civics in practice holt holt, rinehart and winston1 chapter 11: the political system section 1:...

CIVICS IN PRACTICEHOLT

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1

Chapter 11: The Political System

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

Section 2: Interest Groups

Section 3: Taking Part in Government



SHAPING PUBLIC OPINIONSection 1



Section 1: Key Terms Public Opinion

Mass Media

Propaganda

Poll



Public Opinion is Many Opinions Public Opinion is the

total of opinions held concerning a particular issue

Each different group of people have different opinions on different matters



Factors that Influence Public Opinion Family Friends Teachers Mass Media Propaganda



Family, Friends, Teacher, etc.

We share the same experiences, therefore we tend to have similar responses to certain issues

By interacting with other people, we learn different view points, thus shaping our opinion on matters

What is one issue that you had a certain viewpoint but you opinion was changed by this factor?



Mass Media Various forms of

communication that transmit information to large numbers of people Books, Magazines,

Newspapers Facebook, Twitter Movies, Radio, TV



Propaganda

Concealed Propaganda Is used to fool people

without letting them know that its purpose is to influence their views

Widely used in political advertisements

Revealed Propaganda More common in U.S Makes readers and listeners

aware that someone is trying to influence them

Such as TV and radio commercials trying to sell products

Political ads that are labeled as paid advertisements



Propaganda Techniques Testimonials

Name Calling

Bandwagon

Glittering Generalities

Plain-Folks Appeal

Card Stacking



Testimonials

Verbal endorsements Political candidates and advertisers are

constantly seeking out endorsements from famous people

Law states that any celebrity who endorses a product or person must be their honest experience/opinion



Name Calling Using an unpleasant label or

description to harm a person, group, or product

Constantly seen in various political ad campaigns When a candidate states that the

other person “favors reckless spending” and “opposes progress”

You must determine what is true or not



Bandwagon

Is when you can win some people over with your opinion and eventually more and more people will come to your side Just like New England Patriot fans when they

started winning Super Bowls “Everybody’s doing it! Jump on the bandwagon!” Peer-pressure factor



Glittering Generalities

Uses words or vague statements that sound good but have little real meaning

Usually in politicians will use words like freedom and patriotism These words are chosen because they spark

positive images with which most people in the country identify



Propaganda Techniques (cont’d)Plain-Folks Appeal Designed to show people

that, as one of them, the candidate can best represent their interest

Such as a politician from NYC dressing up like a cowboy to campaign in Texas

Card Stacking Uses facts that support only

one side of a particular product, idea, or candidate

This technique stacks cards against the truth Ex. Newspapers may give

front page attention to the activities to a candidate they favor



Measuring Public Opinion The most common way

to measure public opinion is by the use of a poll. A poll is a survey to

measure public opinion It attempts to measure

by asking people’s opinions on certain things



Section 1: Assessment

How is public opinion shaped? What are the six common propaganda

techniques? With the spread of the internet, will the use of

propaganda become less common or more common?



INTEREST GROUPSSection 2



Section 2: Key Terms Interest Groups

Lobby

Lobbyist

Public-Interest Groups



What is an Interest Group?

Organizations of people with a common interest that try to influence government policies and decisions

An interest group is also known as a pressure group or lobby. A person who is paid by the lobby or interest

group to represent that groups interests is called a lobbyist.



Types of Interest Groups



Public-Interest Groups Promote the interest of

the general public rather than just one part of it

Ex. Protect consumers, wildlife and the environment



Lobbyists Influence GovernmentLobbyists Work with Congress Argue in support of bills

they favor and against ones they oppose

Sometimes ask members of Congress to sponsor bills of the interest group

May help write certain bills Govt. officials contact

lobbyists to learn what interest groups think about certain issues

Lobbyists Influence Public Opinion Place advertisements in

mass media in support of their positions

Promise to help govt. officials in their next election by supplying workers and contributions




Why are there so many kinds of interest groups?

How do lobbyists play an important role in government?

Do interest groups have too much influence on the government? Why or why not?



TAKING PART IN GOVERNMENT

Section 3



Section 3: Key Terms Volunteers

Political Action Committees (PACs)



4 Ways Citizens Can Participate in Govt. Speaking out on Public

Issues

Participating in a Community Action Group

Working on a Political Campaign

Voting

(most important)



Voting is Important

Must be 18 years old On average 60% of

eligible voters vote in presidential elections Why do you think that is? What are ways to

generate more people to vote?



Taking Part in Political Campaigns Anyone of any age can be

involved as a volunteer. Volunteers are individuals

who work without pay to help others.

Why do young people today choose not to volunteer on political campaigns?



PACs and Super PACs

Groups that collect voluntary contributions from members and use this money to fund candidates that their committees favor

PACs contributed nearly $260 million to candidates running in the 2000 election



Super PACs

Totals for the 2014 cycle Independent Expenditures: $3,873,082.63Total Receipts: $7,601,313.00 Negative spending (opposes a candidate): 63% Positive spending (supports a candidate): 37%




Are PACs and Super PACs a solid way to participate in government? Do they have to much power?

What are the 4 ways a citizen can participate in government?

Why is voting such a fundamental right and responsibility?

civics in practice holt holt, rinehart and winston1 chapter 11: the political system section 1:...

Documents

public opinion section

opinionspublic opinion

tv civics

different matters civics

different opinions

political systemsection

public opinionsection

political system chapter