@ @ (TEREST GROUP ORGANIZATION vor | (pi seme ce se ee ec TE E KEY TERMS S E interest group A group with common goals win organize to influence government (eege Public-interest group A group that seeks policy goals that it believes will benefit the nation (bage 506) AO ES as a EAU ea ona tae (er an reemecadreyar Have you ever belonged to fan cub? Members ofa fan club have a common interest in a celebrity. : Interest groups aze also organized around common interests, ‘This section focuses om the different interest groups that try to influence Amevicen government. LO NPA enone eee Use the grephic organizer below to help you teke notes as you read the summaries thet follow. Think ~e about the different categories of interest groups. - a Business Interest Groups Labor Interest Groups ‘Agricutturl Interest Groups > Roading Essentfals and Study Guide 201Piasy people do not belong ta exy interest group. People t low income levels are Iss litely than people fom upper income levels to join such groups. So those who might benefit most by joining gF0Up often, do not join. 2, For what three reasons do many people join interest groups? an indiv tdunic Mil ects ¢ s [Bl Business and Labor Groups (page 505) : 3) interest groups are concerned with economic issues, They try to convince lavmalers of policies that the groups fel will strengthen the economy. Business-related interest groups'include: the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which works to lower individual and corporate ‘taxes and to limit government regulation of bisinesses; the United States Chamber of Commerce, which speaks for smaller businesses; and the Business Roundtable, which is made ‘up of executives fom ebout 150 of the ‘country’s largest and ‘most powerful comporations. AD The targest and most powertil labor organization is the-AFL-CIO, Among the many unions in the AFL- TP GhO are the United to Workers (UAW), United Mine Werke (OMW), end the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. A seperate group called the Committee on Political Bducation (COPE) raises funds, conducts voter registration drives, end suppérts politcal candidates for the AFL-CIO. 3. What is the role of COPE? Americas lmnost 6 million farmers are represented by the following groups: the American Farm Bureau Federation, which speaks for large farmers; ie Nasional Farmers Unon (NEU), which represents smaller farmers and fvors high price supports for cropsand livestock and the Patrons of Husbantry or the Grange, the oldest of the farm groups, Commodity associations represent groups such as dairy farmers and potato growers. Several congressionel subcommittees are organized around commodities 4, Why do commodity associations have influence on Congress? 3 iEbaylyna GOvel a L-15** ace KEY TERMS~ : fobbying Direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officals to support the Policies their interest group favors (page 508) _ ‘obbyist An interés group representative (page 508) Pree an eg Have you'ever seen students try to influence 2 teacher to ‘get better grades? Did they beg end plead? Did they give the tegcher gifs and compliments? Or did they ty to give convincing seasons? Lablyists use simnilar ways to influence public officials, are : ‘This section focuses on how intetest groups try to affect public policy. Use the grabhic organiser below to help you take notes ¢s you read the summaries that follow: Thinie bout the effect of the Supréme Court raling on PACS, case ERECT ei “The Supreme Coli rules that spending on | £02 + | federal candidates is fee speech, Ee atgeeeeaeeeaee Erg : [el ttitroduction (e300 508) To inffuence public icc interest groupe use the following iethods: ‘A Representatives of groups directly contact government officials,“ : B+ Groups use television, radié, magasine, and newspeper‘ads to create public support for their polices, G. They may resort to court action or seek di constitational amenciment to achieve their goals. Bl The Work of Lobbyists (page 508) © Represextaties of interest groups often approach senators and representatives fn the outer zoom or. Pby ofthe capita. the proces is called lobbying, The people who do this wor ae called lobbyists. Lobbying is one of the most widely used methods of interest groups. Gongs defines a lobbyist es anyone who is hired bya client, makes more than one contact on behalf of the client and spends more than 20 pexceat of is or het time cevig the cent, Lobbyiss mans register and fle reports With the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, These reports tell the iosaes the Cenyight © by The MeCrunttt Compas I ua @ + Residing Essontiats and Study Guide” a aos[ STUDY. GUIDE cmneo ‘The government does not limit tie amount of nioney a PAC can give'a candidate's campaign as long a& the PAC does not work directly with the candidate. « - ‘The Federal Blection Commission (BEC) issues zeguletions and opinions thit cattol PAC activities ts. Gecistons have encoureged the growth of PACs among businesses. The Supreme Court eso encouraged” PAC growih. It faled that national, state, end local committee support of fedetal candidates was a form of fe speech, There could be no spending limit, Afterward, spending for federal campaigns soaréd. . 