Slide 1

HOLT

American Civics
Chapter 11

The Political System
Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion
Section 2: Interest Groups
Section 3: Taking Part in Government

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 2

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

OBJECTIVES
 What influences people’s opinions and what

makes a well-informed citizen?
 What is propaganda, and what are some of the
most common propaganda methods?
 How is public opinion measured?
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 3

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

People’s opinions are influenced by
 family, friends, teachers, and clubs.
 information from mass media: television,

newspapers, magazines, radio, and the
Internet.

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 4

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

The importance of staying informed
 Democracy requires informed citizens.

 Well-informed citizens must recognize

differences between facts and opinions.

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 5

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

Propaganda
 Propaganda is ideas spread to influence public

opinion, consumers, and voters.
 Mass media and communications technology
enable the spread of propaganda.

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 6

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

Propaganda methods:
 Concealed propaganda attempts to fool people.

 Revealed propaganda makes people aware that

it is trying to influence them.
 Propaganda techniques: bandwagon, card
stacking, glittering generalities, name-calling,
plain-folks appeal, and testimonials
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 7

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 1: Shaping Public Opinion

Measurements of public opinion:
 Elections

 Polls or surveys—take opinions of “samples”

of population
 Wording of polls, number of responses and the

sample population influence the outcome of polls.
 Polls may also influence public opinion.
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 8

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 2: Interest Groups

OBJECTIVES
 What are interest groups, and how do they

differ from political parties?
 What are the different types of interest groups,
and why have such groups been criticized?
 How do lobbyists try to influence government
and public opinion?
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 9

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 2: Interest Groups

Interest Groups
 Organizations that seek to influence

government policy
 Also known as pressure groups or lobbies
 Lobbies do not seek to influence elections like
the political parties do.
 Lobbies may represent economic interests,
social interests, or general public interest.
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 10

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 2: Interest Groups

Different types of interest groups:
 Business associations, labor unions, farm

organizations, veterans’ organizations,
teachers’ associations, and consumer groups
 Public interest groups

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 11

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 2: Interest Groups

Criticism of interest groups:
 Interest groups are too involved in lawmaking.

 Well-funded and organized groups receive too

much attention; other interests are not equally
represented.

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 12

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 2: Interest Groups

How do lobbyists try to influence opinion?
 Propose, research, and help write bills for




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Congress
Testify at committee hearings and may present
evidence
Supply lawmakers with information
Advertise in the mass media
Supply workers and funds to election campaigns
HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 13

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 3: Taking Part in Government

OBJECTIVES
 What are the four ways that all citizens can

participate in the government?
 Why is voting important, and why do so few
U.S. citizens vote?
 How do volunteers and interest groups help
political campaigns?
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 14

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 3: Taking Part in Government

Four ways of participating in
government:
 Vote in local, state, and national elections

 Work for political parties
 Speak out on public issues
 Work to improve our communities

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 15

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 3: Taking Part in Government

Voting
 A right and a responsibility
 Expresses our opinions about our leaders and their

policies
 U.S. voter turnout is one of the lowest in the world.
 Apathy, failure to register, illness, dissatisfaction
with the candidates, location, and residency
requirements contribute to poor voter turn-out.
 The 1916 and 2000 elections demonstrate the
importance of every vote.
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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON


Slide 16

HOLT

Chapter 11

American Civics

Section 3: Taking Part in Government

Volunteers and interest groups help
political campaigns through:
 Telephone and door-to-door campaigning

 Distribution of literature on the street
 Mailings
 Interest groups provide volunteers and funds via

political action committees.

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HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON