Sample Lesson

Influencing Government

Public Opinion

• Ideas and attitudes about government
• Strength in numbers
• Argument is healthy

Where does Public Opinion Come From?

• Personal Background
• Mass Media
• Public Officials
• Interest Groups

Features of Public Opinion

• Direction

– Positive, negative, for, against, neither, both

• Intensity

– Willing to fight, protest, go to jail for a cause?

• Stability

– Change your mind on an issue? Why or why not?

Measuring Public Opinion

• Polls (Surveys)
• Random Samples
• Election results

Mass Media

• Print vs. Digital vs. the Internet
• Highlights the public agenda
• Gives anyone a chance in politics (Donald Trump, Kanye West,

Oprah, LeBron James)

2016

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Problems with Mass Media

• Trust in elected officials
• Bias and corruption
• Leaks in information
• Watchdogs and whistleblowers
• National security vs. the 1st amendment

Interest Groups

• Bias (singular cause)
• Pool together resources, time, money
• Labor unions
• NAACP or AARP (minorities or older peoples)

Interest Groups Impact on Politics

• Election Activities

– PAC’s (raise money for their candidate)

• Go to Court

– Lawyers protect interest group’s cause by filing lawsuits

• Lobbyists

– Persuade politicians to pass laws

Interest Group Techniques

• Propaganda