1. Influencing Government Public Opinion The Mass Media Interest Groups

3. Public Opinion Forming Public Opinion Public Opinion is ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials Public Opinion is ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials Public opinion shapes the decisions of elected officials Public opinion shapes the decisions of elected officials Where Public Opinion Comes From Personal background-Age, gender, race, religion, occupation, hometown Personal background-Age, gender, race, religion, occupation, hometown Mass Media- TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, books Mass Media- TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, books Public Officials- Candidates share opinions in speeches and articles Public Officials- Candidates share opinions in speeches and articles Interest Groups- People unite who share a common view Interest Groups- People unite who share a common view –IG’s try to persuade people toward their view

4. Public Opinion Components of Public Opinion Direction- Is public opinion on a topic negative or positive Direction- Is public opinion on a topic negative or positive Intensity- The strength of an opinion on an issue Intensity- The strength of an opinion on an issue Stability- How firmly people hold their opinions are important Stability- How firmly people hold their opinions are important

6. Public Opinion Measuring Public Opinion Look at election results  not reliable (ppl vote for different reasons) Look at election results  not reliable (ppl vote for different reasons) Take a public opinion poll- survey Take a public opinion poll- survey Candidates and current presidents hire people to ask citizens how they feel about issues  pollsters Candidates and current presidents hire people to ask citizens how they feel about issues  pollsters –Use random sample of citizens (1500/poll) Critics of polling say officials are more concerned with being popular than leading Critics of polling say officials are more concerned with being popular than leading Our Founding Fathers tried to create a system that would represent the people, but still keep politicians isolated from the “whims” of the public Our Founding Fathers tried to create a system that would represent the people, but still keep politicians isolated from the “whims” of the public

8. The Mass Media Types of Media Provide link between the people and elected officials Provide link between the people and elected officials –Print Media: newspapers, magazines, books –Electronic Media: Radio, television, Internet TV stations are privately owned businesses- they choose what to cover TV stations are privately owned businesses- they choose what to cover Most in depth info comes from print media Most in depth info comes from print media

9. The Mass Media The Media’s Impact on Politics and Government The issues that receive the most time, money and effort from gov’t make up the public agenda The issues that receive the most time, money and effort from gov’t make up the public agenda Media influence what becomes public agenda Media influence what becomes public agenda Since TV, ppl. just on TV, without political experience can run for office (Steven Colbert) Since TV, ppl. just on TV, without political experience can run for office (Steven Colbert) Elected officials and the press need each other  each relies on the other for exposure Elected officials and the press need each other  each relies on the other for exposure Officials use the press to “leak” new ideas and info  test the public Officials use the press to “leak” new ideas and info  test the public Media acts as a “watchdog”- looking over gov’t activities (Former Senator Edwards “lovechild”) Media acts as a “watchdog”- looking over gov’t activities (Former Senator Edwards “lovechild”) Press walks a fine line between reporting news and threatening national security Press walks a fine line between reporting news and threatening national security

11. The Mass Media Protecting the Media First Amendment protects freedom of press First Amendment protects freedom of press Gov’t promises freedom from prior restraint- freedom from gov’t criticism before it is published Gov’t promises freedom from prior restraint- freedom from gov’t criticism before it is published No one is free to publish false info  libel No one is free to publish false info  libel Gov’t regulates media through FCC- Federal Communications Committee Gov’t regulates media through FCC- Federal Communications Committee

12. Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups Interest groups are groups of people who share a point of view and unite to promote their viewpoints Interest groups are groups of people who share a point of view and unite to promote their viewpoints IG’s are biased  support a particular viewpoint IG’s are biased  support a particular viewpoint A person can belong to many interest groups at one time A person can belong to many interest groups at one time

13. Interest Groups 3 types of Interest Groups 1. Economic Interest Groups –Largest types –Protect large companies, labor unions –AFL-CIO –Professional groups (lawyers, doctors) 2. Public Interest Group –Some groups form to benefit all of society –Common Cause Group: pollution, homelessness 3. Other Interest Group –Groups form to protect ethnic group, age group, or gender –NAACP, AARP –Groups covering special causes- National Wildlife Federation

15. Interest Groups Influencing Government Interest groups are important because they influence public policy  course of action gov’t takes in response to an issue or problem Interest groups are important because they influence public policy  course of action gov’t takes in response to an issue or problem IG’s influence public policy by taking certain issues to court IG’s influence public policy by taking certain issues to court IG’s hire lobbyists  representatives for an IG by contacting public officials directly IG’s hire lobbyists  representatives for an IG by contacting public officials directly Lobbyists are sometimes hired, sometimes volunteers Lobbyists are sometimes hired, sometimes volunteers

16. Interest Groups Techniques of Interest Groups Print and Media ads  Milk, pork, US made products Print and Media ads  Milk, pork, US made products Use propaganda to reach society Use propaganda to reach society –Endorsements –Stacked Cards –Name Calling –Just Plain Folks Regulation of Interest Groups 1946 law requires lobbyists to register 1946 law requires lobbyists to register Time limit between gov’t official and lobbyist Time limit between gov’t official and lobbyist Critics say PACs and lobbyists influence too much Critics say PACs and lobbyists influence too much