CHAPTER 11
“THE POLITICAL SYSTEM”
SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION
A. What is Public Opinion
1. Public Opinion - total of opinions
concerning a certain issue.
a. Is usually many opinions
B. What Shapes Opinion
1. The same things that shape our
political personality.
a. Family
b. School
c. Friends
d. Mass Media (T.V., Radio, etc)
C. Propaganda and Public Opinion
1. Propaganda - ideas used to influence
people.
2. In today's age propaganda is becoming
bigger and bigger.
IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS DISCUSS
AND COME UP WITH AS MANY
PROPAGANDA ADS, BOOKS, ECT.
THAT YOU CAN (3 MIN.)
D. Kinds of Propaganda
1. It is important that YOU define
between propaganda, truth, and lies.
2. Concealed Propaganda - propaganda
presented as being factual and its
sources are kept secret.
a. Often used to fool people.
3. Revealed Propaganda - makes readers
or listeners aware that someone is
trying to influence them.
a. Used mostly in advertising.
E. Propaganda Techniques (7 of them)
1. Testimonials - getting a well known
person to support your ideas.
2. Bandwagon - Everyone is following the
idea so you should to.
3. Name-calling - Giving something an
unpleasant label. (dirty politics)
4. Glittering Generalities - Using words
that sound good but don’t mean much.
5. Plain-folks - You’re just like one of the
people.
6. Card Stacking - Uses facts in a way that
favors a particular product, idea, or
candidate.
a. Media can put you on the front page
and your opponent on the second
page.
7. Transfer - Associating a person or idea
with something everyone thinks is
good. (Ex. Kissing a baby)
USING THE LIST OF
PROPAGANDA YOU
CREATED BEFORE, DECIDE
IF EACH ITEM ON YOUR
LIST IS CONCEALED OR
REVEALED PROPAGANDA
AND WHAT TECHNIQUE IT
MAY FALL UNDER. (7 MIN)
F. Measuring Public Opinion
1. Pressure Groups (Indirect)
2. Can be done through elections. (Direct)
3. Polls - survey of how people feel on
certain issues.
G. Choosing a Sample
1. Most important part of a poll.
2. Getting a good sample is hard to do.
3. Samples are based on income, gender,
age, race, etc.
H. Using Polls Carefully
1. Not only can polls measure public
opinion they can influence it. (Be
careful when reading a poll!!!!)
INTEREST GROUPS
A. What is an Interest Group
1. Groups of people who share a common
interest. (Many kinds: NRA, NOW,
NAACP, etc. )
a. Single interests groups - groups
who are for or against a single
issue.
b. Lobbyists - Person who is paid by
an interest group to represent that
group’s interest. (Are often paid
2. Several pressure groups can make up a
single PAC. (Political Action Committee)
a. PAC’S - raise money from members
of their pressure group.
b. In 2008 PAC’s contributed
approximately over $200 million to
candidates. (Roughly 4,200 PAC’s today)
c. PAC’S try to influence government by
determining how much money a
candidate will get.
d. They also try to influence public opinion.
3. In 1946 Congress passed a law to regulate
Interest Groups and PAC's.
a. Must register with House and Senate.
b. Wear identification badges.
c. Must report money received and spent.
d. Must report bills interested in.
4. Coalition - Pressure groups that join
forces. (Not necessarily a PAC)
5. What are some pluses of pressure groups
a. Allows important issues to come to the
attention of the President and
Congress.
b.
c.
d.
6. In your small groups discuss some
Negatives of pressure groups. (3 Min)
7. Other forms of pressure:
a. Public opinion campaigns - writing
members of the lobbying organization
asking them to send letters.
b. Questionnaires - printed surveys
mailed to voters.
IN YOUR SMALL GROUPS
DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:
SHOULD ELECTED PEOPLE DO
WHAT THE PEOPLE DESIRE
TAKING PART IN GOVERNMENT
A. Voting: Democracy in Action
1. U.S. has one of the lowest voter
turnouts of any free nation in the
world.
a. 2000 only 51% of the voting-age
public voted.
2. Why don’t people vote:
a. Time
b. Thinking their vote doesn’t count.
c. Don’t like the candidates, etc.
B. Every Vote Counts
1. Hitler became controller of the Nazi
party by 1 vote.
2. Enough has been said!! VOTE!!!
C. Taking Part in Political Campaigns
1. People of any age can volunteer to
work for a political campaign.
D. Contacting Public Officials
1. Write letters, fax, e-mail, officials on
issues that concern you.
E. Community Action
1. Don’t complain about your community
unless you’re doing something to fix
it.
POSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTS
1. Write letter to congressional member
2. Skills Worksheet (pg. 11)
3. Enrichment Worksheet (pg. 11)
4. Chapter Test (pg. 41-44)
5. Reteaching Worksheet (pg. 21, 22)
6. Section Review (pg. 211,216, 219)
7. Building your Portfolio (pg. 221)
8. American Gov. Wks. (Pg. 40)
EXTRA CREDIT (5 PTS.)
Voc. Workshop, Reviewing Main Ideas,