Government

Chapters 10,11,12

What shapes Opinions

• Families- are the first influence on our opinions. It is only natural for opinions to come from our family, we share the same experiences, and often have very similar responses to these issues.

• Friends, teachers and clubs- As we get older, we spend less time with our family and more time with friends and teachers.

What Shapes Opinions

• Mass media- are made up of various forms of communication that transmit information to large numbers of people.

• Mass media is made up of books, magazines, and news papers as well as electronic media like film, radio, television, and the Internet.

Public Opinion

• Public Opinion is the total of the opinions held concerning specific issues. – Public opinion is not one opinion that all

Americans agree on. – Public opinion refers to many different opinions

• There are very few issues in which all Americans agree.

Propaganda and Public Opinion

• Many of the Ideas in mass media have been directed at us for a purpose. Whether it be to buy something, believe something , or act in a certain way.

• Propaganda are ideas that are spread to influence people’s thinking or behaviors.

Kinds of Propaganda

• Concealed propaganda-propaganda presented as fact and whose source is kept secret.

• Revealed propaganda- propaganda that openly attempts to influence people.

Propaganda Techniques• Testimonials – uses endorsements from famous people• Bandwagon- the “peer pressure” factor• Name-calling-uses an unpleasant name or description to

harm a person• Glittering Generalities- uses words that sound good but

have little meaning.• Plain-Folks Appeal-presents candidates as regular people• Card Stacking-uses facts in a way that favors a particular

product, idea, or person

Measuring Public Opinion

• Most obvious way to measure public opinion is an election.

• A public opinion poll, attempts to measure public opinion by asking the opinions of a sample, or portion of the public.

• It is believed that polls not only measure public opinion but also Influence it as well.

Polls

• 1936 FDR defeated by Landon in a landslide.• The 1948 poll Dewy defeats Truman.• An appropriate sample of the population must

be taken for the poll to be accurate.

Role of Political Parties

• A political party is an organization made up of citizens who have similar ideas on public Issues.

• Party members work together to put their ideas into effect through government actions.

• Candidates- people who run for election to public.

• Nominate- process to select candidates to run for public office

What political parties do

• Parties point out weaknesses in other parties and their candidates.

• Parties recommend programs and laws that guide the action of the government.

• Parties keep members informed and help keep all citizens interested in their government.

• Parties ensure that public officials do a good job so voters will re-elect them/

• Parties select candidates to run for election to public offices in the government.

Beginnings of the Two-Party System

• Began as early as George Washington federalist favored strong federal government and anti-federalist favored limiting the power of the federal government (Democratic-Republicans)

• Alexander Hamilton head of the Federalist and Ben Franklin leader of the

• Washington feared that the growth of parties would weaken the new country.

One-party vs. Two-party systemOne-Party System Two –Party System

Usually a totalitarian Government Usually forms a stable government

Usually unlimited government Usually a limited government

A government unrestrained by the people Composed of a diverse group of people who share similar political beliefs

Opposition Parties are illegal Elections are based on a “winner take all” format

Usually restrictive of all civil and political rights

Usually civil and political rights are protected

Advantages of a Two-Party System

• When one party fails to please a majority of the voters, there is another strong party ready to take over.

• The newly elected party often tries different programs and policies in dealing with the countries problems.

Key issues what do you think?Big Business EnvironmentBig Government Minimum WageEducation Health Care Labor unions MilitarySocial Security TaxesImmigration Death Penalty Gun control Prayer in SchoolAffirmative Action Gay RightsAbortion National DefenseFlag Burning

Democrat or Republican?

Or Somewhere in Between?

• Third parties in the U.S – There are a number of minor political parties, also

known as third parties. – Third parties have played a roll in the election

process, but have never won the presidential office. (FDR, Ross Perot)

• Not all Democrats or Republicans agree on all issues within their party

• Where you live can effect what party you belong to

2004 Election Map

2009 A political map showing a state governor's political party, in the Red-Republican—Blue-Democrat

• Republicans are conservative

– favor traditional institutions and the status quo– favor laissez-faire system• define

– favor a limited role for government in society and believe that people should help themselves, not rely on the government

– favor lower taxes– believe in the trickle-down theory

• Democrats are liberal – favor change in society

– oppose government intervention into one’s private and social life

– support regulations on economic activity and businesses

– favor an active role for government in society

– believe that involvement – be it environmental regulations against polluting or anti-discrimination laws- can improve the quality of our lives

– willing to increase taxes to support programs

Big Business

• Democrat: – They are against breaks they believe that the

government should give these breaks to the people.

