1997 Public Opinion example essay topic

"Oral report, yes or no" need to start writing the paper Public opinion poll... same sex marriage... questions on topic: 1. should marriage be between heterosexual couples or any two couples 2.3. Should adoption be legal for same sex married couples. June 23, 1997 Public opinion: Feared by the founding fathers... today politics have to be more friendly the people... ". collection of similar attitudes and believes that are shared by some portion of the population". types of pulpit opinion -intensity: How willing people are to express their opinion. More expression can lead the intensity of a subject to be passed by Gov. e cpl. gays, abortion, affirmative action... -fluidity: "amount of change public opinion goes through in a period of time.".. exp. Bush administration... -stability: "extent to which public opinion remains constant over a period of time " exp. 95% of public believe we should be more involved in Gov. dec ions... -latent: "people are not expressing their opinion to interest and education " could be an argument for the elitist belief of Gov. Forming Public Opinion: a concoction of family background, school, per's, college, work place, exposure to society, Sampling techniques -Random Sample: every type of person should have a equal chance of being sampled -quota sample: targets a specific demographic group... -sampling error: difference between what the sample show and true result of all participating Functions of the media: shape public opinion -profits: #1 priority; they are responsible tos tco holders -reporting news: -setting the Agenda: they set what the top story, they select which stories we should be exposed to. -expressing opinion: medi provides editorials, -spin doctors: Rush, and others, media nalysetes or talk show hosts that interpret news in away that supports the party that represent...

Hard Fluff: entertainment the can be despised as news; oj case; Tonga harding; June 24, 1997 Interest groups: organized meters that share a common objective; attempt to influence Gov. polices -separation of powers: checks and balance system allows the interest groups to hound a Brach of Gov. to adhere to the interest at hand. Growth of Interest Groups: right to potion the goc; 1st... came about during farmers subsidies, and the new deal... why people join: they are interested in reform, get benefits from certain groups, just the belonging factor. Types of Interest Groups: -Business: owners of businesses were not happy worth the new deal so they formed in response "elite corporation 'business roundtable' "national association of manufacturers" -agriculture: formed to protect from economic and banks... -labor: came in during new deal, unions... AFL-CIO 1955 membership is around 13 million-they were originally comprised o blue collar workers... -public: have no economical benefit, they from for social reform, environmental issues, and ex. -professions: groups that represents layers, teachers, doctors, and other professions... American medical association, 240 thousand in the 1990 elections they spent 3.2 million dollars.

Direct Lobbying -Political action committees In-direct lobbying Lobby regulation -Regulation of Lobbying act 1946 -Ethics in govt. act 1978.