GENERAL INFO
What is a public opinion?
Refers to the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about a particular issue or person.
The ones that receive the most time, money, and effort from government leaders make up what is often called the:
Public agenda
What groups support causes that affect the lives of Americans in general?
Public interest groups
What do all interest groups want?
To influence public opinion, both to gain members and to convince people of the importance of their causes.
What did Susan B. Anthony believe needed to happen for the highest development of society to occur?
She believed that society would reach its highest development only when women are recognized as equals to men not only at home but also in political decision-making.
What does understanding public opinion help presidents with?
Make effective, timely decisions.
What do "Leaks" do?
Allows politicians to test public reaction to a proposal without having to acknowledge, or admit, that the government is considering it.
What do Political Action Committees (PACs) do?
PACs collect money from the members of their groups and use it to support some candidates and oppose others.
What do interest groups use to promote a particular viewpoint or idea?
Propaganda techniques
According to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., why is the right to vote essential?
He stated that no nation can flourish while it denies any citizen the right to vote, which he called the most fundamental privilege of democracy.
How do political leaders and government officials help influence public opinion?
When voters elect people to office, they are indicating that they trust those officials and rely on their opinions.
Which Amendment means that that the media are free from prior restraint?
First Amendment
What are Lobbyist?
Representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly.
What do federal and state laws require former government officials to do to become a lobbyist?
A waiting period
What challenge did Native Americans face even after gaining U.S. citizenship in 1924?
Despite being granted citizenship, Native Americans still had to wait over 40 years for all states to allow them to vote, and they faced additional barriers like poll taxes and educational qualifications.
What three features is public opinion often described as?
Direction, intensity, and stability.
What is a libel?
No one is free to publish false information that will harm someone’s reputation.
Why are Interest Groups an important part of our democratic process?
Because their primary, or first, goal is to influence public policy. To do this, interest groups focus their efforts on elections, the courts, and lawmakers.
What do critics claim about campaign contributions?
That they give interest groups improper influence over officeholders.
What was the purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Its purpose was to protect every citizen’s right to vote and prevent racial or language minorities from being disenfranchised.
What does a pollster do?
It measures the president’s popularity or public attitudes toward possible White House proposals, such as a tax increase or change in immigration policy.
What is a way that the government regulates broadcasting?
Through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
What can an interest group do if a law is not being properly enforced?
They may sue the party who is breaking the law.
What is a nonpartisan?
A group that educates voters about candidates and issues.
How did Sonia Zobdeh’s upbringing influence her view on voting?
Growing up with immigrant parents who initially had no voting rights made her appreciate the importance of voting, which she witnessed firsthand when her parents took her to the voting booth after becoming citizens.