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Public Policy. A general agreement of how government will deal with certain issues or problems of the community Example: the Town Center- encouraging the development of a downtown Virginia Beach . How individuals influence public policy. Participating in politics Voting Campaigning
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Public Policy • A general agreement of how government will deal with certain issues or problems of the community • Example: the Town Center- encouraging the development of a downtown Virginia Beach
How individuals influence public policy • Participating in politics • Voting • Campaigning • Expressing opinions
How individuals influence public policy (cont.) • Lobbying • Trying to persuade the government to support your goals • Demonstrating • Writing letters • Joining interests groups
Interest Groups • Group of people who come together to support a common cause • Strength in numbers
How interest groups influence public policy • Identifying issues • Making political contributions • Lobbying government officials • Representing different viewpoints • Publicizing issues
Mass Media influence on public opinion and public policy • Focusing public attention on selected issues • Offering a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated • Holding government officials accountable to the public • Providing the opportunity for government officials to use the media to communicate with the public
The Political Spectrum • Reactionaries • Very conservative • Want to return to traditional policies (the way things were) • Radicals • Very liberal • Want sweeping changes in government policies • Willing to resort to violence
The Political Spectrum • Conservatives • Want limited government • Oppose government regulation • Believe the individual should take care of himself • Support ending affirmative action, reinstating school prayer • Tend to be Republicans • Liberals • Want more government • Believe government should help the individual • Support programs for the poor, public housing • Tend to be Democrats
The Political Spectrum • Moderates • Move between conservatives and liberals • Support government action in some areas and reject it in others
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