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Chapter Introduction

Section 1: Forming Public Opinion

Section 2: The Mass Media

Section 3: Interest Groups

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Chapter Intro 1

In America, different groups of people hold many different viewpoints. Some groups form to try to persuade government officials to support their views. These groups are exercising the important rights of freedom of speech and assembly.


Chapter Intro 2

Section 1: Forming Public OpinionA democratic society requires the active participation of its citizens. Individuals, interest groups, the mass media, and government officials all play a role in shaping public opinion.


Chapter Intro 2

Section 2: The Mass Media

In a democratic society, various forces shape people’s ideas. The media have a profound influence on the ideas and behavior of the American people and their government.


Chapter Intro 2

Section 3: Interest Groups

Political and economic institutions evolve to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals. Interest groups, a powerful force in our democracy, use various techniques to influence public opinion and policy.


Chapter Preview-End


Section 1-Main Idea

Guide to ReadingBig IdeaA democratic society requires active participation of its citizens.


Section 1-Key Terms

Guide to ReadingContent Vocabulary• public opinion

• mass media

• interest group

• public opinion poll

• pollster

Academic Vocabulary• uniform

• gender

• survey


A. AB. B

Section 1-Polling Question

0%0%

Do you agree that politicians should ignore public opinion and do what they believe is best for the country?

A. Agree

B. Disagree


Section 1

Public OpinionPublic opinion, the ideas and attitudes most people hold, plays a vital role in our democracy.


Section 1

Public Opinion (cont.)

• Public opinion refers to ideas and attitudes people hold about a particular issue or person.

• Public opinion is of political importance.


Section 1

• Sources of public opinion:

– Personal background (age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, place of residence)

– Mass media

– Public officials

– Interest groups



Section 1

• Three features of public opinion:

– Direction

– Intensity

– Stability



A. AB. BC. CD. D

Section 1

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The mass mediaA. have little influence on the

public’s understanding of important issues.

B. distort the public’s understanding of important issues.

C. help the public to understand important issues.

D. have a significant impact on the public’s understanding of important issues.


Section 1

Measuring Public OpinionThe most common way of measuring public opinion is with public opinion polls.


Section 1

Measuring Public Opinion (cont.)

• Public opinion polls measure public opinion.

• Pollster is a specialist who measures the president’s popularity or towards possible proposals

Pre-Election Approval Ratings, 1955–2003


Section 1

• Sampling public opinion:

– People in sample are selected at random

– Well-constructed sample reflects the entire population

– Wording questions to find people’s true opinions

– Push polls worded to influence responses



Section 1

• Arguments for and against polling:

– Allows officeholders to keep in touch with citizens’ ideas

– Makes officials more concerned with public opinion than leadership and decision-making

– Affect elections and voter turnout



A. AB. B

Section 1

0%0%

Do you think pollsters hired by elected officials should use push polls?

A. Yes

B. No


Section 1-End


Section 2-Main Idea

Guide to ReadingBig IdeaIn a democratic society, various forces shape people’s ideas.


Section 2-Key Terms

Guide to ReadingContent Vocabulary• print media

• electronic media

• public agenda

• leak

• prior restraint

• libel

• malice


Section 2-Key Terms

Guide to ReadingAcademic Vocabulary• acknowledge

• benefit

• regulatory


A. AB. B


0%0%

Do you think that the media’s need to make a profit causes the media to misrepresent some issues?

A. Yes

B. No


Section 2

The Media’s ImpactThe nation’s media are an important influence on politics and government and also help set the public agenda.


Section 2

The Media’s Impact (cont.)

• The mass media influences politics and government, and connects the people and elected officials.

America’s Use of Mass Media


Section 2


• Newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books as examples of print media

• Radio, television, and the Internet as examples of electronic media

• Influence of profit on news coverage



Section 2

• Influence of the media on:

– The public agenda

– Political candidates




Section 2

• Relationship between politicians and journalists

• Purpose of government leaks to the media

• Watchdog role of the mass media

• Conflicts between national security and citizens’ need for information




A. AB. BC. CD. D

Section 2

0% 0%0%0%

Government leaksA. allow officials to test public

reactions to specific policies.

B. are sometimes intended to damage a competitor’s reputation.

C. can be of great benefit to journalists.

D. All the above


Section 2

Media SafeguardsFreedom of the press is protected by the U.S. Constitution, although some regulation is permitted.


Section 2

Media Safeguards (cont.)

• The government protects the ability of the mass media to operate freely.

