Chapter 9

PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC POLICY PEOPLE IN ACTION PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC POLICY

CAMPAIGN ADS: FACT OR FICTION? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIA5aszzA18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw7HfTEWTAU&feature=pyv Paid for by: http://www.nrsc.org/ National Republican Senatorial Committee Not everything that you read or see when it comes to politics is coming directly from the source. Be aware and pay attention 

POLITICAL PARTIES Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796 Warns against political parties and the fact that they will divide America Jefferson and Adams agree They start the first two political parties in our history

GOAL AND FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES MAIN GOAL - Get candidates elected FUNCTIONS: Recruit candidates and support campaigns at all levels Organize elections and inform voters to register and then monitor votes Organize the government Unite diverse interests and make collective action possible Serve as loyal opposition to the party in power

ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ORGANIZATION Managed by a committee at each level National Committee Delegates from each state National Chairperson – runs day-to-day operations State Also has a committee with a chairperson County committees Some have committees at even lower levels, ex. City or Precinct CITIZENS GET INVOLVED THROUGH: Voter Registration Donate $ Attend rallies or meetings Volunteer for campaigns

HOW DID POLITICAL PARTIES DEVELOP? The two-party system was beginning to develop by the 1800s 1st parties: ALEXANDER HAMILTON: FEDERALISTS Strong national government, commercial and industrial interests in the North THOMAS JEFFERSON: DEMOCRATIC - REPUBLICANS Weaker national government, farmers and rural interests Democratic-republicans dominated until a new party the NATIONAL-REPUBLICANS/WHIG PARTY Remaining Demo-Rep. became known as DEMOCRATS 1850 – slavery divided the Whigs and some anti-slavery activists formed the REPUBLICAN PARTY in 1854

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TODAY REPUBLICAN Stereotype more likely white, conservative, male and affluent DEMOCRATS: Stereotype more likely part of a minority, female, liberal & less affluent DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS SIZE OF NATIONAL GOV. Large with many policies Limited with more state control TAXES Tax cuts for the poor and raise taxes for the rich Broad tax cuts to increase the economy REGULATION OF BUSINESS Support gov. regulation of business Opposed SOCIAL ISSUES Support abortion and gun control but no prayer in school Want prayer in school but no abortion or gun control MINIMUM WAGE Regular increases Unnecessary

Chapter 10

POLITICAL INTEREST GROUPS aka “PIGS” GROUPS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS THAT ARE SEEKING INFLUENCE IN GOVERNMENT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ua_rfZfRTM&feature=related

START OF PIGS FEDERALIST PAPER #10 PLURALISM=answer Today… GOAL: Madison wrote of factions posing a threat to government if left unchecked They are inevitable and good, but…how? PLURALISM=answer Power should be distributed and shared among groups in society COMPETITION + CHECKS AND BALANCES = 1 group not gaining too much power Today… Allow people to participate in government Speak on issues Monitor government in action Keep people informed about government GOAL: Get a candidate to support their interest

TYPES OF PIGS ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUPS: CITIZEN INTEREST GROUPS: Business groups, trade organizations, professional associations and labor unions Ex. – UAW CITIZEN INTEREST GROUPS: Promote public interest, may be motivated by a political ideology Ex. – ACLU GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST GROUP: Could be at every level of government Ex. - NEA

SO WHAT ELSE… Why Join? Organization Funding Information and benefits Agree w/the groups goals Want to be part of the community Organization Elected board of directors or trustees who set up policy and decide how resources will be used Both national and state chapters Funding Dues, member fees, fundraising campaigns, government grants and foundations

POLITCAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PACS) Interest groups influence government by contributing $ to political parties and candidates during elections WHAT ARE PACS? Private groups sponsored by corporations, trade associations or unions Collect donations and give $ to campaigns Could work for individual PIGS Gives them a lot of influence in elections

INTEREST GROUPS AND POLICY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2DUM6jVasw&feature=related INTEREST GROUPS AND POLICY LOBBYING Attempt to influence government by persuading public officials to favor or oppose action on a specific issue RESEARCH AND POLICY PROPOSALS PIGS carry out research and write policy proposals sometimes working with “THINK TANKS.” LITIGATION Filing a lawsuit to influence policy GRASS-ROOTS MOBILIZATION Rallying strong and vocal support from a large group of people at the local level Could be OWS – eventually!

