Download Influencing Government and Interest Groups

“Influencing Government”
Influencing Government
There are three
major groups that
influence our
government.
•
Individuals
•
Interest Groups
•
Media
Individuals Impacting the
Government
Individuals influence the
government by
• Contributing to or
working on campaigns
• Running for political
office
• Voting in elections
• Petitioning the
government for change
Interest Groups

An Interest Group is an
organized group of
individuals who share a
point of view about an
issue. (Interest groups are
not a part of the
government – they are
made up of individual
people!)
Types of Interest Groups

Economic interest groups try to
influence government policies that
affect their industry or profession.
(Ex- American Farm Bureau
Federation)

Issue-oriented interest groups focus
on a specific issue or cause (ExNAACP, NRA)

Public-interest groups promote the
interests of the general public (Ex –
National Wildlife Federation)
How Interest Groups Influence
Government
Participate In Election Activities
• Interest groups often supply workers/money to election
campaigns.
• Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations set up
by interest groups primarily to collect money to support
favored candidates.
The Influence of Interest Groups

Bringing Cases to
Court
 Interest
Groups
influence public
policy by bringing
cases to court to
test the
constitutionality of
laws.
How Interest Groups Influence
Public Policy
Lobbying Lawmakers
Lobbyists are paid representatives of interest groups who
contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to
influence their policy making.
 Lobbyists might argue
for/against bills.
 Government officials
often rely on lobbyists
for
information/opinions.
 Lobbyists sometimes
help write bills.
Media
Mass media – forms of communication that transmit
information to large numbers of people
There are two types of
media:
-
Print media – newspapers,
magazines, newsletters
and books.
-
Electronic media – radio,
television, and the
Internet (social
networking, Facebook,
Twitter)
How the Media Influences
Government
Shapes Public Opinion
Individuals and groups
use the media to
shape public opinion,
or the total of the
opinions held
concerning a
particular issue.
 Ideas that are spread
to influence people
are called
propaganda.

How the Media Influences
Government
Impacts Elections


Media is used by candidates for
campaigning (advertisements,
etc.)
Various groups/individuals provide
campaign coverage
(news/updates) via television,
newspapers, radio, internet, etc.
How the Media Influences
Government
Provides a Medium for Elected Officials to:
Hold press conferences
- Stage media events
- Be interviewed by people in the media
- Leak information to test public reaction
-
How the Media Influences
Government
Serve as a
Watchdog

Journalists play an
important role in
exposing government
corruption and waste.
How the Media Influences
Government
Media and National
Security

There are tensions
regarding American
citizens’ right to know and
the need for the
government to protect
national security.
How the Media Influences
Government

Political Bias – or prejudice
– in the media might or
might not be obvious.

Responsible citizens must

Think critically about what
they see, hear, and read in
the media, as information
can be inaccurate or
misleading.

Be able to distinguish
between fact and opinion.
Techniques of Influence
Propaganda – an
attempt to
promote a
particular person
or idea.
 Often found in
print or electronic
media

Types of Propaganda
Endorsements/Testimoni
al
-
“I’m voting for Candidate
A and so should you.”
Stacked Cards
-
“Candidate A has the best
record on the
environment”
Name – Calling
- “Candidate A is a
dangerous extremist”
Types of Propaganda
Glittering Generality
-
“Candidate A is the one
who will bring us peace
and prosperity”
Transfer Symbols
-
“I pledge
allegiance…..”
Types of Propaganda
Just Plain Folks
-
“My parents were
ordinary, hardworking
people…”
The Bandwagon
-
“Polls show our
candidate is pulling
ahead”