influencing government
DESCRIPTION
INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC OPINION, THE MEDIA, & INTEREST GROUPS. PUBLIC OPINION. What is it? i deas and attitudes most hold about a particular issue/person Elected officials listen to public opinion! Why? n eed popular support for their decisions (in most cases) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
INFLUENCING
GOVERNMENT
P U B L I C O
P I NI O
N , TH E M
E D I A, &
I NT E R E S T
G R O U P S
![Page 2: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
PUBLIC OPINIONWhat is it?• ideas and attitudes most hold
about a particular issue/person
• Elected officials listen to public opinion!•Why?•need popular support for their decisions (in most cases)•help to make timely & effective decisions
What are potential results of an elected official making decisions in government that are not supported by the majority?
![Page 3: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
WHAT SHAPES PUBLIC OPINION?• An Individual’s Personal Background• age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, residence, etc.
• Mass Media•What does this include?• How might access to media influence public opinion?
• Public Officials• respect for their opinions on issues• officials try to be persuasive!
• Interest Groups (“Pressure Groups”)• a group of people who share a point of view about an issue & unite to promote it• persuasion is goal!• Examples of interest groups?
![Page 4: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
HOW IS PUBLIC OPINION MEASURED? 1. ANALYZING ELECTION RESULTS:
What could possibly be revealed about public opinion by interpreting election results?
For what reasons may this be an unreliable source of public opinion?
2. TAKING A PUBLIC OPINION POLL: individual responses to surveys
random samples (approx. 1500 diverse people surveyed) pollsters: Gallup; Pew
followed by elected officials/candidates informs their decision-making
possible negative effects of polling: the wording of survey questions may affect survey results politicians may try to please the public (vs. making wise decisions)
![Page 5: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
PUBLIC OPINION POLL:APPROVAL RATING OF PRESIDENT
G.W. BUSH, 2001-2008
![Page 6: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
THE MEDIAWhat does it include?• A print medium• newspapers, magazines, books
• An electronic medium• TV, radio, Internet
• The Media influences public agenda: • problems & issues considered most important by the gov’t!
What are some recent examples of ways by which the media has shaped our current government’s public agenda?
![Page 7: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
THE MEDIAWhat roles does the Media play in influencing
government?1. Shapes public agenda2. Shapes public opinion3. Coverage of candidates running for office
potential benefits/drawbacks for candidates?4. Elected officials are linked to the public
means of informing the public/constituents media may leak info. from gov’t get public reaction
5. Watchdog role monitors gov’t actions helps to hold gov’t accountable
![Page 8: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
PROPAGANDA What is propaganda?
ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people
Who uses propaganda in the media?political parties & candidatesinterest groupsbusinesses/corporations
7 major propaganda strategies used in the media:
![Page 9: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES1. The Bandwagon:
“Everyone else is doing it, so join in!”
2. Name-calling: direct attack on another group/person makes you question
your trust in opponent
3. “Endorsement” celebrity or reputable group gives support
4. “Stacked Cards” reveals only one side of an issue emphasizes the positive
![Page 10: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES5. “Glittering Generality”
appeals to one’s emotions by focusing on a very general idea
“If you elect me, I will bring you peace and prosperity.”
6. “Just Plain Folks” attempts to make connection to the common
citizen
7. “Transfer” associating symbol(s) with a product/candidate
Which propaganda techniques are used in the following corporate advertisements?
![Page 11: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
MEDIA FREEDOMS & LIMITATIONS Media Freedoms:
1st Amendment Rights the Media is free from prior restraint: no gov’t
censorship of material before it is published
Media Limitations:no libel: false information that is published that harms someone’s reputation
limitations to protecting media sourcesregulation by FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
regulates broadcast media heavy fines for breaking its rules
![Page 15: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
INTEREST GROUPS What are they, again?:
organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas
Which Amendment protects interest groups?
![Page 16: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPSEconomic
ex. US Chamber of Commerce
Worker ex. AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor – Congress
of Industrial Organizations)
Professional ex. AMA (American Medical Association)
Social Groups ex. NOW (Nat’l Org. for Women); NAACP (Nat’l Assoc.
for the Advancement of Colored People)
Special Causes ex. NRA (National Rifle Association)
![Page 17: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
INTEREST GROUPS’ INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT
An interest group’s main goal = influence public policy
To do this…interest groups focus on influencing elections, the courts, & lawmakers.
How do they do this? back candidates for office raise & donate money to campaigns
PACs (Political Action Committees) may use court cases to argue a law/gov’t policy
is unconstitutional lobby lawmakers
lobbyist = representative of an interest group or corporation draft bills persuade & make agreements with
politicians provide information to representatives
![Page 18: INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062813/568165d0550346895dd8ddc9/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
WHAT IS THE OPINION EXPRESSED IN EACH POLITICAL CARTOON?