WARM – UP(OWN SHEET OF PAPER)

Below each headline, write one sentence about YOUR opinion on the topic.

1. Employers remain reluctant to hire workers, keeping ratio of job seekers to job openings near record high.

2. Obama Proposes Longer School Day, Shorter Summer Vacation.

3. Defective booklets doom admissions test in Fairfax as officials expect prospective students to retake exam for Thomas Jefferson.4. Amid economic crisis, Loudoun County

charges students to play sports.

Sources of

Public Opinio

n

Personal Backgrou

nd

Mass Media

Public Official

s

Interest

Groups

PUBLIC OPINION

The ideas and attitudes that most people hold about

elected officials, candidates, government, and political

issues.

Sources of

Public Opinio

n

Personal Backgrou

nd

Mass Media

Public Official

s

Interest

Groups

PERSONAL BACKGROUNDAge, gender, income,

race, religion, occupation, background, and life’s experiences all play a important roles.

Sources of

Public Opinio

n

Personal Backgrou

nd

Mass Media

Public Official

s

Interest

Groups

MASS MEDIA

Provides powerful images and political images that directly affect people’s

attitudes.

Sources of

Public Opinio

n

Personal Backgrou

nd

Mass Media

Public Official

s

Interest

Groups

PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Through the use of mass media they hope to persuade

people to support their positions or ideas.

Political speech Speech #2

Sources of

Public Opinio

n

Personal Backgrou

nd

Mass Media

Public Official

s

Interest

Groups

INTEREST GROUPS

Try to persuade people toward their point of view.

U.N. Speech

PUBLIC OPINION AFFECTS PUBLIC

POLICY, BUT IT IS NOT THE

ONLY FACTOR!

PUBLIC POLICYThe course of

action a government

takes in response to an

issue or problem.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS AFFECT PUBLIC POLICY?

Media, Individuals, Interest Groups

Media’s Role in Setting Public Policy

Focus public attention on

selected issues

Offer a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated.

Hold government officials

accountable to the public.

Government officials use the

media to communicate

with the public.

Political Debate #1Political Debate #2

Nixon

Rally

Individuals Influencing Public PolicyParticip

ating in politics (voting, campaigning).

Expressing

opinions (lobbying, demonstr

ating, writing letters).

Joining intere

st group

s.I have a Dream

Interest Groups Influencing Public

PolicyIdentifying issues

Making political contributions

Lobbying government officials