CHAPTER 11CHAPTER 11“THE POLITICAL SYSTEM”“THE POLITICAL SYSTEM”

SHAPING PUBLIC OPINIONSHAPING PUBLIC OPINIONA. What is Public OpinionA. What is Public Opinion

1. Public Opinion - total of opinions 1. Public Opinion - total of opinions

concerning a certain issue.concerning a certain issue.

a. Is usually many opinionsa. Is usually many opinions

B. What Shapes OpinionB. What Shapes Opinion

1. The same things that shape our 1. The same things that shape our

political personality.political personality.

a. Familya. Family

b. Schoolb. School

c. Friendsc. Friends

d. Mass Media (T.V., Radio, etc)d. Mass Media (T.V., Radio, etc)

C. Propaganda and Public OpinionC. Propaganda and Public Opinion

1. Propaganda - ideas used to influence1. Propaganda - ideas used to influence

people.people.

2. In today's age propaganda is becoming2. In today's age propaganda is becoming

bigger and bigger.bigger and bigger.

IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS AND COME UP WITH AS MANY AND COME UP WITH AS MANY PROPAGANDA ADS, BOOKS, ECT. PROPAGANDA ADS, BOOKS, ECT. THAT YOU CAN (3 MIN.)THAT YOU CAN (3 MIN.)

D. Kinds of PropagandaD. Kinds of Propaganda

1. It is important that YOU define 1. It is important that YOU define

between propaganda, truth, and lies.between propaganda, truth, and lies.

2. Concealed Propaganda - propaganda 2. Concealed Propaganda - propaganda

presented as being factual and its presented as being factual and its

sources are kept secret.sources are kept secret.

a. Often used to fool people.a. Often used to fool people.

3. Revealed Propaganda - makes readers 3. Revealed Propaganda - makes readers

or listeners aware that someone is or listeners aware that someone is

trying to influence them.trying to influence them.

a. Used mostly in advertising.a. Used mostly in advertising.

E. Propaganda Techniques (7 of them)E. Propaganda Techniques (7 of them)

1. Testimonials - getting a well known 1. Testimonials - getting a well known

person to support your ideas.person to support your ideas.

2. Bandwagon - Everyone is following 2. Bandwagon - Everyone is following the the

idea so you should to.idea so you should to.

3. Name-calling - Giving something an 3. Name-calling - Giving something an

unpleasant label. (dirty politics)unpleasant label. (dirty politics)

4. Glittering Generalities - Using words 4. Glittering Generalities - Using words

that sound good but don’t mean much.that sound good but don’t mean much.

5. Plain-folks - You’re just like one of the 5. Plain-folks - You’re just like one of the

people.people.

6. Card Stacking - Uses facts in a way 6. Card Stacking - Uses facts in a way that that

favors a particular product, idea, or favors a particular product, idea, or

candidate.candidate.

a. Media can put you on the front page a. Media can put you on the front page

and your opponent on the second and your opponent on the second

page.page.

7. Transfer - Associating a person or idea 7. Transfer - Associating a person or idea

with something everyone thinks is with something everyone thinks is

good. (Ex. Kissing a baby)good. (Ex. Kissing a baby)

USING THE LIST OF USING THE LIST OF PROPAGANDA YOU PROPAGANDA YOU CREATED BEFORE, DECIDE CREATED BEFORE, DECIDE IF EACH ITEM ON YOUR IF EACH ITEM ON YOUR LIST IS CONCEALED OR LIST IS CONCEALED OR REVEALED PROPAGANDA REVEALED PROPAGANDA AND WHAT TECHNIQUE IT AND WHAT TECHNIQUE IT MAY FALL UNDER. (7 MIN)MAY FALL UNDER. (7 MIN)

F. Measuring Public OpinionF. Measuring Public Opinion

1. Pressure Groups (Indirect)1. Pressure Groups (Indirect)

2. Can be done through elections. (Direct)2. Can be done through elections. (Direct)

3. Polls - survey of how people feel on 3. Polls - survey of how people feel on

certain issues.certain issues.

G. Choosing a SampleG. Choosing a Sample

1. Most important part of a poll.1. Most important part of a poll.

2. Getting a good sample is hard to do.2. Getting a good sample is hard to do.

3. Samples are based on income, gender, 3. Samples are based on income, gender,

age, race, etc.age, race, etc.

H. Using Polls CarefullyH. Using Polls Carefully

1. Not only can polls measure public 1. Not only can polls measure public

opinion they can influence it. (Be opinion they can influence it. (Be

careful when reading a poll!!!!)careful when reading a poll!!!!)

