Public Opinion

-Public Opinion Generic term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issuecan 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?

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

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
Why is it important in researching public opinion and the ideas of interest groups to recognize bias?

Interest groups usually biased

-Impartial
-having no opinion on an issue

Types of Groups
-Economic Groups Business Organizations Professional Associations Labor Unions -Particular Groups of People Ethnic 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?

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 Groups

Information
Represent their members
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.

support certain candidates -Lobbyists work at all levels of government

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 lobbyists power (especially through bribery of Congressmen).