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
Top Related