Political Parties-Interest Groups

What is an Interest Group?

• A group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government policy
• The ideas and attitudes that signifcant number of americans hold about government and political issues
• Technique which everyone in a group has equal chance of being selected
• A measurement of how much the sample results might differ from sample universe

Groups of people who share the same belief about an issue or topic and try to influence the government are called

• Interest Groups
• PAC's
• Super Delegates
• Initiatives

When a journalist writes an editorial taking a stand on a certain issue, he is

• trying to persuade people to support his point of view
• giving unbiased information
• trying to entertain or amuse readers
• taking a poll to measure public opinion

Why do interest groups pressure lawmakers?

• they want to increase support for their political party
• They want to increase their membership
• They want to become a third party
• They want lawmakers to pass legislation that supports their cause or beliefs

When a government official purposely gives away secret information to the media to see how the public will react, it is called 

• a leak
• malice
• libel
• prior restraint

What role is the media playing when it exposes the corruption or wrongdoing of government officials?

• the role of entertaining or amusing the audience
• the role of persuading people to support a cause 
• the role of a watchdog
• the role of supporting a political party

If the president is afraid a reporter will make him look bad, he can ban or forbid the reporter from printing the story.

• True
• False

To endorse means

• to formally support
• to deny
• to influence public officials
• to remove from office

Which best defines the purpose of Political Action Committees (PACs)?

• To raise and donate money to political compaigns
• Develop yard signs and other campaign materials such as doorhangers
• To influence legislators through lobbying
• To organize people into a political party and run election campaigns

When the media decides which stories/issues are important enough to receive attention, the media acts as a:

• Gatekeeper
• Watchdog
• Bystander
• Ally