Influencing Government

1
Influencing Government

• Public Opinion, Mass Media, Interest Groups

2
Four Sources of Public Opinion

• Personal background and life experiences
• Mass Media- images and information
• Public Officials
• Interest Groups- persuade to get others to
  believe what they do

3
Three Components of Public Opinion

• Direction- is the topic positive or negative with
  the public
• Intensity- strength of the publics opinion
• Stability- how firmly people hold their views

4
Two ways to measure public opinion

• Random Samples- random groups of people are
  polled to reflect the characteristics of a
  population
• Polls and Democracy- Pros and Cons to polls
  during election campaigning

5
Mass Media- impact on politics and government

• Setting the public agenda
• Highlight problem
• Increase public awareness
• Expectation for government to address it

6
Mass Media- impact on politics and government

• Candidates and Elections
• People with little political experience able to
  run for political office
• Elected Officials
• Media provides attention to politicians agenda
  and actions

7
Mass Media- impact on politics and government

• Watchdog Role
• Expose government waste and corruption

8
Four types of Media
9
How is the media protected?

• First Amendment- freedom of press, freedom of
  speech..freedom of prior restraint (dont have
  to have govt censor material before its
  published
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC).cannot
  censor broadcasts- but can penalize stations for
  violating rules

10
Interest Groups- Types with Decisions

• Economic Interest Groups- decisions on taxes and
  safety regulations
• Public Interest Groups- decisions affecting most
  or all of society such as pollution and campaign
• Other Interest Groups- NAACP NOW AARP

11
Interest Groups- Types with Decisions

• Economic Interest Groups- decisions on taxes and
  safety regulations
• Public Interest Groups- decisions affecting most
  or all of society such as pollution and campaign
• Other Interest Groups- NAACP NOW AARP

12
Interest Groups- 3 ways they influence government

• Election Activities- support friendly candidates
  and organize political action committees
• Going to Court- May sue to enforce laws or to
  find a law unconstitutional
• Lobbying- Hire lobbyists or use volunteers to
  influence government officials

13
Types of Progaganda Techniques

• NAME CALLING-
• Attempts to turn people against an opponent or
  idea by giving that person an unpleasant label or
  description

14
Propaganda Technique

• ENDORSEMENT
• If people admire the person endorsing the
  candidate/product- then theyll support the
  candidate or product too

15
Propaganda Technique

• STACKED CARDS
• Presents only one side of the issue- usually
  distorting facts

16
Propaganda Technique

• GLITTERING GENERALITY
• A statement that sounds great- BUT, really means
  NOTHING

17
Propaganda Technique

• SYMBOLS
• Used and may be misused by candidates or
  interest groups trying to appeal to the public

18
Propaganda Technique

• JUST PLAIN FOLKS
• Political campaigns using many photos of
  candidates in hard hats, milking cows, in
  factories, eating pizza.so they will be noticed
  as one of us

19
Propaganda Technique

• BANDWAGON
• Getting with this means you believe interest
  groups viewpointsvoting for specific candidate-
  being with the winning team