1. The impact of groups on Government
SS.7.C.2.10

2. Public Sphere What is the Public Sphere?
A place where society discusses the issues that affect everyone.
It links us all together as one large community

3. Public Agenda What is the public agenda?
A to-do list of issues that much of the public agrees are a priority

4. Public Sphere
How do issues move from the public sphere to the public agenda?
When things just happen (planned events, natural disasters, everyday life events)
Public Spotlight – when a celebrity or famous group does something
Public Opinion – how a large part of the public feels about something; polls

5. Public Policy What is Public Policy?
It is the stand the government takes on an issue
If a large part of the public is concerned about an issue, the government may try and do something about the issue

6. The media Gatekeeper Agenda Setter Watchdog
Decides which stories are important enough to receive public attention
Not everything gets on the news
Media is a business and is almost always biased
Because the media decides what is broadcast, they influence what people talk about (see public agenda)
Remember, the media is a business – they want people to watch them
The media keeps an eye on what government does and does not do
They alert the people when government does something wrong

7. Interest Groups Endorsing Candidates Lobbying Raise Money
Interest groups hire lobbyists to lobby, or meet with members of government and try and influence their support for group.
Lobbyists MUST be biased
Interest groups will endorse, or encourage their members to vote or support a candidate they feel supports their interests
Interest groups will raise money to support a candidate’s election campaign
Political Action Committees (PAC’s) have strict rules about how money can be spent and raised for a campaign

8. Individuals Attend Civic Meetings Petition Government Run for Office
Vote
Attend Civic Meetings
Petition Government
People can ask directly ask the government to do things, tell the government how they feel about them, etc.
Petitions are commonly used by groups to
By voting, people are having THEIR voice heard on who they want to represent us in government.
Every vote counts!
These give people the chance to meet their candidates and/or elected officials face-to- face
People can tell them how they feel about issues in person
People can ask directly ask the government to do things, tell the government how they feel about them, etc.
Petitions are commonly used by groups to