Political Beliefs and Socialization
What factors do you think influence the outcome of
elections?Bellwork1Share common goalsEncourage citizen action Use
lobbyists to influence government leadersInterest Groups21. What
issue do you think leaders need to address?2. Create a statement
that identifies what you want that group to support or what you
want that group to oppose.3. Would you want to join a group that
works on the state level or on the national level?4. Go to
http://www.votesmart.org/interest-groupsand identify a special
interest group that meets your requirements. Write down the groups
name and website URL5. Follow the link to that groups website.
Identify 3 strategies it appears they use to influence the public
and/or to influence policy.Want to Join an Interest Group?Extra
Credit Assignment!Due by Fri, 12/9Allow interest groups,
corporations, and unions to donate to candidates or political
parties.
Super PACs allow unlimited spending by corporations, unions and
individuals (as of the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision in
2010). . . . as long as the groups do not coordinate their spending
with the candidates.
PACs influence candidates by giving money to them so that they
can later have laws passed that favor their group.Political Action
Committees4Top PAC Contributions to 2008
Electionwww.opensecrets.org
1) Why would an interest group or PAC want to donate (almost)
equally to both parties?Discussion Question (answer on your note
paper)2) Should there be campaign finance reform? Defend your
answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1CRBhyMoV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEPd2spelcY7
82008 Campaign Expenses
What impact do you think the media has on election results?9How
does the government know what the people want?Public Opinion the
sum of many individual opinions, beliefs, or attitudes about a
public person or issue.
Opinion poll Question 1Raise your hand to vote . . . .Is crime
in the US compared to a year ago:more?same?less?11
Opinion Poll Question 2Raise Your hand to vote . . . Do you
approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his
job as president?
Tracking Polls (During Campaign)Discussion Question
3) Why are opinion polls so important during campaign
season?
How does the Media Impact Public Opinion? PLC: go to
http://www.wordle.net/createType in the URL of a news website in
the second section and click submit
Discussion Question 4: What issues will these headlines
influence people to talk about the most?A2 stopped here17Discussion
Question4) How does the media influence public opinion?Comparing
Media sourcesSource #1Source #2The HeadlineWords used to describe
the person and events.
Is this article more based on fact or opinion?Whose point of
view is presented?Youll complete the chart(s) provided for each
story. Put your name on it!19
5) Where do people get most of their information about national
and international issues?20Political Blunders1) Rick Perry Oops -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTufVOaF0w2) Nixon v. JFK -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHGs4535W_o&feature=related3)
Cain on Libya - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGGpK7bSWc4) Obama
and 57 states -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws&list=PL9D881167750F409C&index=1&feature=plpp_video5)
Al Gore and the Internet -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnFJ8cHAlco&feature=related6)
McCains freaky eyebrows -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxi8xIeK1II&feature=relmfu
For each video clip viewed, please answer the following
questions What mistake was made by the candidate? On a scale of 1
(no biggie) 10 (epic fail), how impactful do you think this blunder
was?http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/10/7-worst-presidential-debate-blunders-video.html
21Discussion Questions6) How have TV and Internet impacted
political campaigns?7) Who do you think has more control over
public opinion the politicians or the media that reports about
them? Defend your answer.
