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Influencing Government
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Influencing Government

• There are three major groups that influence our
  government.
• Individuals
• Interest Groups
• Media

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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

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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!)

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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 (Ex-NAACP, NRA)
• Public-interest groups promote the interests of
  the general public (Ex National Wildlife
  Federation)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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

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How the Media Influences Government

• Serve as a Watchdog
• Journalists play an important role in exposing
  government corruption and waste.

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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.

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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.

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Techniques of Influence

• Propaganda an attempt to promote a particular
  person or idea.
• Often found in print or electronic media

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Types of Propaganda

• Endorsements/Testimonial
• Im 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

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Types of Propaganda

• Glittering Generality
• Candidate A is the one who will bring us peace
  and prosperity
• Transfer Symbols
• I pledge allegiance..

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Types of Propaganda

• Just Plain Folks
• My parents were ordinary, hardworking people
• The Bandwagon
• Polls show our candidate is pulling ahead