CHAPTER 11 “THE POLITICAL SYSTEM”

SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION A. What is Public Opinion 1. Public Opinion - total of opinions concerning a certain issue. a. Is usually many opinions B. What Shapes Opinion 1. The same things that shape our political personality. a. Family b. School c. Friends d. Mass Media (T.V., Radio, etc)

C. Propaganda and Public Opinion 1. Propaganda - ideas used to influence people. 2. In today's age propaganda is becoming bigger and bigger. IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS AND COME UP WITH AS MANY PROPAGANDA ADS, BOOKS, ECT. THAT YOU CAN (3 MIN.)

D. Kinds of Propaganda 1. It is important that YOU define between propaganda, truth, and lies. 2. Concealed Propaganda - propaganda presented as being factual and its sources are kept secret. a. Often used to fool people. 3. Revealed Propaganda - makes readers or listeners aware that someone is trying to influence them. a. Used mostly in advertising.

E. Propaganda Techniques (7 of them) 1. Testimonials - getting a well known person to support your ideas. 2. Bandwagon - Everyone is following the idea so you should to. 3. Name-calling - Giving something an unpleasant label. (dirty politics) 4. Glittering Generalities - Using words that sound good but don’t mean much. 5. Plain-folks - You’re just like one of the people.

6. Card Stacking - Uses facts in a way that favors a particular product, idea, or candidate. a. Media can put you on the front page and your opponent on the second page. 7. Transfer - Associating a person or idea with something everyone thinks is good. (Ex. Kissing a baby)

USING THE LIST OF PROPAGANDA YOU CREATED BEFORE, DECIDE IF EACH ITEM ON YOUR LIST IS CONCEALED OR REVEALED PROPAGANDA AND WHAT TECHNIQUE IT MAY FALL UNDER. (7 MIN)

F. Measuring Public Opinion 1. Pressure Groups (Indirect) 2. Can be done through elections. (Direct) 3. Polls - survey of how people feel on certain issues. G. Choosing a Sample 1. Most important part of a poll. 2. Getting a good sample is hard to do. 3. Samples are based on income, gender, age, race, etc.

H. Using Polls Carefully 1. Not only can polls measure public opinion they can influence it. (Be careful when reading a poll!!!!)

INTEREST GROUPS A. What is an Interest Group 1. Groups of people who share a common interest. (Many kinds: NRA, NOW, NAACP, etc. ) a. Single interests groups - groups who are for or against a single issue. b. Lobbyists - Person who is paid by an interest group to represent that group’s interest. (Are often paid more than Congressional members.)

2. Several pressure groups can make up a single PAC. (Political Action Committee) a. PAC’S - raise money from members of their pressure group. b. In 2008 PAC’s contributed approximately over $200 million to candidates. (Roughly 4,200 PAC’s today) c. PAC’S try to influence government by determining how much money a candidate will get. d. They also try to influence public opinion.

3. In 1946 Congress passed a law to regulate Interest Groups and PAC's. a. Must register with House and Senate. b. Wear identification badges. c. Must report money received and spent. d. Must report bills interested in.

4. Coalition - Pressure groups that join forces. (Not necessarily a PAC) 5. What are some pluses of pressure groups a. Allows important issues to come to the attention of the President and Congress. b. c. d. 6. In your small groups discuss some Negatives of pressure groups. (3 Min)

7. Other forms of pressure: a. Public opinion campaigns - writing members of the lobbying organization asking them to send letters. b. Questionnaires - printed surveys mailed to voters.

IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: SHOULD ELECTED PEOPLE DO WHAT THE PEOPLE DESIRE

TAKING PART IN GOVERNMENT A. Voting: Democracy in Action 1. U.S. has one of the lowest voter turnouts of any free nation in the world. a. 2000 only 51% of the voting-age public voted. 2. Why don’t people vote: a. Time b. Thinking their vote doesn’t count. c. Don’t like the candidates, etc.

B. Every Vote Counts 1. Hitler became controller of the Nazi party by 1 vote. 2. Enough has been said!! VOTE!!! C. Taking Part in Political Campaigns 1. People of any age can volunteer to work for a political campaign.

D. Contacting Public Officials 1. Write letters, fax, e-mail, officials on issues that concern you. E. Community Action 1. Don’t complain about your community unless you’re doing something to fix it.

POSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTS 1. Write letter to congressional member 2. Skills Worksheet (pg. 11) 3. Enrichment Worksheet (pg. 11) 4. Chapter Test (pg. 41-44) 5. Reteaching Worksheet (pg. 21, 22) 6. Section Review (pg. 211,216, 219) 7. Building your Portfolio (pg. 221) 8. American Gov. Wks. (Pg. 40) EXTRA CREDIT (5 PTS.) Voc. Workshop, Reviewing Main Ideas, Thinking Critically (pg. 221)