The Media and Interest Groups
Study Guide for Ch. 7, 11, and sections of Ch. 9
Ch. 7 – The Mass Media and the Political Agenda
1) What are media events and how are they used?
2) How has the use of media affected public perception of U.S. political leaders?
3) What effect did the events surrounding the Vietnam War and Watergate have on the news media and its
relationship to politics and the American people?
4) How has the Cable News Network (CNN) changed television news reporting?
5) How does government regulate the news media? In what ways, if any, does government regulation of media
affect reporting of the news?
6) What is the FCC and what are its purposes?
7) How has the Internet changed news reporting?
8) What effect does the Internet have on other news medium?
9) In what ways do the media habits of young Americans differ from older Americans?
10) In what ways does investigative journalism both harm and provide good for American democracy?
11) How does the use of sound bites influence the nature of the news?
12) How do news organizations get most of their news?
13) When speaking of the news media, what are the role of…
a. Beats
b.
trial balloons
c.
leaks
14) What are policy entrepreneurs, and how do they try to get their issues on the government's agenda?
15) Explain how the media determine what is news, and how it is presented to the public. How does this influence
public knowledge? What are the implications for democracy?
Ch. 11 – Interest Groups
1) How does each of the following theories see the role of interest groups in American society?
a. Pluralist:
b.
Hyperpluralist
c.
Elitist
2) Define the “iron triangle”
3) What is the “free-rider” problem as it relates to interest groups?
4) What differentiates a single-interest group from a traditional interest group?
5) What factors have contributed to the recent proliferation of interest groups in the United States?
6) Explain “Interest group liberalism”
7) What are the 4 basic strategies interest groups use to influence policymaking?
8) Though they are primarily interested in influencing a congressman, in what ways can lobbyists help a member of
Congress do a better job?
9) What is a public interest lobby and what unique challenges do these kinds of lobbies face?
10) What is a “PAC”?
11) In your opinion, what are the most important arguments both for and against elimination of PACs?
Ch. 9 – Nominations and Campaigns (pgs. 269-274 only)
1) Define “soft money”?
2) What is the impact of the following on campaign financing:
a. Buckley v Valeo:
b.
Citizens United v FEC:
3) What are “matching funds” and why do many politicians forego accepting them today?
4) What is a 527 group and what are their roles in recent campaigns?