Unit 4 Chapter - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Unit 4 Chapter 11 Notes“Elections”-Answers

Complete the Guided Reading / Structured Notes as you view the Power Point.Slide2

Essential Standards:CE.C&G.2.8: Distinguish between one, two and multi-party governmentsCE.C&G.3.6: Analyze the role media, interest groups, political parties, and propaganda play in influencing elections and public policyCE.C&G.5.1:

Explain the election process

Standards:Slide3

Influencing GovernmentSection 1: Forming Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Public Opinion

-

the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues

Knowing public opinion helps elected officials make decisionsIt is important to know not all people share the same opinion

Unit 4

Elections: Chapter 11

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide4
Slide5

Section 2: The Mass MediaTypes of MediaPrint Media

-

newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books

Electronic Media

- radio, television, InternetUnit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide6

Public AgendaPublic Agenda- issues that receive the most time, money, and effort from government leaders

Media

influences

public opinionThe media have the power to define some issues as problems while others go unnoticedWhen the media brings attention to a problem the people expect the

government

to solve the issue

Disease, war, weather, jobs

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide7
Slide8

Media and Elected OfficialsElected officials want the media to show them as hardworking and effective leadersThey also rely on the media to communicate information to the public about government activities and decisionsLeak

- The release of secret government information by anonymous government officials to the media

Elected officials may

leak

information to the press to test public opinion on a proposal without having to acknowledge that the government is considering it

A leak lets officials take credit for good ideas and avoid the blame for bad ideas

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide9

Watchdog RoleThe media exposes corruption and warns the public of mistakes or misconduct by government officials

Media and National Security

There is tension between the American citizen’s need for information and the need for the government to keep secrets to protect national security

The government can control information the media reports by classifying information as secret or by limiting press coverage of military action

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide10
Slide11

Media SafeguardsDemocracy requires a free flow of information and ideasThe Supreme Court has ruled that the key to the First Amendment protection is freedom from prior restraint

Prior Restraint

-

government censorship of material before it is published

Generally, the government cannot tell the media what or what not to publish

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide12
Slide13

Freedom of the press is not completely unlimitedNo one is free to publish false information that will harm someone’s reputation- libel

Libel

-

publishing false information that will harm someone’s reputation

You may sue if false statements are written about you that harm your reputationTo win a libel lawsuit, the Supreme Court ruled in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) that you must be able to

prove malice

-

meaning the publisher knew it was false or did not care about the truth

Malice

- evil intent

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide14

Regulating the MediaOne way the government regulates broadcasting is through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)The FCC is a regulatory commission (managing commission) of the federal government

The FCC cannot censor broadcasts, but it can penalize stations that violate its rules

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide15
Slide16

Section 3: Interests GroupsTypes of Interests GroupsInterests Groups

are groups of people who share a point of view and unite to promote their viewpoints

Interests groups (aka

Special Interest Groups) are biased toward their on agendaBias- not considering all viewpoints equally

Members of interest groups believe by joining together they can increase their chances of influencing decision makers

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide17

Interest Groups and GovernmentPrimary goal of interest groups is to influence public policy

Public Policy

-

the course of action government takes in response to an issue or problem

To influence public policy, interest groups focus their efforts on elections, the courts and lawmakersSome groups use resources to support candidates who support issues they are concerned with

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide18

Lobbying GovernmentLobbyist- representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy makingInterest groups use lobbyists to

help them influence

all levels of government officials (national, state, and local)

A lobbyists’ job is to persuade government officials to support their interest group’s policies

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide19
Slide20

Beware propagandaInterests groups use propaganda to promote a particular viewpoint or ideaPropaganda- To spread certain ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people

To avoid being misled, citizens need to recognize types of propaganda

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide21

Endorsements- if people admire the person endorsing a candidate or product they will vote for them or buy the product Stacked Cards

-

present only one side of an issue; usually distorts facts (“She doesn’t support money for education…”)

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide22

Propaganda VideosEndorsementsStacked CardsSlide23

Name-Calling- using an unpleasant label or description to turn people against a person or ideaGlittering Generally

-

statement that sounds good but is meaningless (“reduce the size of government” or “change”)

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide24

Propaganda VideosName CallingGlittering GeneralitiesSlide25

Transfer- use symbols when appealing to the public (standing in front of a flag, wearing a flag pin)Just Plain

F

olks

-

to make people think the candidate is just like them with the same desires and concerns (wearing jeans to speak to farmers)The Bandwagon-

convincing people that everyone agrees with the person or interest group’s viewpoint

Unit 4 Elections

Standards: 2.8, 3.6, 5.1Slide26

Propaganda VideosTransferJust Plain FolksBandwagon