Download Public Policy - PAMS-Hart

Public Policy
• A general agreement
of how government
will deal with certain
issues or problems of
the community
• Example: the Town
Center- encouraging
the development of a
downtown Virginia
Beach
How individuals influence public
policy
• Participating in
politics
• Voting
• Campaigning
• Expressing opinions
Interest Groups
• Group of people
who come together
to support a
common cause
• Strength in numbers
How interest groups influence
public policy
• Identifying issues
• Making political
contributions
• Lobbying government
officials
• Representing different
viewpoints
• Publicizing issues
Mass Media influence on public
opinion and public policy
• Focusing public attention
on selected issues
• Offering a forum in which
opposing viewpoints are
communicated
• Holding government
officials accountable to
the public
• Providing the opportunity
for government officials to
use the media to
communicate with the
public
Functions of Political Parties
• Recruiting and
nominating
candidates
• Educating the
electorate about
campaign issues
• Helping candidates
win elections
• Monitoring actions
of officeholders
• Raising money for
campaigns
The Political Spectrum
• Reactionaries
– Very conservative
– Want to return to
traditional policies
• Radicals
– Very liberal
– Want sweeping
changes in
government policies
The Political Spectrum
• Conservatives
– Want limited government
– Oppose government
regulation
– Believe the individual
should take care of
himself
– Support ending
affirmative action,
reinstating school prayer
– Tend to be Republicans
• Liberals
– Want more government
– Believe government
should help the individual
– Support programs for the
poor, public housing
– Tend to be Democrats
The Political Spectrum
• Moderates
– Move between
conservatives and
liberals
– Support government
action in some areas
and reject it in others
Similarities between parties
• Organize to win elections
• Influence public policies
• Reflect both liberal and
conservative views
• Define themselves in a way
that wins majority support by
appealing to the political
center
Differences between parties
• Stated in a party’s
platform and
reflected in
campaigning
Advantages and Disadvantages
of the two-party system
• Advantages
– Political stability
– Continuity in
government
• Disadvantages
– Less opportunity to
represent minority
views
• Requirement for a
majority vote in the
Electoral College
Third parties
• Failure of the major
parties to address
popular causes and
issues
• Introduce new ideas
or press for a
particular issue
• Often revolve
around a political
personality (e.g.,
Theodore
Roosevelt)
Political Parties
• Republicans- Modern
party usually associated
with conservatives and
tax cuts
• Democrats- Modern
party usually associated
with using government
to solve problems and
liberals
Running for Public Office
• Recruitment
• Nomination (selected to
represent a political
party)
– Primary elections
• Party members vote to
select candidate
– Caucuses
• Meeting where party
members select
candidate
– Convention
• Party members select
delegates to choose
candidate
• Political Campaigns
Mass Media Roles in Elections
• Identifying candidates
• Emphasizing selected
issues
• Writing editorials, creating
political cartoons,
publishing op-ed pieces,
political commentaries
• Broadcasting different
points of view, debates
• Public opinion polls
• Endorsing candidates
Propaganda
• Promote a particular
idea or viewpoint.
Trying to persuade
or influence people
to do something.
Propaganda Techniques
• Endorsementshave famous people
endorse or support
the candidate
• Stacked Cardspresent only one
side of an issue.
Ignore the negative
Propaganda Techniques (cont.)
• The Bandwagonconvince people that
everyone else is
going to vote for the
candidate or issue
• Glittering GeneralityStatement that
sounds good but
essentially means
nothing
Propaganda Techniques (cont.)
• Symbols- candidate will
use symbols to appeal
to the public
• Just Plain Folk- make
people think the
candidate is just like
them
• Name-calling- try to turn
people against the
opponent by using
negative descriptions
Rising Campaigns Costs
• Require candidates to
conduct extensive fundraising activities
• Give an advantage to
the wealthy individuals
who run for office
• Encourage the
development of political
action committees
(PACS)
– Special interest groups
who provide money to
candidates who support
their cause
Rising Campaign Costs (cont.)
• Give issue-oriented
special interests
groups increased
influence
• Limits opportunities to
run for public office
Campaign Finance Reform
• Rising campaign
costs have led to
efforts to reform
campaign finance
laws
• Limits exist on the
amount individuals
may contribute to
political candidates
and campaigns
Qualifications to Register to
Vote in Virginia
• Citizen of the United
States
• Resident of Virginia
and Precinct
• 18 years of age by
day of general
election
How to Register in Virginia
• In person, at the
registrar’s office, at
the Division of Motor
Vehicles, or at other
designated sites
• By mail application
• Registration is
closed 29 days
before elections
Absentee Voting
• If a voter is unable to get to the voting
station on election day, he/she can vote
via an absentee ballot
• Absentee ballots are mailed in and
counted after the election
Factors in Predicting which
Citizens will Vote
• Education
• Age
• Income
Why Citizens Fail to Vote
• Lack of Interest (voter
apathy)
• Failure to register
Why vote?
• The percentage of voters who participate
in presidential elections is usually greater
than the percentage of voters who
participate in state and local elections
• Every vote is important!!!!