Public Opinion, Mass Media, and Interest Groups Chapter 11 Section 1, 2, and 3

Public Opinion Public Opinion- ideas and attitudes that most people hold about a particular issue or person Public Opinion- ideas and attitudes that most people hold about a particular issue or person Public Opinion helps shape the decisions of every President Public Opinion helps shape the decisions of every President Presidents need the support of the public and Congress to carry out programs– they are more likely to have support if their popularity with the public is high Presidents need the support of the public and Congress to carry out programs– they are more likely to have support if their popularity with the public is high

Personal Background Age Age Gender Gender Income Income Race Race Religion Religion Occupation Occupation Place of residence Place of residence Ex. A young wealthy person from a big city will have different views about government than a poor elderly woman from a small town Ex. A young wealthy person from a big city will have different views about government than a poor elderly woman from a small town

Interest Groups Interest Group- group of people who share a similar point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs Interest Group- group of people who share a similar point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs Interest groups try to persuade public officials toward their point of view Interest groups try to persuade public officials toward their point of view

Features of Public Opinion Direction- Positive or negative Direction- Positive or negative –Most of the time its mixed- some think positive, some think negative Intensity- Strength of an opinion Intensity- Strength of an opinion –When Americans have strong opinions on an issue, many are willing to act upon them by voting for or against a candidate or participating in a demonstration Stability- How firmly people hold to their views Stability- How firmly people hold to their views –People’s opinions are less likely to change when they have a firm belief

Measuring Public Opinion Public Opinion Polls- survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person Public Opinion Polls- survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person –How good of a job is President Obama doing? –Do you support sending more troops to Iraq? –Do you support universal healthcare? –How satisfied are you with your Senators? Pollster- person who regularly conducts polls Pollster- person who regularly conducts polls Random Samples- group of people picked at random from all over the US Random Samples- group of people picked at random from all over the US –Usually 1,500, men, women, all races, incomes, ages and viewpoints

Measuring Public Opinion cont. Pollsters must be careful how they word their questions so they do not influence people Pollsters must be careful how they word their questions so they do not influence people Push Polls- polls in which questions are worded to influence a person’s response Push Polls- polls in which questions are worded to influence a person’s response Pros- people in office keep up with citizen’s changing ideas about issues Pros- people in office keep up with citizen’s changing ideas about issues Cons- people in office are more concerned with pleasing the public than political leadership Cons- people in office are more concerned with pleasing the public than political leadership

Mass Media Print Media- newspapers, magazines, and books Print Media- newspapers, magazines, and books Electronic Media- TV, radio, and internet Electronic Media- TV, radio, and internet Public Agenda- issues that receive the most time, money and effort from government leaders Public Agenda- issues that receive the most time, money and effort from government leaders When the media publicizes a problem people begin to worry about it and the government must address it When the media publicizes a problem people begin to worry about it and the government must address it

Interest Groups Private Interest Groups- promote special interest of their members Private Interest Groups- promote special interest of their members –National Association for the Advancement of Colored People –National Organization for Women –National Education Association –American Medical Association –National Rifle Association –American Automobile Association –People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Give members incentives to join Give members incentives to join

Public Interest Groups Public Interest Groups- promote special interest of all, not just members Public Interest Groups- promote special interest of all, not just members –League of Women Voters –Sierra Club Political Action Committees (PACS)- collect money from the members of their group and use it to support some candidates and oppose others Political Action Committees (PACS)- collect money from the members of their group and use it to support some candidates and oppose others

Lobbyist Lobbyists- representatives of interest groups who contact government officials directly Lobbyists- representatives of interest groups who contact government officials directly Named this as they used to wait in the lobby to ask politicians for favors Named this as they used to wait in the lobby to ask politicians for favors Prepare their own drafts of bills Prepare their own drafts of bills Try and make sure laws are enforced and upheld in court Try and make sure laws are enforced and upheld in court

Lobbyists Pros- make Pros- make government more responsive, communicate people’s wishes to politicians Cons- have too much say in government, monetary contributions give them improper influence over government Cons- have too much say in government, monetary contributions give them improper influence over government