WHAT MAKES A PIG POWERFUL? SIZE AND $ Large membership w/lots of $ can produce media ads and gain support UNITY OF PURPOSE Commitment from members EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP Good leaders can explain a message and gain support INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE Know how to gather information and deliver to decision makers

MAKING PUBLIC POLICY WHAT IS PUBLIC POLICY? Government actions or programs designed to achieve certain goals STEPS TO PUBLIC POLICY: ISSUE IDENTIFICATION : Budget, Defense, etc. AGENDA SETTING Which issues deserve priority at a specific time. Set a PUBLIC AGENDA Political parties and interest groups take part in setting the agenda POLICY FORMULATION Can take place in any branch of government or at the local/state level Can ask experts to offer opinions or invite PIGS to help POLICY ADOPTION Going through the political process can result in many revisions Could make changes to gain support or avoid legal issues IMPLEMENTATION Assigned to a specific government agency and it is up to them to make it work. EVALUATION Government officials and PIGS determine if goals are met If not, the policy making process begins again

TO REVIEW…OR IN ADDITION TO! An IDEOLOGY is a body of ideas put forth by a person or group. A PLATFORM is a statement that puts forth a party’s position on the issues.

3RD PARTIES GOAL: Not to get elected but to influence policy on one or more issues!

Chapter 11

Cram for the exam Public Opinion

Influencing Government BQ#1 Perception is reality… Do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?

Influencing Government Public Opinion- refers to the ideas an attitudes that most people hold about a piticular issue or person. -It shapes the decisions of the every president. FDR “I cannot go any faster than the people will let me.”

Influencing Government People hold very different feelings/ beliefs on a wide variety of issues. How do we acquire or generate our own opinions? Cultural Capital- is defined as “forms of knowledge, both tangible and intangible, that have value in a given society in relation to status and power.”

Influencing Government Personal background Personal interests 1st hand experiences 2nd hand experiences Informational learning/ education Age Gender Race Religion Income level + Occupation n A Persons Cultural Capital

Influencing Government These 4 can be manipulated through the media! Personal background Personal interests 1st hand experiences 2nd hand experiences Informational learning/ education Age Gender Race Religion Income level + Occupation n A Persons Cultural Capital

Influencing Government Mass Media- TV, Radio, Newspapers, Internet Advertising Therefore through media we can change or manipulate the perception/ public opinion of a person or thing. Mass Media is Extremely Powerful

What were the best prices on items for sale last Friday, and where could you get these items? How do people hear about the black Friday sales? Mass Media

Influencing Government Public opinion is often described in three distinct features. Attributes of Public Opinion 1. Direction 2. Intensity 3. Stability

Influencing Government Attributes of Public Opinion 1. Direction- is public opinion positive or negative on a given topic. Are people for or against an increase on defense spending? On most topics public opinions are mixed, is it moving in favor, or against… 2. Intensity- the strength of the opinion on a given issue. Strong opinions people are more willing to act upon (e.g. voting, demonstrating, aiding) 3. Stability-How firmly people are holding their views. This also can differ widely. Public opinion on presidential candidates is relatively unstable whereas opinions regarding civil rights are very stable.

Influencing Government Public opinion polls- survey that measures how Americans feel about a candidate, president or issue. The questions utilized reveal how the person feels in each of the 3 attributes. But how does it work?

Influencing Government Public Opinion Polls Pollster- the person in charge of conducting the poll. Usually appointed by the president, for the president. -Utilize random samples -Push polls= are polls that utilize reworded questions to try to influence a persons response. -1,500 people from various backgrounds

In a democratic society, numerous forces shape peoples opinions & ideas. Mass Media- 2 main forms 1. print media- newspapers, magazines, letters etc. 2. electronic media- internet, phone calls, radio, TV Public Agenda- The public issues that require the most time, effort and money from the government.

In a democratic society, numerous forces shape peoples opinions & ideas. Politicians & journalist need each other… love-hate relationship Leaks- are usually always intended. Usually to check public opinion for an action.

In a democratic society, numerous forces shape peoples opinions & ideas. Relationship between politicians and journalists Watchdog role of the mass media Conflicts between national security and citizens’ need for information America’s Use of Mass Media

Vocab14 libel written untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation prior restraint government censorship of material before it is published malice evil intent

In a democratic society, numerous forces shape peoples opinions & ideas. Media Safeguards Freedom of the press is protected by the U.S. Constitution, although some regulation is permitted. The First Amendment and freedom of the press Freedom from prior restraint Libel and limits to freedom of the press Supreme Court ruled that public officials must prove actual malice, or evil intent, by publisher 5. The media’s right to keep sources secret The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a regulatory commission of the federal bureaucracy