• Republican:_ They favor big business believe that giving them

breaks allows businesses to increase the supply of jobs for the people.

Big Government

• Democrat:– Support big government think that the

government should help the people as much as possible, social security, welfare, and minimum wage.

• Republican:– Think that government should be hands off. They

believe the money the government spends should go to eliminating the debt.

Education

• Democrat:– Support Public School education and that it should

be funded federally• Republican:– Promote school of choice, want the government

to play a limited role in funding public schools

Labor Unions

• Democrat:– Support Labor Unions

• Republican:– Are against Labor Unions, they support right to

work.

Social Security

• Democrat:– Think that the current system may need to be

tweaked but is good for the American worker.• Republican:– Workers will have choice to invest their payroll

taxes.

Immigration• Democrat:

– believe that as the world superpower, it is a fundamental right for the United States to provide unconditional aid and comfort to the citizens of other nations. Democrats believe in open borders, unconditional amnesty, and that the laws of this nation be curtailed to provide non-emergency assistance and legal forms of identification to foreign nationals.

• Republican:– recognize that our nation is enriched by immigrants seeking a

better life. In many cases immigrants have fled violence and oppression searching for peace and freedom. All suffered and sacrificed but hope for a better future for their children in America.

Abortion

• Democrat:– Abortion is a woman’s right and should be legal,

pro choice• Republican:– Abortion should be illegal and restricted by

government, pro life

Flag Burning

• Democrat:– Flag burning is political

speech and is protected by the Constitution

• Republican:– Protect the flag from

burning by a constitutional amendment

Gun Control

• Democrats: – Favor/Gun control is needed

• Republicans: – Oppose/Gun control is unconstitutional

Natural Environment

• Democrats: – Strong regulations are needed to protect the

environment

• Republicans: – Strong environmental laws harm the economy

Minimum Wage

• Democrats: – Favor/Increase the minimum wage to help

workers• Republicans: – Oppose/Do not raise the minimum wage because

it hurts businesses

Healthcare

• Democrats: – Government should require universal access to

healthcare• Republicans: – Private insurers are preferable to government

controlled system

Taxes

• Democrats: – Increase taxes on the wealthy to pay for public

programs

• Republicans: – Cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy

Military

• Democrats: – Cut military spending; expand veteran’s benefits;

act in concert with other nations and/or with support from NATO and the UN

• Republicans: – Increase military spending; cut veteran’s benefits;

don’t be constrained by other nations or by NATO and the UN

Death Penalty

• Democrats: – Oppose/It is not a deterrent and innocent people

are in jeopardy

• Republicans: – Favor/The death penalty is necessary and effective

Gay Rights

• Democrats: – Favor/Gays rights and marriage are civil rights

• Republicans: – Oppose/Marriage is a sacred trust between a man

and woman

Prayer in School

• Democrats: – Oppose/Violation of the separation between

church and state

• Republicans: – Favor/It is a religious right and our Christian

heritage

National Defense

• Republicans – believe in a strong national defense. Republicans know that

defending our nation against its enemies must be a fundamental commitment of the federal government and this requires the best-trained, best-equipped and most effective military in the world. With

• Democrats – have advocated for scaling down our military and reducing the

money spent on military intelligence. Democrats believe that true security comes from negotiations with foreign nations, even if they harbor or have financial ties to terrorist groups. Democrats believe that we must ask other nations for permission before we act to protect our own security.

Interest Groups

• Interest Groups- are organizations of people with a common interest that try to influence government policies and decisions.

• Interest groups are sometimes know as a pressure group or lobby.

• A person who is paid by an interest group to represent that groups interest is called a lobbyist.

• Interest Groups differ from parties for the fact that they are more interested in changing policy rather then electing candidates.

Types of Interest Groups• Business Association• Labor Unions• Farm Organizations• Veterans’ Organizations• Teachers’ association• Consumer groups• Interest groups consist of people whose concerns are

economic orientated, or Issue orientated, • Public interest groups who seek to promote he interest of

the general public.

Lobbyist Duty

• Argue in support for bills they favor and against bills they oppose.

• Lobbyist testify at committee hearings.• Supply lawmakers with information in order to

fully inform the congressmen.• Try not only to influence government policy

but also try to influence public opinion.