how do legislatures, and politicians decide what laws or policies to make? public opinion major...
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Before public policy can be made we have to first lets look at public opinion…. “I can only go as fast as the people will let me.” -FDR Public OpinionTRANSCRIPT
How do legislatures, and politicians decide what laws or policies to make?
Public Opinion
Major Events Special Interest Groups Lobbyists
Before public policy can be made we have to first lets look at public opinion….
“I can only go as fast as the people will let me.”-FDR
Public Opinion
Public Opinion
-Public OpinionGeneric term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue—can be very misleading as a majority may represent only 51%
• Opinions about government officials, candidates, and issues
-Often misleading• Can manipulate questions to get
the answers they want
Public opinion is the generic term for what people think about the government, the leaders of our
country, and the issues facing our government and leaders. Why
should the government care about public opinion? Why should the
government also be wary of public opinion?
What influences people’s
opinions??• Family &
Friends• Media (Print
and T.V.)• Importance
Forming Opinions
-Many Factors Influence Opinions
-Mass Media• TV, radio, newspapers, Internet• Provides powerful images to the
public
-Public Officials• Voters elect those they trust to
public office – voice of the people
-Special Interest Groups• Persuade people to their point-of-
view
In what ways does the media shape public opinion? How can this be
both positive and negative?
Measuring Opinion
-Public Opinion Polls• Individuals answer questions to see
how the “general public” feels-Random Samples
-poll methods where attempts are made to include a wide segment of the population in the poll
• Reflect the entire population
-Effects of Polls• Make public officials respond to
what the people want• Set the public agenda
The goal of interest groups and lobbyists is to persuade legislatures and office holders to enact public policies that will achieve their needs and goals.
Public Policy -
Public PolicyHow individuals, interest groups and the media influence the actions of the government.
What is an interest group?
An interest group is……
"An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy."
Interest Groups
-Interest Groups-a group of people who have similar interests or concerns about an issue
• Believe that by putting together time, money, and resources, they can influence decision-makers
-Bias-term that refers to a one-sided opinion on an issue
• Interest groups usually biased-Impartial
-having no opinion on an issue
Why is it important in researching public opinion and the ideas of
interest groups to recognize bias?
Types of Groups
-Economic GroupsBusiness OrganizationsProfessional AssociationsLabor Unions
-Particular Groups of PeopleEthnic – NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)Age – AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)Sex – NOW (National Organization of Women)
-Particular Causes• ACLU (American Civil Liberties
Union)The American Association of Retired Persons is one of the most influential special interest groups in America?
Why do you think this is?
What is the goal of a lobbyist?
The goal of a lobbyist is as an activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislatures.
Lobbying
-Lobbying-the act of trying to influence people on behalf of an interest group
• Hired by interest groups to go to Congress and influence laws
-Functions of Interest GroupsInformationRepresent their memberssupport certain candidates
-Lobbyists work at all levels of government
Interest groups hire people called lobbyists to influence Congressmen
to pass laws on their behalf. Lobbyists’ most important job is to
provide information about their interest group and support their
members.
Regulation of Lobbying
-Past activities of lobbyists have been questionable
• Congressmen taking bribes, people not getting their rights
-government regulation-stop bribery-special interest groups-reporting lobbying activities
-effects of Lobbying• Have been successful
historically of influencing legislation Because lobbying has not always
been ethical, the government has passed laws to limit lobbyist’s power
(especially through bribery of Congressmen).
Review Question
Public opinion is influenced by which of the following factors:
a. By many sourcesb. Mostly through advertisingc. Almost completely by lobbyistsd. Primarily by interest groups
Interest groups have been criticized for which of the following reasons listed below?
a. For having too much influence b. Mostly by lobbyistsc. For being disorganizedd. For their refusal to hire lobbyists
Review Question
Political action committees (PACs) were formed to do which of the following?
a. allow interest groups to pay lobbyistsb. allow interest groups to contribute money to
candidates and campaignsc. assign volunteers to groups that need themd. fund mass media
Review Question
Lobbyists work for which of the following groups?
a. the publicb. interest groupsc. public officialsd. the government
Review Question
How are interest groups different from political parties?
a. interest groups do not concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties do
b. interest groups concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties concentrate on electing
candidatesc. interest groups use propaganda and political parties
avoid using propagandad. There is no difference between both interest groups
and political parties
Review Question
Which of the following would be considered a public interest group? a. a plumber’s union b. a lawyers’ association c. a committee for clean water d. a group dedicated to promoting motorcycle ownership
Review Question
How are interest groups different from political parties?
a. interest groups do not concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties do
b. interest groups concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties concentrate on electing
candidatesc. interest groups use propaganda and political parties
avoid using propagandad. There is no difference between both interest groups
and political parties