UNIT PLANNING OUTLINE
Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Mass Media (Political Processes)
Content Covered: political party organization and power, nominations, campaigns, political
advertisements, money in politics, “selective perception”
EQs:
What are some differences between Democrats and Republicans?
Are there other options beside these two choices?
Political parties and interest groups are not mentioned in the constitution yet they play a critical role. How?
Do political parties serve our democracy or are they an obstacle?
How do interest groups influence government decision and policy making?
What role do party organizations, PACs, and money generally play in the campaigning and electoral
process?
What role does the media play in elections and shaping public opinion?
In what ways does the media influence the political process?
Key Terms:
bias
Blue Dog Democrat
critical election
divided government
Federal Election Campaign Act
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)
federal matching funds
frontloading
gerrymandering
grass roots participation
hard money
Hatch Act
“horse race” journalism
independent expenditures
interest groups
issue ads
linkage institutions
lobbyists
National Convention
party dealignment
party realignment
primary (closed v. open)
Political Action Committee (PAC)
proportional representation
realignment
reapportionment
Republican in Name Only (RINO)
selective perception
soft money
sound bite
superdelegates
SUPERPAC
third party
winner take all
Readings:
Textbook--Chapters 9-12
Potential Lanahan readings:
 Part Twelve: Voting and Elections
 Part Thirteen: Political Parties
 Part Fourteen: The Media
GPS Correlation:
SSCG8: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state and national elections.
a) Describe the organization, role and constituencies of political parties.
b) Describe the nomination and election processes.
c) Examine campaign funding and spending.
d) Analyze the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, and public opinion polls.
e) Identify how amendments extend the right to vote.
Useful websites: http://www.270towin.com/ --follow presidential election races
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/ -- Pres. campaign commercials from 1952-2012