Unit 3 - Influencing Government

What are special interest groups?

An interesting group???

Definition

Private organizations that try to all persuade elected officials to respond to shared attitudes of its members

Interest Groups? Political Parties?

They’re all the same…right?

Interest groups do not nominate members to win elections & hold public officebut, they do influence elections

IG’s represent specific interests, unlike PP’s that represent a whole range of public affairs/issues.

NO!!

Interest Groups: The Positives

Representation based on attitudes, not geography

Provide specialized information to

government

Are a way for average voter to participate in

government

Interest Groups: The Negatives

Some have influence that is disproportionate to

their size ($$$)

Misrepresent their membership

History of illegal tactics: bribery, revenge

Business and Trade

National Association of Retail Grocers

Labor Unions

United Mine Workers of America

Agricultural

Associated Milk Producers

Professional

American Bar Association

Promote Causes

The League of Women Voters

Promote Welfare

American Association of

Retired Persons

Religious

Christian Coalition

Types of Interest Groups…

Lobbying

The actions Interest Groups’ take to affect the passage or content of laws that would most affect their members.

Lobbyists persuade legislators/policy makers to share their point of view.

Techniques: media reports, provide information to Congress, prepare bills, propaganda.

Pick ONE issue important to you.

State YOUR opinion on the issue.

Create a name for the Interest Group you would create to address this…

THE MEDIA

AND PUBLIC OPINION

Unit III - Influencing Government

The Role of the Media

In Elections, the media provides

information.

This information helps shape

people’s opinions on issues that are

key to the election.

The Media: 1960

Nixon v. Kennedy

The Media: 2008

McCain v. Obama

Examples…

Television / Radio

News Coverage

Provide “sound bites”…little detailed info

Packaging

Internet / TV Ads

Debates

Packaging: applying good marketing

techniques to a candidate

Candidate is seen reading to children

as part of a campaign ad

American flags are usually shown

during a political speech

Candidates (or current President)

appear on TV wearing a suit & tie

Appealing to Americans

These ads appeal to some factor(s) that

is/are important to Americans.

Examples?

They only work if the politicians understand

what the people want!!!

So How Do We Know

What People Want?

Understanding what the public thinks

about a given issue is the job of

pollsters.

Professional statisticians who collect data

and analyze it to provide useful

information to political groups.

Pubic Opinion Polls

Pollsters make use of polls to collect data

Probably the best way of gathering public opinion

Help candidates know their constituent's feelings

Help the news media see how informed the public is

Help predict who will win the election

S0, to measure Public Opinion we can analyze…

Interest Group Members, Election Results, Media,

Personal Contacts

Example…

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/111256/Obama-Viewed-Winner-Third-Debate.aspx