Chapter 11

PUBLIC OPINION

 

  

 

I.      I. Forming Public Opinion

A. Public opinion: the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues.

     a. Helps shape the decisions of presidents

b. Americans agree on few issues

1. Enough people must hold an opinion for government to listen

  B. Personal Background

a. people’s background and life experiences affect opinion

b. Age, gender, race, religion, occupation, place of residence

C. The Mass Media

     a. includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies

b. the issues they cover and the way they cover them affect public opinion

D.  Public Officials

a. use speeches, news conferences, tv appearances, newspaper and magazines to persuade people

E.  Interest Groups

a. Interest group: People who share a point of view about an issue who unite to promote their beliefs

b. Work at influencing public opinion by trying to persuade people toward their point of view

  II. Measuring Public Opinion:

A. Election results – show only a broad measure

  B. Public Opinion Polls - asking individuals to answer questions in a survey

a. pollster – a person whose job is to conduct polls regularly

    C. Random Samples:

a. usually about 1,500 people

b. include both men and women of nearly all races, incomes, ages and viewpoints.

    D. Polls and Democracy

a. Supporters: Polling allows officeholders to keep in touch with citizen’s changing ideas

b. Critics: it makes our elected officials more concerned with following the public rather than exercising political leadership

Section 2: The Mass Media

I. Types of Media

A. Print Media: newspapers, magazines, newsletters and books

Section 2: The Mass Media

B. Electronic Media: radio, television, internet

1. TV has become the most important medium for American Politics

a. 98% of homes have a TV

II. The Media’s Impact on Politics and Government

A. Setting the Public Agenda

1. Public Agenda: problems and issues that compete for the most time, money and effort from the government

a. media has the power to define some issues while others go unnoticed

B. Candidates and the Elections

1. Previously experienced politicians who had worked their way up through the party, now people with little or no political experience can quickly move into major political positions.

C. Elected Officials:

1. Rely on the media to communicate information to the public about government activities and decisions.

a. news conferences, interviews and media events

D. Watchdog Role

1. Journalist expose government waste or corruption.

E. Media and National Security 1. Government can control information the media reports by classifying information the media reports by classifying information as secret and limiting press coverage of military actions.

F. Protecting the Media

1. First Amendment: freedom of the press; refers to print media, radio, TV and the Internet

2. Prior Restraint: government censorship of material before it is published.

3. Reporters and editors are free to decide what they will say, even if it is unpopular with the government.

4. Libel: no one is free to publish false information that will harm someone’s reputation.

FCC: Federal Communications Commission: regulates the broad cast media, cannot censor broadcasts, but it can penalize stations that violate its rules.

Section 3: Interest Groups

I. Types of Interest groups:

A. Interest groups are groups of people who share appoint of view and unites to promote their viewpoints.

1.Biased: Support a particular viewpoint, the opposite of being impartial.

2.Believe pooling their resources – time, money, and skills – they can increase their chances of influencing decision makers

Economic Interest Groups

1.Based on economic interest

2.U.S. Chamber of Commerce – the largest

3.Others represent specific businesses Tobacco Institute

4. Try to influence government decision on issues that affect their industry:

Taxes, safety regulations, rules for winning government contracts

5. Labor unions: work to promote economic interests of workers:

wages, working conditions, benefits such as pensions and health care

b. AFL-CIO: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations – an alliance of labor unions is largest

6. Professional Unions: American Medical Association, National Education Association

C. Other Interest Groups: Promote ethnic group, age group, or gender

a. NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

b.NOW – National Organization for Women

c.AARP- Association of Retired Persons

2. Special Causes:Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation – protecting wildlife

D. Public Interest Groups: work to benefit all or at least most of society instead of just the interests of their own members

1. Common Cause: control pollution, reform election campaign practices, protect consumers2. League of Women Voters: nonpartisan, promotes voting, educates voters about candidates and issues

III. Influencing Government: Primary goal of interest groups is to influence public policy.

Public Policy is the course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem.

A. Election Activities1. Support certain candidates at

election time

2. PAC- Political Action Committee: collect money from members of their groups and use it to support some candidates and oppose others

According to the 1971 law, corporations and labor unions are not allowed to give directly to campaigns. They can however, set up PACs and give unlimited amounts of soft money (money used for everyday operations of the party) to political parties. Today there are more than 4,700 PACs.

B. Going to Court1. Try to influence policy by bringing cases to court.2. Ralph Nader: founder of Public Citizen, Inc. has brought suits various companies for violating consumer protection laws.

C. Lobbying Lawmakers

Lobbyist: representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making.

2. Operate at all levels of government3. Volunteers or paid

4. Term “lobbyist” dates from the 1830s when people waited in the lobbies of statehouses to ask politicians for favors.

5. Supply lawmakers with up to date information

6. suggest solutions to problems and issues

7. Prepare drafts of bills

8. Also make sure laws are carried out after they are passed

IV. Techniques of Interest Groups:

A. Direct mail campaigns, advertise on television, radio and newspapers, stage protests, organize public events, use propaganda

1. Endorsements: people admire the person endorsing a candidate or product

2. Stacked Cards: presents only one side of the issue, often by distorting the facts.3. Name – Calling: an attempt to turn people against an opponent by using unpleasant label or description

4. Glittering Generality: sounds good but is essentially meaningless

5. Symbols: American Eagle, flag, Statue of Liberty

6. Just Plain Folks: make people think candidate is just like them: wearing hard hats, talking to factory workers

7. Bandwagon: everyone else agrees with the interest groups’ viewpoint

V. Regulation of Interest Groups:

A. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

1. limits the amount of Money PACs may contribute to candidates for national office.

2. Federal Regulation of Lobbying of 1946:

lobbyists must register with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate

3. waiting period before former government officials can become lobbyists.

B. Critics: campaign contributions give interest groups improper influence over government office holders Supporters: citizens by themselves have little effect on government, as a group citizens can increase their influence.