1 / 42

Linking Groups

Learn about public opinion, its formation through various agents of socialization, and its impact on public policy and political parties. Understand the role of the media in shaping public opinion and setting the public agenda.

leekpaul
Download Presentation

Linking Groups

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Linking Groups Connecting the people to the political process

  2. Public Opinion – the attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics • There are many Publics of people • Publics refer to a group of people who share a common attitude on a matter • Membership of groups shift from topic to topic • Public opinion is specific to attitudes on Public Affairs • Politics • Public issues • Legislation • Enforcement

  3. Public Opinion • Opinions are formed through a combination of differing agents of socialization • Family • School • Media • Peers • Opinion Leaders • History

  4. Public Opinion • Public opinion polls • Devices that attempt to collect information about people’s attitudes on public affairs • Straw votes • Ask huge numbers the same question • Not scientific • Not reliable because the sample group is too narrow

  5. Public Opinion • Scientific polling • Five step process • Define the population (group) you want to study • Construct a sample of about 1,500 people (yeah, that small works!) • Create carefully worded questions • Interview the sample group • Analyze the findings • Fairly reliable at the national level

  6. Public Opinion • Public Policy • The ACTIONS taken by the government to address public opinion

  7. Public Opinion • Public Policy -- The ACTIONS taken by the government to address public opinion • If politicians want to be re-elected, they make public policy based on public opinion as much as possible

  8. Public Opinion • Public Policy & Public Opinion • Public Opinion DRIVES Public Policy

  9. Political Parties • The goal of political parties is to try to influence government through getting members elected to office

  10. Political Parties • There are two strong political parties in the USA • Democrats • Left wing • Liberal • Republicans • Right wing • Conservative

  11. Political Parties • Reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA • History • Not mentioned in the Constitution • Started almost immediately after Constitution was signed • Tend to moderate, not alienate • Tradition • It is important because it’s always been important • Distrust of a third party

  12. Political Parties • Reasons we have a history of the two-party system in the USA • Electoral System • Winner take all system • Favors the major players • Third party vote is “wasted vote” • Close political ideology • No large communist element • No large fascist element • Mostly all center-right republican element

  13. Political Parties • There are five basic activities parties do • Nominating candidates • Select electable candidates • Provide funding • Provide advice

  14. Political Parties • There are five basic activities parties do • Informing and Activating members • Campaigning • How GOOD their candidate is • How BAD the other one is • Getting out the vote! • Electorate must vote to matter • Get them stirred up enough • Provide opportunity to vote • Transportation • Absentee balloting

  15. Political Parties • There are five basic activities parties do • “Bonding” Agent” • Guaranteeing the actions of elected officials • Makes sure they “do the right thing” • Criticize if needed • Pull support is last resort • Keeping the party image is more important than the image of one politician

  16. Political Parties • There are five basic activities parties do • Governing • Organizing legislatures • Party Whip • Gets members in to vote • Makes sure they vote the “right” way • Deals/trades • Pressure

  17. Political Parties • There are five basic activities parties do • Watchdog • Points out the mistakes of the other party • Opposition choice • Their way is bad for country • Our way is good!

  18. Political Parties • Cool things other states have that PA doesn’t • Initiative • The PEOPLE can introduce laws, not just the legislature • Referendum • The PEOPLE can pass laws, not just the legislature • Recall • The people can demand new elections to get rid of elected politicians, not just wait until the next election day

  19. Political Parties • Voter turnout in USA is low compared to most other democratic nations • Mostly because of lack of interest Even lower in the years we don’t elect a president • People get disappointed in politics Nothing changes • Only the rich can afford to run for office • Voter Fatigue • Americans vote more often • Americans vote for more offices

  20. The Media • Mass Media – is communication that reaches a large audience. • This includes: • television • radio • advertising • movies • the Internet, • newspapers, • magazines • and so forth.

  21. The Media • Goals of the mass media • Inform the public • Entertain the public (so they buy the medium and the company makes money)

  22. The Media • Media play large roles in • Setting public agenda • What the public feels is a big problem that needs immediate attention • Focus on certain news items, downplay others • What makes “front page” headlines • Lead off stories in news • Political talk shows

  23. The Media • Media play large roles in • Electoral politics • Media have surpassed political parties in getting the message out to the public • Portrayal of candidates on media • Two way street of manipulation • Media manipulates the candidate’s personality • Candidates manipulate the media for favorable coverage

  24. The Media • Media play large roles in • Electoral politics • Portrayal of candidates on media • “Laws of getting TV time” • Keep it short • SOUND BITES • Under a minute is best • Fits into broadcast news • Do something • Action is good • Giving a speech is boring

  25. The Media • The electorate and information • Sadly, few people bother to get info • Sadly, few VOTERS get info! • Those who do follow news, are selective • Media and money • News is a money making business • Fires, murders and weather get viewers and money!

  26. Interest Groups • Interest Groups are groups of people united to push a certain political agenda

  27. Interest Groups • Interest Groups are different than political parties • IG do NOT nominate candidates – they support them • IG are concerned with influencing policy, not controlling government

  28. Interest Groups • Interest Groups are different than political parties • IG have a narrow focus • Issue-oriented • Do not cater to general opinions needed by PP • Private organizations • Not accountable to the voter • Only accountable to IG membership

  29. Interest Groups • Positive Effects • Give organized voice to people • Give information to politicians • Negative Effects • If they get too powerful, it appears corrupt

  30. Interest Groups • Types • Economic • Business groups • Labor groups • Agricultural groups • Professional association groups

  31. Interest Groups • Types • Issue-oriented • Devoted to a cause • Examples • Environmental • Pro-life • NRA

  32. Interest Groups • Types • Public Interest • Special interests of the members • To benefit all people

  33. Interest Groups • Types • Political Action Committees (PACs) • Private interest groups • Raise money • To influence the results of elections

  34. Interest Groups • Types • Group Organizations • Segments of the population • Examples • AARP • Veterans groups • NAACP • Religious groups

  35. Interest Groups Direct Approach • Lobbyists • People who try to persuade politicians to favor their cause • Most are professionals • MUST PROTECT REPUTATION OR ELSE!

  36. Interest Groups • Work at all levels of Government • National • State • Work in all branches of government • Legislative • Executive • Judicial

  37. Interest Groups Direct Approach • Actions – Congress • Testify before Congressional Committees • Provide useful information (propaganda) • Write speeches • Make campaign contributions

  38. Interest Groups Direct Approach • Actions – Executive • Trade positive press for positive consideration • Make campaign contributions • Access at the agency level

  39. Interest Groups Direct Approach • Actions – Courts • Bring lawsuit in name of interested party • NAACP  Brown v Board • ACLU  free speech issues • File “amicus briefs” • A friend (amigo!) of the court report • Try to frame the lawsuit in a bigger context for judges • Influence selection of Judges

  40. Interest Groups Indirect Approach • Make it look like GRASS ROOTS movement • Make it look like it is a popular idea growing from the people • Hide the group’s involvement • Get-out-the-vote movement focused on the “right” candidate

  41. Interest Groups Indirect Approach • Shape public opinion • Advertisements • Leaflets • Use Propaganda • Go for the gut • Use fiery language

  42. Interest Groups Indirect Approach • Electioneering • Give candidate’s “report cards” of interest • PAC contributions • Political Action Committee • Political funding • Some restrictions • Major players in today’s politics

More Related