chapter 11 influencing government. influences on personal opinion 1) personal background age,...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 11Chapter 11
Influencing GovernmentInfluencing Government
Influences on Personal OpinionInfluences on Personal Opinion
1)1) Personal backgroundPersonal background
Age, gender, race, religion, occupation, Age, gender, race, religion, occupation,
hometown, education, and financial hometown, education, and financial status all affect how we thinkstatus all affect how we think
Influences on Personal OpinionInfluences on Personal Opinion
2)2) Mass mediaMass mediaTV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and internetinternetThey choose what information is coveredThey choose what information is coveredHow they cover info is importantHow they cover info is importantDo we get the whole story?Do we get the whole story?
Influences on Personal OpinionInfluences on Personal Opinion
3)3) Public officialsPublic officials
We listen to the leaders that we trustWe listen to the leaders that we trust
They tell us info through ads, press They tell us info through ads, press conferences and debatesconferences and debates
Their job is to persuade us they are rightTheir job is to persuade us they are right
Influences on Personal OpinionInfluences on Personal Opinion
4)4) Interest groupsInterest groupsGroups of people who unite around a common Groups of people who unite around a common goalgoalWork to convince America that their view is Work to convince America that their view is rightrightSpend millions on ads (Got milk?)Spend millions on ads (Got milk?)
Components of Public OpinionComponents of Public Opinion
1)1) DirectionDirection
Do people view a topic as positive or Do people view a topic as positive or negative?negative?
Usually a mix of ideasUsually a mix of ideas
Components of Public OpinionComponents of Public Opinion
2)2) IntensityIntensity
How strongly do you feel about an issue?How strongly do you feel about an issue?
The stronger the feeling, the more willing The stronger the feeling, the more willing people will be to act on that people will be to act on that
Components of Public OpinionComponents of Public Opinion
3)3) StabilityStability
How long do they hold that view?How long do they hold that view?
Stability of the issue itself: is it something Stability of the issue itself: is it something that people will continue to care about?that people will continue to care about?
Measuring Public opinionMeasuring Public opinion
Election resultsElection results
WinnerWinner’’s views may be the same as the publics views may be the same as the public
May be inaccurate as people vote for different May be inaccurate as people vote for different reasons (how they look, straight ticket, vote reasons (how they look, straight ticket, vote against another candidate) against another candidate)
Measuring Public opinionMeasuring Public opinion
Public opinion pollsPublic opinion polls
Attempt to use science Attempt to use science to judge opinionto judge opinion
Takes a sample of at Takes a sample of at least 1,500 to be least 1,500 to be considered accurateconsidered accurate
This gives us a cross This gives us a cross section of America (race, section of America (race, religion, income)religion, income)
Must be careful to avoid Must be careful to avoid adding bias to the adding bias to the questionsquestions
Public Opinion PollsPublic Opinion Polls
ProsPros--
Helps support democracyHelps support democracy
Keeps leaders in touch with the peopleKeeps leaders in touch with the people
DonDon’’t have to wait till an election to see t have to wait till an election to see how the public feelshow the public feels
Public Opinion PollsPublic Opinion Polls
ConsCons--
Influences leaders decisions (being Influences leaders decisions (being popular v. being right)popular v. being right)
Influences election (why vote if polls show Influences election (why vote if polls show who will win)who will win)
Results can be inaccurate due to biases Results can be inaccurate due to biases
Types of MediaTypes of Media
1)1) PrintPrintmagazines, newspapers, booksmagazines, newspapers, books
2)2) ElectronicElectronic--radio, TV, internetradio, TV, internet98% of people have TV in this country, 98% of people have TV in this country, but it only provides a quick hit of infobut it only provides a quick hit of info70% read newspapers for at least 3 ½ 70% read newspapers for at least 3 ½ hours a week, much more in depth than hours a week, much more in depth than TVTV
MediaMedia’’s Impacts Impact
1)1) Setting public agenda:Setting public agenda:Decide what to coverDecide what to coverDecide how to cover itDecide how to cover it
2)2) On Candidates and elections:On Candidates and elections:Must be media friendly todayMust be media friendly todayGood looking? Image is everythingGood looking? Image is everythingActors and sports figures are entering politics in Actors and sports figures are entering politics in big numbersbig numbers
MediaMedia’’s Impacts Impact
3)3) On elected officials:On elected officials:
Politicians try to control the flow of info to Politicians try to control the flow of info to the mediathe media
Stage events for the mediaStage events for the media’’s benefits benefit
May leak info that will help them to the May leak info that will help them to the media media
May leak ideas to see the publicMay leak ideas to see the public’’s s reactionreaction
MediaMedia’’s Impacts Impact
4)4) As a watchdogAs a watchdogLove to expose scandalsLove to expose scandalsMay drive good people out of officeMay drive good people out of officeBlurring the line between personal life and professional Blurring the line between personal life and professional life life
