the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues. It represents a snapshot of how people's experiences and beliefs have led them to feel about a candidate, a law, or a social issue. Our attitudes and beliefs are formed through political socialization by agents such as family, schools, friends, religious organizations, and the media. These factors provide us with the information necessary to understand our political system and make decisions.