1. Unit 3 - Influencing Government

2. What are special interest groups?
An interesting group???

Definition
 Private organizations that try
to all persuade elected
officials to respond to shared
attitudes of its members

3. Interest Groups? Political Parties?
They’re all the same…right?
NO!!
Interest groups do not nominate members

to win elections & hold public office
but, they do influence elections
IG’s represent specific interests, unlike PP’s

that represent a whole range of public
affairs/issues.

4. Interest Groups: The Positives
Representation based on
attitudes, not geography
Provide specialized
information to
government
Are a way for average
voter to participate in
government

5. Interest Groups: The Negatives
Some have influence that
is disproportionate to
their size ($$$)
Misrepresent their
membership
History of illegal tactics:
bribery, revenge

6. Types of Interest Groups…
Business and Trade Labor Unions Agricultural
National Association United Mine Associated Milk
of Retail Grocers Workers of America Producers
Promote Welfare
Professional Promote Causes
American
American Bar The League of
Association of
Association Women Voters
Retired Persons
Religious
Christian Coalition

7. Lobbying
The actions Interest Groups’ take to

affect the passage or content of laws
that would most affect their members.
Lobbyists persuade legislators/policy

makers to share their point of view.
Techniques: media reports, provide

information to Congress, prepare bills,
propaganda.

8. Pick ONE issue important
to you.
State YOUR opinion on
the issue.
Create a name for the
Interest Group you would
create to address this…

9. THE MEDIA
AND PUBLIC OPINION
Unit III - Influencing Government

10. The Role of the Media
In Elections, the media provides

information.
This information helps shape

people’s opinions on issues that are
key to the election.

11. The Media: 1960
Nixon v. Kennedy

12. The Media: 2008
McCain v. Obama

13. Examples…
Television / Radio

 News Coverage
 Provide“sound bites”…little detailed info
 Packaging
/ TV Ads
Internet
Debates

14. Packaging: applying good marketing
techniques to a candidate
Candidates American flags
(or current President) are usually shown
appear on TV during a
wearing a suit & tie political speech
Candidate is seen
reading to children
as part of a
campaign ad

15. Appealing to Americans
These ads appeal to some factor(s) that

is/are important to Americans.
Examples?

They only work if the politicians understand
what the people want!!!

16. So How Do We Know
What People Want?
Understanding what the public thinks

about a given issue is the job of
pollsters.
Professional statisticians who collect data

and analyze it to provide useful
information to political groups.

17. Pubic Opinion Polls
Pollsters make use of polls to collect data

 Probably the best way of gathering public opinion
 Help candidates know their constituent's feelings
 Help the news media see how informed the public is
 Help predict who will win the election
S0, to measure Public Opinion we can analyze…

 Interest
Group Members, Election Results, Media,
Personal Contacts

18. Example…
Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/111256/Obama-Viewed-Winner-Third-Debate.aspx