How do legislatures, and politicians decide what laws or policies to make? Public Opinion Major Events Special Interest Groups Lobbyists.

How do legislatures, and politicians decide what laws or policies to make?

Public Opinion

Major Events Special Interest Groups Lobbyists

Before public policy can be made we have to first lets look at public opinion….

“I can only go as fast as the people will let me.”-FDR

Public Opinion

Public Opinion

-Public OpinionGeneric term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue—can be very misleading as a majority may represent only 51%

• Opinions about government officials, candidates, and issues

-Often misleading• Can manipulate questions to get

the answers they want

Public opinion is the generic term for what people think about the government, the leaders of our

country, and the issues facing our government and leaders. Why

should the government care about public opinion? Why should the

government also be wary of public opinion?

What influences people’s

opinions??• Family &

Friends• Media (Print

and T.V.)• Importance

Forming Opinions

-Many Factors Influence Opinions

-Mass Media• TV, radio, newspapers, Internet• Provides powerful images to the

public

-Public Officials• Voters elect those they trust to

public office – voice of the people

-Special Interest Groups• Persuade people to their point-of-

view

In what ways does the media shape public opinion? How can this be

both positive and negative?

Measuring Opinion

-Public Opinion Polls• Individuals answer questions to see

how the “general public” feels-Random Samples

-poll methods where attempts are made to include a wide segment of the population in the poll

• Reflect the entire population

-Effects of Polls• Make public officials respond to

what the people want• Set the public agenda

The goal of interest groups and lobbyists is to persuade legislatures and office holders to enact public policies that will achieve their needs and goals.

Public Policy -

Public PolicyHow individuals, interest groups and the media influence the actions of the government.

What is an interest group?

An interest group is……

"An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy."

Interest Groups

-Interest Groups-a group of people who have similar interests or concerns about an issue

• Believe that by putting together time, money, and resources, they can influence decision-makers

-Bias-term that refers to a one-sided opinion on an issue

• Interest groups usually biased-Impartial

-having no opinion on an issue

Why is it important in researching public opinion and the ideas of

interest groups to recognize bias?

Types of Groups

-Economic GroupsBusiness OrganizationsProfessional AssociationsLabor Unions

-Particular Groups of PeopleEthnic – NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)Age – AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)Sex – NOW (National Organization of Women)

-Particular Causes• ACLU (American Civil Liberties

Union)The American Association of Retired Persons is one of the most influential special interest groups in America?

Why do you think this is?

What is the goal of a lobbyist?

The goal of a lobbyist is as an activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislatures.

Lobbying

-Lobbying-the act of trying to influence people on behalf of an interest group

• Hired by interest groups to go to Congress and influence laws

-Functions of Interest GroupsInformationRepresent their memberssupport certain candidates

-Lobbyists work at all levels of government

Interest groups hire people called lobbyists to influence Congressmen

to pass laws on their behalf. Lobbyists’ most important job is to

provide information about their interest group and support their

members.

Regulation of Lobbying

-Past activities of lobbyists have been questionable

• Congressmen taking bribes, people not getting their rights

-government regulation-stop bribery-special interest groups-reporting lobbying activities

-effects of Lobbying• Have been successful

historically of influencing legislation Because lobbying has not always

been ethical, the government has passed laws to limit lobbyist’s power

(especially through bribery of Congressmen).

Review Question

Public opinion is influenced by which of the following factors:

a. By many sourcesb. Mostly through advertisingc. Almost completely by lobbyistsd. Primarily by interest groups

Interest groups have been criticized for which of the following reasons listed below?

a. For having too much influence b. Mostly by lobbyistsc. For being disorganizedd. For their refusal to hire lobbyists

Review Question

Political action committees (PACs) were formed to do which of the following?

a. allow interest groups to pay lobbyistsb. allow interest groups to contribute money to

candidates and campaignsc. assign volunteers to groups that need themd. fund mass media

Review Question

Lobbyists work for which of the following groups?

a. the publicb. interest groupsc. public officialsd. the government

Review Question

How are interest groups different from political parties?

a. interest groups do not concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties do

b. interest groups concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties concentrate on electing

candidatesc. interest groups use propaganda and political parties

avoid using propagandad. There is no difference between both interest groups

and political parties

Review Question

Which of the following would be considered a public interest group? a. a plumber’s union b. a lawyers’ association c. a committee for clean water d. a group dedicated to promoting motorcycle ownership

Review Question

How are interest groups different from political parties?

a. interest groups do not concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties do

b. interest groups concentrate on influencing government policy and political parties concentrate on electing

candidatesc. interest groups use propaganda and political parties

avoid using propagandad. There is no difference between both interest groups

and political parties