chapter 11 influencing government. influences on personal opinion 1) personal background age,...

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


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?


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


2)2) Social GroupsSocial Groups

Promote race, age , or genderPromote race, age , or gender

NAACP, NOW, AARPNAACP, NOW, AARP


3)3) Special CausesSpecial Causes

Pick some cause of interest to themPick some cause of interest to them

NRA, Sierra ClubNRA, Sierra Club


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


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


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””


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


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


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

chapter 11 influencing government. influences on personal opinion 1) personal background age,...

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