INTEREST GROUPSINTEREST GROUPSA. What is an Interest Group

1. Groups of people who share a common

interest. (Many kinds: NRA, NOW,

NAACP, etc. )

a. Single interests groups - groups

who are for or against a single

issue.

b. Lobbyists - Person who is paid by

an interest group to represent that

group’s interest. (Are often paid

more than Congressional members.)

2. Several pressure groups can make up a 2. Several pressure groups can make up a

single PAC. (Political Action Committee)single PAC. (Political Action Committee)

a. PAC’S - raise money from members

of their pressure group.

b. In 2008 PAC’s contributed b. In 2008 PAC’s contributed

approximately over $200 million to approximately over $200 million to

candidates. (Roughly 4,200 PAC’s today) candidates. (Roughly 4,200 PAC’s today)

c. PAC’S try to influence government by c. PAC’S try to influence government by

determining how much money a determining how much money a

candidate will get.candidate will get.

d. They also try to influence public opinion.d. They also try to influence public opinion.

3. In 1946 Congress passed a law to regulate 3. In 1946 Congress passed a law to regulate

Interest Groups and PAC's.Interest Groups and PAC's.

a. Must register with House and Senate.a. Must register with House and Senate.

b. Wear identification badges.b. Wear identification badges.

c. Must report money received and spent.c. Must report money received and spent.

d. Must report bills interested in.d. Must report bills interested in.

4. Coalition - Pressure groups that join 4. Coalition - Pressure groups that join

forces. (Not necessarily a forces. (Not necessarily a PAC)PAC)

5. What are some pluses of pressure groups5. What are some pluses of pressure groups

a. Allows important issues to come to the a. Allows important issues to come to the

attention of the President and attention of the President and

Congress.Congress.

b.b.

c.c.

d.d.

6. In your small groups discuss some 6. In your small groups discuss some

Negatives of pressure groups. (3 Min)Negatives of pressure groups. (3 Min)

7. Other forms of pressure:7. Other forms of pressure:

a. Public opinion campaigns - writing a. Public opinion campaigns - writing

members of the lobbying organization members of the lobbying organization

asking them to send letters.asking them to send letters.

b. Questionnaires - printed surveys b. Questionnaires - printed surveys

mailed to voters.mailed to voters.

IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:SHOULD ELECTED PEOPLE DO SHOULD ELECTED PEOPLE DO WHAT THE PEOPLE DESIREWHAT THE PEOPLE DESIRE

TAKING PART IN GOVERNMENTTAKING PART IN GOVERNMENTA. Voting: Democracy in ActionA. Voting: Democracy in Action

1. U.S. has one of the lowest voter 1. U.S. has one of the lowest voter

turnouts of any free nation in the turnouts of any free nation in the

world.world.

a. 2000 only 51% of the voting-age a. 2000 only 51% of the voting-age

public voted.public voted.

2. Why don’t people vote:2. Why don’t people vote:

a. Timea. Time

b. Thinking their vote doesn’t count.b. Thinking their vote doesn’t count.

c. Don’t like the candidates, etc.c. Don’t like the candidates, etc.

B. Every Vote CountsB. Every Vote Counts

1. Hitler became controller of the Nazi 1. Hitler became controller of the Nazi

party by 1 vote. party by 1 vote.

2. Enough has been said!! VOTE!!!2. Enough has been said!! VOTE!!!

C. Taking Part in Political CampaignsC. Taking Part in Political Campaigns

1. People of any age can volunteer to 1. People of any age can volunteer to

work for a political campaign.work for a political campaign.

D. Contacting Public OfficialsD. Contacting Public Officials

1. Write letters, fax, e-mail, officials on 1. Write letters, fax, e-mail, officials on

issues that concern you.issues that concern you.

E. Community ActionE. Community Action

1. Don’t complain about your community 1. Don’t complain about your community

unless you’re doing something to fix unless you’re doing something to fix

it. it.

POSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTSPOSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTS1. Write letter to congressional member1. Write letter to congressional member

2. Skills Worksheet (pg. 11)2. Skills Worksheet (pg. 11)

3. Enrichment Worksheet (pg. 11)3. Enrichment Worksheet (pg. 11)

4. Chapter Test (pg. 41-44)4. Chapter Test (pg. 41-44)

5. Reteaching Worksheet (pg. 21, 22)5. Reteaching Worksheet (pg. 21, 22)

6. Section Review (pg. 211,216, 219)6. Section Review (pg. 211,216, 219)

7. Building your Portfolio (pg. 221)7. Building your Portfolio (pg. 221)

8. American Gov. Wks. (Pg. 40)8. American Gov. Wks. (Pg. 40)

EXTRA CREDIT (5 PTS.)EXTRA CREDIT (5 PTS.)

Voc. Workshop, Reviewing Main Ideas, Voc. Workshop, Reviewing Main Ideas, Thinking Critically (pg. 221)Thinking Critically (pg. 221)