1 Bs How does the lew Limit ¢ PAC's contributions fp’ candidates? Chapter-18, Section 2 aces nol bo 3 GL-PACs and the Groups They Serve gage 512), PAOs'tan be divided into the following groups: i = Affiliated PACs ‘These axe ted to corporitions, bor unions, trade grup; end hilt oy They reise fonds th-ough volintaty contributions fiom business execusivs, union SARS : stockholders, An example of an affliated PAC isthe Realtors’ Politicai'Actigii Committae, § Independerit PACs Grovipg interebted in a perticuler cause such 2s fee trede may setup PACs that ere pot connected to any existing interest group. An example of such a PACI¥Anieticane for'Froe seh {ntevnational Trade. Independent bx nonconnected PACs reise money largely to people across the nation. ° - 4. How does an affiiated PAC differ from za independent BAC? “TBS led PACS } } { i | We. xe 8] Strategies for Infiuence (page 513) : Political ection committees genecally influence public policy in. ‘the following ways! ‘A. Interest groups promise campaign support for legislators who fvor their polities, They also threaten ‘© withhold support. Groups know that a cempeign contribution does not guarantee a lawmaker will ‘ote their wey-Howeves, campaign conizibutions atleast assuze accest to oficial they help to elect. BACs generally support incumbents, or those government officals already in office, icumbents in Both the House and Senate haved good chance of winning reelection, Lawanaters disagree about the amoiunt of indiuence thet PAC support has on their decisions, 5. What do interest groups, incuding PACS, get froin lawmakers in return for campaign contributions? : The Mel Cémpies, a. - ree eC Aosdlipg Exentiais apd stay cutee 207“ylynr trbyig Name: ‘ as Dike! 9] Introduction (oage 513) “Themedia in fhe United States select and divec what: the Américan people are thinking about. [2] The Nature of Public Opinion (age $13) . : Public opinion includes the ideas and attedes many Amsicans hold about government and political ‘issues, Iti characterized by the following three facto‘: ao Diversity Different peopl hold different opinions on almost every issue because ifthe divi ofthe Ametican people, “Gommusiention Officials need to weigh pubic opinion when making decisions. Interest groups contmunicate the opinions éf many individuals to the officals. Oficial also ely on opinion polls ind” Private letters and B-mitls to know whet people are thinking, ' Significant Numbers Enough people must hold a particulir opinion to make govetminent officals listen - ‘to them. For’ aple, President Lyadon Jobnson did-not ran for reelection in 1968 because so many People opposed the way be conducted the Vietnam Wa, : | A What three fctors characterize public opinion? _ + Dinerads, SO Comnunicodon ao Sioniticans Nordbors [El Political Socialization (oage 515) ’ {Individuals lear thet political belies and atindes from the fllowing sources: : “Batnily and Home Children learn many of tei easly politcal beliefs fom thes parénta, In mest case, : the political party of the parents becomes the political party of their children.” ae Schools All students Jearn about theiz nation, its history, and its politcal system, School cubs and school rilés'also teach demécretic values, Ee ce See Feet Groupe A person's peer groups influence and shape opinions. Peer groups include closé friends, religiciss groups, dubs, and work groups, are : . Social Characteristics Economic and social statu’ is part of polite socialization, or shaping, For crample, Bebig Aftican American or white affects individual politcal opiniois, The Mass Media Tae mass media, especilly television, provide politcal information and mages that * Anfhience politcal attitudes, Movies, recordings novels, and television als afect opinions, Por example, showing police as heroes or as criminals cen shape opintocis about authority. : Other Influences Government leaders influence people's opinions, For example, members of Congress olen. go back to their home states and talkto their constituents. Many legislators send newsletters to ‘Voters. They also ppear on television progrems and give newspaper interviews on issues. Interest groups 2 Well 25 churches and other religious organizations alio try to shape public opinion. ! Some people are sutislized to believe that they Cadinot change the “systema” Others are socialized to believé their actions can lead fo changes important to them, ‘ editing Esdenitias and study Guide . \Coarght © by The MeCrmll Compai, daName Dat, tas For use with textbook pages 519-522. Gta @casurine PUBLIC OPINION y pes eerste a is ser ae KEY TERMS L . 