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INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT

INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC OPINION, THE MEDIA, & INTEREST GROUPS. PUBLIC OPINION. What is it? i deas and attitudes most hold about a particular issue/person Elected officials listen to public opinion! Why? n eed popular support for their decisions (in most cases)

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INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT

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  1. INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT PUBLIC OPINION, THE MEDIA, & INTEREST GROUPS

  2. PUBLIC OPINION • What is it? • ideas and attitudes most hold about a particular issue/person • Elected officials listen to public opinion! • Why? • need popular support for their decisions (in most cases) • help to make timely & effective decisions What are potential results of an elected official making decisions in government that are not supported by the majority?

  3. What SHAPES PUBLIC OPINION? • An Individual’s Personal Background • age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, residence, etc. • Mass Media • What does this include? • How might access to media influence public opinion? • Public Officials • respect for their opinions on issues • officials try to be persuasive! • Interest Groups (“Pressure Groups”) • a group of people who share a point of view about an issue & unite to promote it • persuasion is goal! • Examples of interest groups?

  4. HOW IS PUBLIC OPINION MEASURED? • ANALYZING ELECTION RESULTS: • What could possibly be revealed about public opinion by interpreting election results? • For what reasons may this be an unreliable source of public opinion? • TAKING A PUBLIC OPINION POLL: • individual responses to surveys • random samples (approx. 1500 diverse people surveyed) • pollsters: Gallup; Pew • followed by elected officials/candidates  informs their decision-making • possible negative effects of polling: • the wording of survey questions may affect survey results • politicians may try to please the public (vs. making wise decisions)

  5. PUBLIC OPINION POLL:APPROVAL RATING OF PRESIDENT G.W. BUSH, 2001-2008

  6. THE MEDIA • What does it include? • A print medium • newspapers, magazines, books • An electronic medium • TV, radio, Internet • The Media influences public agenda: • problems & issues considered most important by the gov’t! What are some recent examples of ways by which the media has shaped our current government’s public agenda?

  7. THE MEDIA • What roles does the Media play in influencing government? • Shapes public agenda • Shapes public opinion • Coverage of candidates running for office • potential benefits/drawbacks for candidates? • Elected officials are linked to the public • means of informing the public/constituents • media may leak info. from gov’t  get public reaction • Watchdog role • monitors gov’t actions  helps to hold gov’t accountable

  8. PROPAGANDA • What is propaganda? • ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people • Who uses propaganda in the media? • political parties & candidates • interest groups • businesses/corporations • 7 major propaganda strategies used in the media:

  9. 7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES • The Bandwagon: • “Everyone else is doing it, so join in!” • Name-calling: • direct attack on another group/person  makes you question your trust in opponent • “Endorsement” • celebrity or reputable group gives support • “Stacked Cards” • reveals only one side of an issue  emphasizes the positive

  10. 7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES • 5. “Glittering Generality” • appeals to one’s emotions by focusing on a very general idea • “If you elect me, I will bring you peace and prosperity.” • 6. “Just Plain Folks” • attempts to make connection to the common citizen • 7. “Transfer” • associating symbol(s) with a product/candidate Which propaganda techniques are used in the following corporate advertisements?

  11. MEDIA FREEDOMS & LIMITATIONS • Media Freedoms: • 1st Amendment Rights • the Media is free from prior restraint: no gov’t censorship of material before it is published • Media Limitations: • no libel: false information that is published that harms someone’s reputation • limitations to protecting media sources • regulation by FCC (Federal Communications Commission) • regulates broadcast media  heavy fines for breaking its rules

  12. INTEREST GROUPS • What are they, again?: • organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas • Which Amendment protects interest groups?

  13. TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS • Economic • ex. US Chamber of Commerce • Worker • ex. AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations) • Professional • ex. AMA (American Medical Association) • Social Groups • ex. NOW (Nat’l Org. for Women); NAACP (Nat’l Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People) • Special Causes • ex. NRA (National Rifle Association)

  14. INTEREST GROUPS’ INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT • An interest group’s main goal = influence public policy • To do this…interest groups focus on influencing elections, the courts, & lawmakers. • How do they do this? • back candidates for office • raise & donate money to campaigns • PACs(Political Action Committees) • may use court cases to argue a law/gov’t policy is unconstitutional • lobby lawmakers • lobbyist = representative of an interest group or corporation • draft bills • persuade & make agreements with politicians • provide information to representatives

  15. What is the opinion expressed in each Political Cartoon?

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