Public Opinion and Interest Groups

Public Opinion

  • Generic term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue.

  • Can be misleading because a majority may represent only 51%.

  • Often misleading because polls are often not good random samples.

Forming Opinions

  • Many factors influence opinions:

    • Personal background: age, gender, income, race.

    • Mass Media: TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, internet.

    • Public Officials: influence through 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 attempt to include a wide segment of the population (different ages, sex, income, areas of US).

  • Effects of Polls: can change elections if people vote based on 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

    • Business Organizations: Aerospace Industries.

    • Professional Associations: Nat’l Educators Association.

    • Labor Unions: AFL-CIO.

  • Particular Groups of People

    • Ethnic: NAACP (Blacks).

    • Age: AARP (Retired Persons).

    • Sex: 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 government 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, leading to corruption.

  • Government regulation rules to stop bribery and regulate special interest groups.

  • Reporting lobbying activities: 1946 Fed. Regulation of Lobbying Act – Lobbyists must register & report all expenses.

  • Effects of Lobbying: arouse public opinion.

Interest Group Creation Activity

  • Brainstorm and create your own interest group.

    1. What's your issue? What specific issue would you like to tackle?

    2. You’ll need some money to begin. 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)?

    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 Interest Group: Oceana Conservation Project (OCP)

  • Issue: Conserving our oceans.

  • Funding:

    • Fundraiser in Hollywood at the Aquarium of the pacific: $1,500 ticket price.

    • “Swim night”: $500 to swim with sea life.

    • Commercials for TV, radio, and internet asking for money.

  • Type: Ideological, social, and for the public interest.

  • Purpose: 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.

  • Legislation: A 500500 million dollar funding bill designed to study our oceans and the best ways to protect our oceans.

  • Action Plan:

    • Meet with elected members of congress to detail the reasons why conservation of our oceans is so important.

    • Seek help from well-known Americans to speak out and help through talking with representatives and on social media.

    • Put out ads on TV, radio, and social media.

  • Public Endorsement: Get Leonardo DiCaprio to be the celebrity endorser.

  • Sample Ad:

    • This ad will be in newspapers, magazines, and on social media. The oceans are the largest ecosystems on Earth, they are the Earth’s largest life support systems. 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

  • Pick an issue and become an interest group for that issue.

  • STEP 1: 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

      • Voting Record

      • 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:

    • 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.)