2 group that doas not accuretely represent the larger population (page £20) i Chapter 18, $ i E E universe in poling. the group of people that oe tobe scien oace 520) [representative sampie A small group of people, typical ofthe universe, hate polster questions f bare x20) [fandom sampling poling tecnique in which everyone Inthe universe hasan equal chance of beng S selected (page 520) Ef sampling error A measurement of how much the sample results may differ from the sample universe Base 520 : cust sompie A foling msthed that groups paosis by ceograhicl sons (page 521) Sec 2 DRAWING FROM-EXPERTENGI "you ever responded to 2 question on 2 radio talk show by calling the station? You may heve participated in 2 straw poll. This is just one way of meesuring public opinion, This section focuses on tra tional and scientiSc weys of measuring public opinfon. ‘Use the graphic organizer belovr to help you take notes as you read the summaries that follov. Think abont the disadvantages of using mail end phone polls. Disadvantages of Mall Polls Disadvantages of Phone Fos Reading Essentials and study Guide atNewe, Date Chase [STUDY GUIDE Gace 4 A sanipling error is a measure of how much the sample results may differ fiom the sample universe Sempling error decreases asthe semple size becomes lrgez A national poll of 1,500 people has an error of plus oF minus 3 percent. So if poll says that 65 percent of Americans fevor tougher pollution laws, ‘with 3 percent sampling exror, between 62 and 68 percent of the entice population favor such laws, ) Pollsters use various ways of drewing randora samples. A custer sample organizes people by i geographical divisions For exaraple the clustess may be counties, Sometimes pollsters adjust or weight ‘he results of a poll For example, if pollsters found that not enough people over 65 had been interviewed, dhey would give extra weight tothe opinions of people over 63, ‘The way « question is phrased can greatly infuence people's responses and this poll els. Hor example, ina 1871 Gallup Poll, most people favored bringing “home all American troops fom Vietnem before the ad of ch yeas” Then the question was reworded to read “withdraw ali US, troops by the end ofthe year regardless of whet happens there efter US. troops leave” Less than half agreed with this proposal. ple return the Recent public opinion polls have been conducted by mail or telephone. However, fe sail questionnaires, and pollsters cannot control people’ careless or confusing replies, In telephome Polling, pollsters use 2 method called “random digit dialing” to select a representative sample. They select snares code and the fst three locel digits. Then @ computer rendomiy dials the lst four digits. Sometimes pollsters fail to zeach peozle, and some people ate confused or inettentive. Major polling orgenizations have learned how to take polls that are usually relizble within-e few Percentage points. However, polling is never completely accurate, One problem is that pollsters cannot be GB suze that the people they are interviewing are being honest. Serious problems with polling ocurred oy during the 2000 presidential election, when fawed data gathered during exit polling resulted in extreme — confusion about whether Al Gore or ‘George W. Bush had won the state of Hlorida. 2." Wha does a poll meen when i says that 0 percent of Americans favor lv with 23 percent sempling error? ‘The Framers ofthe Constitution tried to meet two goals in forming a representative dermocracy. They ted to provide for popular rule. They also wanted to protect government fiom che whims of public Cplaion, Research shows thatthe government if responsive to public opinion, However public opinion fs not the only influence on public policy. Interest groups, political parties, the mass media, other institutions of government, and the ideas of activists and public oficial alo help shape pubic policy. i L 3. What factors besides public opinion helo shape public policy? & : 2 Reading secontiale and Study Guide 212