Chapter 11 Public Opinion. 1. Canvassing 2. Mail 3. Magazine & Newspaper Ads 4. TV What is the most...
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Transcript of Chapter 11 Public Opinion. 1. Canvassing 2. Mail 3. Magazine & Newspaper Ads 4. TV What is the most...
Chapter 11
Public Opinion
1. Canvassing2. Mail3. Magazine & Newspaper Ads4. TV
What is the most common use of campaigning during elections?
The ideas & attitudes people have about candidates
Influenced by age, gender, income, hobbies, race, religion & occupation
Mass media is a strong influence Politicians must be responsive to public
opinion if they are going to get reelected
Public Opinion
How does a person contribute to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund?
1. By paying the sales tax2. Checking a box on their income tax
forms3. Ordinary people can not contribute 4. Only by contributing to PAC’s
Determining Public Opinion
Public Opinion Polls – survey – most accurate way to determine public opinion
Pollsters – people trained to take polls & measure public opinion
Public Opinion Poll – use random samples Push Polls – used to push public opinion one
way or another Have loaded questions – biased to get a certain
response Presidential Approval Rating Gallup Poll
What is a split ticket?
1. Ballots with candidates listed on two sides
2. Using different ballots for national and state issues
3. Voting for candidates from different political parties
4. Voting for candidates from the same political party
1. Harry Truman2. Franklin D. Roosevelt3. Richard Nixon4. George Bush
Which President had the worst approval rating?
Presidential Approval Ratings
Print – newspapers, mailings, magazines
Electronic – TV, radio, internet Main purpose – to keep us informed Independent media is most desirable Literacy is important Bias – one-sided point of view
Media
Biased Media
Fox – Republican biased news
MSNBC – Democratic biased news
A disadvantage of mass campaigning is:
A. Its too time consumingB. It takes too many peopleC. Its too expensiveD. It doesn’t reach enough people
People attempting to influence government with their shared views
Pressure groups Functions:
Bring issues to the public & lawmakers Support candidates who favor their goals
Interest Groups
All of the following are reasons a person should volunteer except:
1. The community benefits2. A person can deduct it on their tax
return3. It pays well4. It gives a person intrinsic value
Economic – most common Business organizations – interested in trade Industrial & Trade – represent certain types of
business Labor Unions – rights of workers Professional Associations – represent different
professions Group
Ethnicity (NAACP) Age (AARP) Gender (NOW)
Public – focus on specific causes (PETA) Can form PACs also
Types of Interest Groups
All of the following are duties except:
1. Attending school2. Paying taxes 3. Voting in elections 4. Serving on a jury
Election Activities – backing a candidate
Lobbying – persuading officials Provide expert testimony or help write
laws in committees Go to court to fight a cause Fund elections
Ways Special Interest Groups Influence Politics
1. Propaganda2. Censorship3. Libel4. Slander
What is publishing false information that harms a person’s reputation?
Lobby – try to get officials to support a group’s goals
Responsible for getting PAC money to the right politicians
Speak in congressional committees
Lobbyists
Which of the following can cause a voters registration to be canceled?
1. Convicted of a felony2. Move out of the state 3. Nothing cancels voter registration 4. Both A and B are correct
Lobbyists can’t pay a candidates living expenses
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) All lobbies must register with federal &
state governments & report all expenditures
Regulation
A lobbyist can do all of the following except:
A. Pay a member of congress to vote for a bill
B. Prepare a report on a billC. Research information about a bill D. Testify about a bill
Attempt to influence people with biased information
Always get both sides of a story from reliable sources
Good way to determine what a candidate really supports is to see which PAC gives them money for campaigning
Propaganda
To learn about public opinion, pollsters usually question:
1. Americans from one particular economic group
2. Fewer than 100 people3. A random sample of people 4. People with very strong opinions
Endorsements – famous or admirable person supports a candidate
Stacked Cards – presenting only 1 side of the issue – distorting the facts
Name-Calling – turning people against an opponent by giving them an unpleasant label or description
Glittering Generality – statement that sounds good but is meaningless
Symbols – use and misuse of symbols Just Plain Folks – make people think that the candidate
is just like them Bandwagon – convincing people that everyone else
agrees with a certain candidate Examples
Types of Propaganda
1. American Medical Association2. American Bar Association3. National Organization for Women4. National Football Players Association
Which one of the following is a branch of the AFL-CIO Union?
Most interest groups can be described as:
1. Biased 2. Illegal 3. Impartial 4. Ineffective
All males must register at the age of 18 with the:
1. Selective Services 2. Draft Board 3. US Army 4. Board of Elections
What provides a way for citizens to approve or reject state laws?
1. Referendum2. Proposition3. Mandate4. Initiative
When are referendums most likely used?
1. Daily issues2. Run off elections3. Recall elections4. Controversial issues
What is the main purpose of the media in politics?
1. Ratings2. To inform us 3. To influence the government4. Support the government