1. Public Opinion and Government
Chapter 12

2. Forming Public Opinion
Lesson 1

3. Public Opinion Democracy  people = source of political power
Speaking out influences leaders
Public opinion: the ideas and attitudes that people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues
Helps shape officials’ decisions (doing what the people want)
Shapes how successful president’s plans are (if public wants it, Congress must help pres)
Public opinion = complicated b/c 310 million people all different
Public Opinion

4. Sources of Public Opinion
Personal background
Age, gender, race, religion, job, income, location
Mass media
A mechanism of mass communication, including TV, radio, internet, newspapers, magazines, books, recordings, and movies
The more the media talks about something, the more people think its important
Interest groups
A group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs
Try to convince people to agree with them – including politicians (sometimes called pressure groups)
Sources of Public Opinion

5. Features of Public Opinion
1. Direction  How people feel about an issue -- for or against? Positive or negative? (usually a mix with one side stronger)
2. Intensity  How strongly a person/group holds an opinion on an issue (feel strongest about opinions that directly affect them)
3. Stability  How firmly people hold their views (how likely people are to change their minds )
Stability depends on intensity
Features of Public Opinion

6. Election results help officials know what the people think
But not always accurate b/c people vote for candidates for different/unclear reasons
Happen every few years = not good
Public opinion poll: a survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person
Occurs more often = good!
Pollster: a specialist whose job is to conduct polls regularly
Can (and should) pick people at random (all different types) to reasonably accurate results
Known as scientific polls
Poorly worded questions could confuse/influence people
Ex: “Do you want higher taxes?” vs. “Do you want higher taxes to help schools?”
Push polls = worded to get a certain answer out of people
Public Opinion Polls

7. Pros Cons Use voice of the people
Happens more regularly than elections
Answers groups together (men vs. women, racial groups, income groups, etc.)
Cons
Officials focus on pleasing public instead of making good decisions for the common good
Strongly affect how people vote
Media focuses on polls instead of candidate views
Could discourage voting b/c people feel their candidate doesn’t have a chance

8. The Mass Media
Lesson 2

9. The Influence of the Media
Informs the people about issues, influence government, link the gov and the people
Two types:
1. print media (newspapers, magazines, newsletters, books)
2. electronic media (radio, TV, internet)
Always remember! Most media sources are private businesses trying to make money!
Trying to attract viewers and advertisers
This shapes what the media covers
The Influence of the Media

10. Can influence the public agenda
Issues considered most important by government officials
More media focus = more worry = more pressure on the gov
Can influence who runs for office b/c of how much coverage they get
Reporters and politicians = love/hate relationship
Reporters need stories and politicians need coverage
But they often clash
Officials may leak info to press to test public opinion
Release secret gov info by anonymous gov officials to the media
Can also shape public opinion or gain favor w/ a reporter

11. Reporters can make officials look bad through presentation of info or asking hard questions
Officials avoid questions, but that looks bad too
Media also acts as “watchdog”: the role played a media organization that exposes illegal practices or waste
Good for the media and the public
The public should be informed, but some gov info is classified (secret) for national security  off-limits to reporters

12. 1st Amendment  Congress cannot pass any law that would limit the freedom of press
Before only print media, but electronic media too
Media is free from prior restraint
The act of stopping info from being known by blocking it from being published
Freedom of press is not unlimited
National security
No libel: written untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation
Can sue a publisher if official believes libel was written  but gov officials rarely win libel cases b/c they have to prove malice (evil intent) or that publisher knew they were lying
Protecting the Press

13. Gov and media have also fought over sources of their info
Most states have shield laws: laws that protect reporters from revealing their sources
The gov regulates the media
Can control limited broadcasting (companies must meet certain requirements to receive a license)
Also FCC sets rules for TV & radio stations  they can’t censor but they can fine stations for breaking rules

14. Interest Groups and Lobbying
Lesson 3

15. Interest Groups Powerful force to bring about change
Group of people who share and unite to promote viewpoint
1st Amendment:
Right to assemble
Right to petition
Interest Groups

16. Promote the rights of certain groups
Business groups  based on shared economic goals or for specific types of businesses
Ex: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Automobile Dealers Association
Labor groups  formed by workers/labor unions to improve wages, working conditions, benefits of members
Ex: AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)
Promote the rights of certain groups
Ex: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) = African Americans
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) = older people
Focus on specific issues
Ex: Sierra Club = nature
Ex: National Rifle Association (NRA) = gun owners

17. 4 actions help influence leaders’ decisions:
Public interest group: an organization that supports causes that affect the lives of Americans in general
Nonpartisan: free from party ties or bias
Work to educate voters or protect consumers
4 actions help influence leaders’ decisions:
1. being active in elections
Support candidates who are in favor of certain laws (ex: Sierra Club – nature laws)
Form PACs to help candidates w/ $$
2. working through the courts
Helping defend members/people

18. 3. directly influencing officials
Important methods = lobbying
Lobbyist: representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
Give lawmakers relevant info; suggest solutions; draft bills and testify for them
Biased
Once/if law passed, they make sure its enforced
4. shaping public opinion
Send info through media/mail to convince people cause is important
Ex: ads (“Got Milk?”), protests, public events, etc.
Propaganda = presenting info in a slanted or biased way

19. Regulating Interest Groups
State and federal gov have laws about what groups can do
Ex: limit PAC money
Ex: make all info transparent (who hired, how much get paid, how they spend work $)
Former gov officials must wait for a period of time before they can become a lobbyist
Supposed to stop them from using inside knowledge, but they still have connections and influence
Regulating Interest Groups

20. Critics Say: Defenders Say: Too much power in gov
Too much money  corruption
More influence than reg voters
Defenders Say:
Make sure gov responds to what the people want
Important part of democracy
Citizens take an active role
People work together