MediaMedia’’s Impacts Impact
5)5) On National securityOn National securityBalance between need to know and national Balance between need to know and national securitysecurityGovernment tries to limit access to security Government tries to limit access to security informationinformationLeads to censorship by the governmentLeads to censorship by the government
Regulating the MediaRegulating the Media
1st Amendment protects media from prior 1st Amendment protects media from prior restraintrestraint
Must be careful of libelMust be careful of libel
FCC can censor public TV EX: Janet FCC can censor public TV EX: Janet Jackson at the Super BowlJackson at the Super Bowl
Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups
1)1) EconomicEconomic
Largest and most powerfulLargest and most powerful
Try to influence government action for Try to influence government action for their industrytheir industry
Often an extension of labor unionsOften an extension of labor unions
Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups
2)2) Social GroupsSocial Groups
Promote race, age , or genderPromote race, age , or gender
NAACP, NOW, AARPNAACP, NOW, AARP
Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups
3)3) Special CausesSpecial Causes
Pick some cause of interest to themPick some cause of interest to them
NRA, Sierra ClubNRA, Sierra Club
Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups
4)4) PublicPublic
Work to benefit all of societyWork to benefit all of society
EX: League of Women Voters work to EX: League of Women Voters work to increase voter turnout increase voter turnout
LobbyistsLobbyists
Represent groups Represent groups that try to influence that try to influence the governmentthe government
Must have a good Must have a good understanding of the understanding of the governmentgovernment
Must know who to Must know who to see and where to gosee and where to go
LobbyistsLobbyists
Track laws to make sure they are enforcedTrack laws to make sure they are enforced
Do research and offer alternativesDo research and offer alternatives
Great public relations expertsGreat public relations experts
LobbyistsLobbyists
Publicly support candidates that share the Publicly support candidates that share the same viewssame views
Form PACs to give money to candidates Form PACs to give money to candidates campaignscampaigns
Will go to court to challenge laws they Will go to court to challenge laws they dondon’’t liket like
They give legal advice and $ to others who They give legal advice and $ to others who support their views in courtsupport their views in court
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
1)1) EndorsementsEndorsements
Get famous people to Get famous people to support the campaignsupport the campaign
If people like the If people like the celebrity, they will listen celebrity, they will listen to your point of viewto your point of view
Propaganda Techniques of Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsInterest Groups
2)2) Stacked cardsStacked cards
Presents only one side of the issuePresents only one side of the issue
Leaves out info or distorts info to support Leaves out info or distorts info to support viewview
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
3)3) Name-callingName-calling
Turn public against your opponentTurn public against your opponent
Try to attach an unpleasant label or Try to attach an unpleasant label or description to an opponentdescription to an opponent
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
4)4) Glittering GeneralityGlittering Generality
A statement that sounds good but means A statement that sounds good but means nothingnothing
““I am the candidate for world peaceI am the candidate for world peace””
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
5)5) SymbolsSymbols
Try to use images that people feel good Try to use images that people feel good about in commercialsabout in commercials
Hope that people associate feelings of Hope that people associate feelings of the symbol to your issuethe symbol to your issue
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
6)6) Just plain folksJust plain folks
Try to look like the Try to look like the ““common mancommon man””
If you think they are like you, you will like If you think they are like you, you will like their issuestheir issues
Propaganda Techniques of Interest Propaganda Techniques of Interest GroupsGroups
7)7) The bandwagonThe bandwagon
Everybody else is doing it, you should Everybody else is doing it, you should tootoo
Appeals to the fact we like winners in this Appeals to the fact we like winners in this countrycountry
Federal Regulation of Lobbying ActFederal Regulation of Lobbying Act
All lobbyist must be registered with the All lobbyist must be registered with the governmentgovernment
Must disclose who hired themMust disclose who hired them
Must publicly list salary and spendingMust publicly list salary and spending
There is a waiting period for former There is a waiting period for former government employees before they can government employees before they can become a lobbyistsbecome a lobbyists
Why Lobbying Regulation Does Not Why Lobbying Regulation Does Not WorkWork
Only full time lobbyists must register (only Only full time lobbyists must register (only 1/5th of all lobbyists)1/5th of all lobbyists)
No enforcement provided by the No enforcement provided by the governmentgovernment
Get around laws by using PACsGet around laws by using PACs
Lawmakers donLawmakers don’’t want stronger lawst want stronger laws