1. Chapter 11 Public Opinion

2. 1. Canvassing 2. Mail 3. Magazine & Newspaper Ads 4. TV What is the most common use of campaigning during elections?

3.  The ideas & attitudes people have about candidates  Influenced by age, gender, income, hobbies, race, religion & occupation  Mass media is a strong influence  Politicians must be responsive to public opinion if they are going to get reelected Public Opinion

4. How does a person contribute to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund? 1. By paying the sales tax 2. Checking a box on their income tax forms 3. Ordinary people can not contribute 4. Only by contributing to PAC’s

5. Determining Public Opinion  Public Opinion Polls – survey – most accurate way to determine public opinion Public Opinion Polls  Pollsters – people trained to take polls & measure public opinion  Public Opinion Poll – use random samples  Push Polls – used to push public opinion one way or another  Have loaded questions – biased to get a certain response  Presidential Approval Rating  Gallup Poll

6. What is a split ticket? 1. Ballots with candidates listed on two sides 2. Using different ballots for national and state issues 3. Voting for candidates from different political parties 4. Voting for candidates from the same political party

7. 1. Harry Truman 2. Franklin D. Roosevelt 3. Richard Nixon 4. George Bush Which President had the worst approval rating?

8. Presidential Approval Ratings

9.  Print – newspapers, mailings, magazines  Electronic – TV, radio, internet  Main purpose – to keep us informed  Independent media is most desirable  Literacy is important  Bias – one-sided point of view Media

10. Biased Media  Fox – Republican biased news  MSNBC – Democratic biased news

11. A disadvantage of mass campaigning is: A. Its too time consuming B. It takes too many people C. Its too expensive D. It doesn’t reach enough people

12.  People attempting to influence government with their shared views  Pressure groups  Functions:  Bring issues to the public & lawmakers  Support candidates who favor their goals Interest Groups

13. All of the following are reasons a person should volunteer except: 1. The community benefits 2. A person can deduct it on their tax return 3. It pays well 4. It gives a person intrinsic value

14.  Economic – most common Economic – most common  Business organizations – interested in trade  Industrial & Trade – represent certain types of business  Labor Unions – rights of workers  Professional Associations – represent different professions  Group  Ethnicity (NAACP)  Age (AARP)  Gender (NOW) Gender (NOW)  Public – focus on specific causes (PETA)  Can form PACs also Types of Interest Groups

15. All of the following are duties except: 1. Attending school 2. Paying taxes 3. Voting in elections 4. Serving on a jury

16.  Election Activities – backing a candidate  Lobbying – persuading officials  Provide expert testimony or help write laws in committees  Go to court to fight a cause  Fund elections Ways Special Interest Groups Influence Politics

17. 1. Propaganda 2. Censorship 3. Libel 4. Slander What is publishing false information that harms a person’s reputation?

18.  Lobby – try to get officials to support a group’s goals  Responsible for getting PAC money to the right politicians  Speak in congressional committees Lobbyists

19. Which of the following can cause a voters registration to be canceled? 1. Convicted of a felony 2. Move out of the state 3. Nothing cancels voter registration 4. Both A and B are correct

20.  Lobbyists can’t pay a candidates living expenses  Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946)  All lobbies must register with federal & state governments & report all expenditures Regulation

21. A lobbyist can do all of the following except: A. Pay a member of congress to vote for a bill B. Prepare a report on a bill C. Research information about a bill D. Testify about a bill

22.  Attempt to influence people with biased information  Always get both sides of a story from reliable sources  Good way to determine what a candidate really supports is to see which PAC gives them money for campaigning Propaganda

23. To learn about public opinion, pollsters usually question: 1. Americans from one particular economic group 2. Fewer than 100 people 3. A random sample of people 4. People with very strong opinions

24.  Endorsements – famous or admirable person supports a candidate  Stacked Cards – presenting only 1 side of the issue – distorting the facts  Name-Calling – turning people against an opponent by giving them an unpleasant label or description  Glittering Generality – statement that sounds good but is meaningless  Symbols – use and misuse of symbols  Just Plain Folks – make people think that the candidate is just like them  Bandwagon – convincing people that everyone else agrees with a certain candidate  Examples Types of Propaganda

25. 1. American Medical Association 2. American Bar Association 3. National Organization for Women 4. National Football Players Association Which one of the following is a branch of the AFL-CIO Union?

26. Most interest groups can be described as: 1. Biased 2. Illegal 3. Impartial 4. Ineffective

27. All males must register at the age of 18 with the: 1. Selective Services 2. Draft Board 3. US Army 4. Board of Elections

28. What provides a way for citizens to approve or reject state laws? 1. Referendum 2. Proposition 3. Mandate 4. Initiative

29. When are referendums most likely used? 1. Daily issues 2. Run off elections 3. Recall elections 4. Controversial issues

30. What is the main purpose of the media in politics? 1. Ratings 2. To inform us 3. To influence the government 4. Support the government