Interest Groups: Public Opinion & Lobbying

Warm up 11/9/17 □We will start off class with watching CNN Student News □If you do not want to watch that is fine just be quiet for those that do  Public Opinion -Public Opinion Generic term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue—can be very misleading...

Warm up 11/9/17 □We will start off class with watching CNN Student News □If you do not want to watch that is fine just be quiet for those that do  Public Opinion -Public Opinion Generic term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue—can be very misleading as a majority may represent only 51% -Often misleading Why? Polls are often not good random samples  Forming Opinions -Many Factors Influence Opinions -Personal back ground- age , gender, income, race -Mass Media TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, internet -Public Officials influence us in speeches -Special Interest Groups try to influence voters  Measuring Opinion -Public Opinion Polls ask people to answer questions in a survey -Random Samples usually about 1500 people -poll methods where attempts are made to include a wide segment of the population in the poll (different ages, sex, income, areas of US) -Effects of Polls can change elections if people vote based on results of polls  Interest Groups -Interest Groups are biased -a group of people who have similar interests or concerns about an issue -Bias -term that refers to a one-sided opinion on an issue -Impartial -having no opinion on an issue  Types of Groups -Economic Groups Examples: Business Organizations ex. Aerospace Industries Professional Associations ex. Nat’l Educators Association Labor Unions ex. AFL-CIO -Particular Groups of People Ethnic ex. NAACP (Blacks) Age ex. AARP (Retired Persons) Sex ex. NOW (Nat’l Organization for Women) -Particular Causes Sierra Club & Green Peace – environmental protection  Lobbying -Lobbying -the act of trying to influence people on behalf of an interest group Work to influence gov’t officials -Functions of Interest Groups Information bring concerns to public attention Represent their members support certain candidates who share their ideas -Lobbyists work at all levels of government – nat’l, state, local  Regulation of Lobbying -Past activities of lobbyists have been questionable led to corruption -government regulation rules -stop bribery -special interest groups -reporting lobbying activities 1946 Fed. Regulation of Lobbying Act – Lobbyists must register & report all expenses -effects of Lobbying *arouse public opinion *help get laws passed  Create Your Own! On your own, brainstorm and create your own interest group. You will be responsible for putting all the pieces together. This is due today!!! On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions……… 1. What's your issue? What specific issue would you like to tackle? 2. You’ll need some money to begin. People don’t generally just hand out money. Be creative. Where and how will you get this? 3. Is your group ideological (based on beliefs), public interest, business oriented, social (based on social movement), or based on a professional society (doctors, lawyers, engineers etc)? IT CAN BE A COMBINATION! 4. What is the stated purpose of your group? 5. What is the name of the group. LIST AT THE TOP OF PAPER! 6. What piece of legislation would your group like to see passed? EXPLAIN THE BILL but briefly! 7. How will you push to get this passed? 8. What are your plans to endorse this bill in the public? A lot of interest groups have celebrity members. Who would be most beneficial to your group? Why? 9. Create some form of a small ad for the public. Example □My example I made for you is long. It does not have to be this long. You can get straight and to the point.  Example (part 1) Oceana Conservation Project (OCP) (#5) □ 1. The issue my interest group is based on is the environment. More specifically the cause will be conserving our oceans. □ 2. The money I am raising for my interest group will come from several places. I will hold a fundraiser in Hollywood at the Aquarium of the pacific. The ticket price to get in will be $1,500. I will have live music, food, and dancing, as well as being able to interact with the sea life. I will hold a “swim night” where you can pay $500 to swim with dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and other sea life. I will also develop commercials for TV, radio, and internet asking for money. □ 3. This interest group is ideological, social, and for the public interest. □ 4. The purpose of my interest group is to advocate for the conservation of our oceans in an effort to protect our sea life and one of the most important parts of our environment.  Example (part 2) Oceana Conservation Project (OCP) (#5) □ 6. The bill my interest group wants to get passed is a $500 million dollar funding bill designed to study our oceans and the best ways to protect our oceans. □ 7. My interest group will meet with elected members of congress and tell them why this is needed. We will detail the reasons why conservation of our oceans is so important. We will also try to get help from well known Americans that will be willing to speak out and help us through talking with out representatives and on social media. We will also using some our money we have raised to put out ads on TV, radio, and social media. □ 8. OCP’s plan to show the bill to the public will be to get Leonardo DiCaprio to be our celebrity endorser. DiCaprio is one of the most well known environmentalists and has donated and raised millions of dollars to protecting oceans and our environment.  Example (part 3) Oceana Conservation Project (OCP) (#5) Your ad DOES NOT have to be this long. Make it short and to the point. □ 9. This ad will be in newspapers, magazines, and on social media. We need air to breathe, water to drink, a climate we can live in, beauty, inspiration and fun. We need to understand we belong to something bigger. We all want a better future for those we care about, right? The oceans are the largest ecosystems on Earth, they are the Earth’s largest life support systems. In order for us to survive and prosper, we all need to have healthy oceans. Oceans generate half of the oxygen we breathe. More than 97% of the world’s water resides in our oceans. Oceans provide a 6th of the animal protein we eat. Oceans are the most promising source of new medicines to stop cancer, pain and bacterial diseases. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce the impact of climate change. The diversity and productivity of the world’s oceans is a vital interest for humankind. Our security, our economy, our very survival all require healthy oceans. Support OCP in conserving our oceans. Interest Group Activity □ You are going to pick an issue and become an interest group for that issue. □ STEP 1: You are going to create an advertisement that promotes your fictional candidate and why he/she is the candidate who will best support the issues of concern to your organization. □ Your advertisement must include: The main issue your group supports Why your candidate is the best on your issue 1. Voting Record 2. Campaign Promises ❑ STEP 2: Compose a press release (written statement) that will be submitted to all the media outlets informing the public (and your supporters) of your endorsement. Your statement must include: 1. Why your candidate is the best on your issues (some Ideas are: Voting Record, Campaign Promises, What they can do (as President) to support your interests.)