PUBLIC OPINION AND INTEREST

Transcription

1 PUBLIC OPINION AND INTEREST GROUPS (CH.19) & MASS MEDIA IN THE DIGITAL AGE (CH. 20) Taken from United States Government, McGraw Hill Textbook 1

2 Chapter 19 Outline - Public Opinion & Interest Groups Lesson 1 Shaping PO Public Opinion & Democracy Political Socialization Political Culture Political Efficacy The Nature of PO Lesson 2 Measuring PO Nonscientific Methods Scientific Polling Uses of Polling Data Lesson 3 Interest Groups & Their Roles Power of Interest Groups Leadership & Membership Types of Interest Groups Lesson 4 Lobbying Interest Groups Seek Support The Rise of Political Action Committees Strategies of PACs 2

3 Political Opinion & Democracy A key goal of the Framers was to give people an active voice in government. Another goal of the Framers was to protect government from whims of ill-informed people. The present government is responsive to public opinion and to other input as well. Political Socialization Political socialization begins within the family. Schools and peer groups add to the political socialization process. Each person s personal experiences influence their political views. The mass media plays an important role in political socialization. Other influences include government leaders, interest groups, and religious organizations. 3

4 Political Culture Political socialization includes absorbing the political culture of one s nation. A shared belief in liberty and freedom are part of American political culture. Political culture sets the general boundaries within which citizens develop and express opinions. Political Efficacy A person s level of political efficacy reflects their political socialization. Feelings of political efficacy are vital in a democracy. People join interest groups because they believe being part of such a group will improve their political efficacy. The political culture a person comes from impacts how he or she sees the world. 4

5 The Nature of Public Opinion An individual s opinions emerge as part of the process of political socialization. Public opinion significantly influences government. In the United States, public opinion is extremely diverse. Interest groups communicate the opinions of many individuals. Public opinion is the aggregate of a significant number of people s views. 5

6 Lesson 2 Measuring PO Nonscientific methods Party organizations have traditionally provided reliable information on public opinion. The mass media often reflect public attitudes fairly well. Letters, s, phone calls, and faxes provide elected officials with public opinion. Straw polls provide a biased sample of public opinion. Public opinion is also reflected on political websites, blogs, and social networking sites. Scientific Polling Scientific polling begins by determining a universe, or group, to be studied. A representative sample of the group being studied is polled by random sampling. Polling questions must be clearly worded, without confusing elements. Interpreting a poll requires knowing who paid for the poll, who responded, and the sampling error. Writing questions which push a respondent to a particular answer is called push polling. 6

7 Uses of Polling Data Politicians may use polling data to introduce a bill or decide how to vote on a related bill. Politicians who are guided too much by public opinion may appear to lack principles. Media use of polling data may shape public opinion. Exit polls, conducted by the media near polling places, can impact people s interest in voting. Lesson 3 Interest Groups and their roles Power of the interest group People in an interest group share common goals and organize to influence government. Interest groups are an important component of American civil society. There are key differences between political parties and interest groups. Interest groups help bridge the gap between people and the government. A properly organized and equipped interest group has more influence than its individual members. 7

8 Leadership & Membership Interest group leaders strengthen the political power of the group by unifying its members. People join interest groups out of economic self-interest. People join interest groups to see their beliefs translated into policy or direct action. People also join interest groups for social reasons. Types of Interest Groups There are hundreds of interest groups in the United States today. Many interest groups are concerned with economic issues. Public interest groups work to influence policies they believe affect the general public. Some interest groups work for civil rights, single issues, or ideological interests. Some interest groups are faith or profession based, and others are government associations. 8

9 Lesson 4 Affecting Public Policy Lobbying Interest groups try to influence public policy wherever it is made. Lobbying is the process of direct contact with elected officials to influence their vote. Lobbyists often provide government officials with information about their group s policy interests. Lobbyists and interest groups sometimes help write bills. Lobbyist may be professional lobbyists or grassroots lobbyists. Interest Groups Seek Support Interest groups use the mass media to inform the public and to create support for their views. Many interest groups encourage members to communicate directly with government officials. Interest groups compete for power and influence. Smaller interest groups or single-issue interest groups are most effective in shaping policy. 9