• The First Amendment and freedom of the press

• Freedom from prior restraint

• Libel and limits to freedom of the press

• Supreme Court ruled that public officials must prove actual malice, or evil intent, by publisher


Section 2

• The media’s right to keep sources secret

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a regulatory commission of the federal bureaucracy

Media Safeguards (cont.)


Section 2

Do you think the FCC should have increased powers to censor the content of television broadcasts?

A. Yes

B. No A. AB. B

0%0%


Section 2-End


Section 3-Main Idea

Guide to ReadingBig IdeaPolitical and economic institutions evolve to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals.


Section 3-Key Terms

Guide to ReadingContent Vocabulary• public interest

group

• nonpartisan

• political action committee (PAC)

• lobbyist

Academic Vocabulary• primary • guarantee


A. AB. B


0%0%

Do you agree that groups with greater financial resources can exercise more influence over public policy than groups with fewer financial resources?

A. Agree

B. Disagree


Section 3

Types of Interest GroupsInterest groups are an important part of our democratic process because they influence public policy.


Section 3

Types of Interest Groups (cont.)

• Interest groups are organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas.


Section 3

• Economic interest groups:

– U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoting free enterprise

– Tobacco Institute representing cigarette manufacturers

– AFL-CIO representing workers

– The American Medical Association representing doctors



Section 3

• Other interest groups:

– NAACP improving the lives of African Americans

– NOW representing women’s interests

– AARP promoting interests of older Americans

– Sierra Club protecting nature

– NRA looking after interests of gun owners



Section 3

• Public interest groups working to benefit Americans in general

− League of Women Voters is an example of a nonpartisan, or impartial group


• Interests groups supporting candidates and forming political action committees

• Interest groups bringing cases to court


Section 3

• Interest groups influencing lawmakers by using lobbyists who:

– have a good understanding of how the government functions.

– know which government department to contact about concerns.

– supply lawmakers with useful information that help their own cases.



Section 3

– suggest solutions and problems to lawmakers.

– prepare their own drafts of bills for lawmakers.

– testify in legislative hearings on bills.

– see that laws are enforced.



Section 3

Do you think that interest groups have too much influence in determining the laws and policies of the United States?

A. Yes

B. No

A. AB. B

0%0%


Section 3

Techniques Interest Groups UseInterest groups use various techniques to influence public opinion and policy.


Section 3

Techniques Interest Groups Use (cont.)

• Interest groups use a variety of techniques to influence public opinion and policy:

– Direct mail

– Advertising

– Organize public events and protests

– Propaganda

Propaganda Techniques


Section 3

• Regulating interest groups:

– Limits on PAC contributions

– Registration and disclosure requirements for lobbyists

– Waiting period before former government officials can become lobbyists



Section 3

• Controversy surrounding interest groups and lobbying



Section 3

Do you agree that the practice of lobbying can easily lead to corruption and should therefore be outlawed?

A. Agree

B. Disagree A. AB. B

0%0%


Section 3-End


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Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

TIME Trans

DFS Trans 1

DFS Trans 2

Voters strongly disagreed about whether to elect Kerry or reelect Bush

DFS Trans 3

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Vocab1

public opinionthe ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues

Vocab2

mass mediaa mechanism of mass communication, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books

Vocab3

interest groupa group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs

Vocab4

public opinion polla survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person

Vocab5

pollstera specialist whose job is to conduct polls regularly

Vocab6

uniformconsistent or unvarying

Vocab7

gendera notion of the sex of a person

Vocab8

surveyto determine the size, shape, and position of; to gather information about, as in a poll

Vocab9

print medianewspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books

Vocab10

electronic mediaradio, television, and the Internet

Vocab11

public agendaissues considered most significant by government officials

Vocab12

leakthe release of secret government information by anonymous government officials to the media

Vocab13

prior restraintgovernment censorship of material before it is published

Vocab14

libelwritten untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation

Vocab15

maliceevil intent

Vocab16

acknowledgeto recognize the existence of or to make something known

Vocab17

benefitto be useful or profitable to

Vocab18

regulatoryused to describe an agency or body whose function is to control or govern

Vocab19

public interest groupan organization that supports causes that affect the lives of Americans in general

Vocab20

nonpartisanfree from party ties or bias

Vocab21

political action committee (PAC)political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special-interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money

Vocab22

lobbyistrepresentative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making

Vocab23

primaryfirst in time or importance

Vocab24

guaranteeto promise or give security

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