Section 1-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary public opinion mass media interest group

Section 1 Public Opinion Public opinion, the ideas and attitudes most people hold, plays a vital role in our democracy.

Section 1 Public Opinion (cont.) Public opinion refers to ideas and attitudes people hold about a particular issue or person.Public opinion Public opinion is of political importance.

Section 1 Sources of public opinion: –Personal background (age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, place of residence) –Mass mediaMass media –Public officials –Interest groupsInterest groups Public Opinion (cont.)

Section 1 Measuring Public Opinion The most common way of measuring public opinion is with public opinion polls.

Section 1 Measuring Public Opinion (cont.) Public opinion polls measure public opinion.Public opinion polls Pollster is a specialist who measures the president’s popularity or towards possible proposalsPollster Pre-Election Approval Ratings, 1955–2003

Section 2 The Media’s Impact (cont.) The mass media influences politics and government, and connects the people and elected officials. America’s Use of Mass Media

Section 2 The Media’s Impact (cont.) Newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books as examples of print mediaprint media Radio, television, and the Internet as examples of electronic mediaelectronic media Influence of profit on news coverage America’s Use of Mass Media

Section 2 Influence of the media on: –The public agenda – issues considered most significant by government officialspublic agenda –Political candidates –Watchdog role –Media and National Security? The Media’s Impact (cont.) America’s Use of Mass Media

Section 3 Types of Interest Groups (cont.) Interest groups are organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas.

Section 3 Economic interest groups: –U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoting free enterprise –Tobacco Institute representing cigarette manufacturers –AFL-CIO representing workers –The American Medical Association representing doctors Types of Interest Groups (cont.)

Section 3 Other interest groups: –NAACP improving the lives of African Americans –NOW representing women’s interests –AARP promoting interests of older Americans –Sierra Club protecting nature –NRA looking after interests of gun owners Types of Interest Groups (cont.)

Section 3 Public interest groups working to benefit Americans in generalPublic interest groups −League of Women Voters is an example of a nonpartisan, or impartial groupnonpartisan Types of Interest Groups (cont.) Interests groups supporting candidates and forming political action committeespolitical action committees Interest groups bringing cases to court

Section 3 Interest groups influencing lawmakers by using lobbyists who:lobbyists –have a good understanding of how the government functions. –know which government department to contact about concerns. –supply lawmakers with useful information that help their own cases. Types of Interest Groups (cont.)

Section 3 –suggest solutions and problems to lawmakers. –prepare their own drafts of bills for lawmakers. –testify in legislative hearings on bills. –see that laws are enforced. Types of Interest Groups (cont.)