10 The Rise of Political Action Committee Strategies of PACs PACs are designed to collect money and provide financial support for a political candidate. PACs became popular after Congress passed laws limiting donations to federal candidates. Direct donations to candidates by PACs are limited, but indirect donations are unlimited. 527 organizations focus on advocating an issue. PACs use donations, or the threat of withholding donations, as leverage with a candidate. Large campaign donations may increase a group s access to an official when elected. PACs spend money to influence election outcomes. Super PACs can receive unlimited donations and spend unlimited sums if done independently. 10

11 Chapter 20 Outline Mass Media in the Digital Age Lesson 1 How Media Impact Our Government Mass Media Executive Branch and the Media Legislative Branch and the Media Judiciary and Media Media and Public Agenda Lesson 2 Regulating Print & Broadcast Media Media Protections Regulating Media Media & National Security Lesson 3 The Internet & Democracy Civic Participation & Digital Media Mass Media & New Media Public Policy & the Internet 11

12 Lesson 1 How Media Impact Our Government Mass Media News media condense and clarify stories, alert the public to issues, and uncover problems. Digital media have caused a reexamination of the definition of journalist. While more news sources are available today, fewer Americans take time to follow the news. The media can make information public without making it official. Journalists see their job as informing the public, not passing along politicians messages. Executive Branch and the Media Executive branch leaders try to use the mass media to their advantage. News releases, news briefings, and press conferences help government officials shape the news. Officials try to influence the flow of information to the press through leaks or media events. The president and the mass media have a mutually beneficial relationship. Television has greatly influenced presidential campaigns from start to finish. 12

13 Legislative Branch & the Media The media report on controversial hearings as well as significant debates and bills. Television has impacted who runs for legislative office. Candidates for Congress employ television advertising as a major campaign strategy. Judiciary & the Media Much of the media s coverage of the judiciary is related to criminal trials. The Supreme Court and other appellate courts receive less media coverage. Covering the courts differs greatly from covering the legislative and executive branches. Media and the Public Agenda The mass media play an important role in setting the public agenda. The media help determine which political issues the American people and their leaders will be discussing. Media choices on what to cover are impacted by personal views and business considerations. The extent of media coverage influences how important people believe an issue is to the nation. 13

14 Lesson 2 Regulating Print & Broadcast Media Media Protections Freedom of the press is fundamental to democracy. The First Amendment protects the print media from prior restraint but not from libel. FOIA, passed in 1966, provides public access to most information. The courts have not granted the press special rights of access beyond public access. Most states have shield laws to protect reporters from having to reveal their sources. Regulating Media The goal of government regulations is to provide order, fairness, and access to the mass media. The FCC s two main regulatory activities deal with broadcast content and media ownership. The fairness doctrine was used until 1987, when it was deemed unnecessary. Originally, the FCC set rules over the concentration of media ownership. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 ended or relaxed many FCC limits on media ownership. 14

15 Media and National Security National security issues often create tension between the media and the government. The government classifies some information as secret and limits press coverage of military actions. Government restriction on media coverage during wartime has varied. Periodic leaks of secret information pit the government against the press. Lesson 3 The Internet & Democracy Civic Participation & Digital Media The Internet allows citizens to more easily participate in politics and government. The Internet provides easy access to information about government and politics. All levels of government now provide services and information over the Internet. The Internet has become a powerful tool for citizen activism. Presidential campaigns have begun to tap online opportunities for advertising and campaigning. 15

16 Mass Media & New Media With the Internet, mass media has become interactive rather than unidirectional. Online publishing produces greater diversity in sources, voices, and viewpoints. To generate income, online publishers have reduced local news and focused on big stories. Blogging and citizen reporting give individual input into politics but must be evaluated for accuracy. Public Policy & the Internet New laws must deal with the impact of the Internet on politics, business, and individuals. The FCC s Open Internet Order supports net neutrality. The ease of access to offensive content on the Internet leads to challenges in protecting children. The growth of e-commerce has led to controversy over collection of state sales tax. Some private digital information is available to law enforcement and private employers. Public Policy and the Internet With the Internet, mass media has become interactive rather than unidirectional. Online publishing produces greater diversity in sources, voices, and viewpoints. To generate income, online publishers have reduced local news and focused on big stories. Blogging and citizen reporting give individual input into politics but must be evaluated for accuracy. 16