Interest Groups/Media

Which of the following is an example of the media exercising its "watchdog' role over government?

• A local radio talk show about uniforms in school
• A televised debate between presidential campaigns
• A newspaper story about the building if a new highway
• A local television news report about a city councilman taking bribes

What is the name for representatives in interest groups who contact officials directly?

• Propagandists
• Lobbyists
• Pollsters
• Political Action Committee

Based on the government system in the U.S., which individual activity is used to directly influence legislative decisions?

• Watching political debates on TV
• Discussing political issues at work
• Collecting opinions for a yearbook
• Gathering signatures for a petition

Who do lobbyists represent in their attempts to influence government?

• Military officers
• Elected officials
• Interest Groups
• Circuit Judges

Who do lobbyists attempt to influence?

• Interest groups
• Lawmakers
• PACs

How can citizens change things in their community?

• serve on a jury
• petition the government
• sign up for selective service

Which Amendment do Interest Groups promote to allow them to organize and carry out their agenda

• 1st

• 2nd

• 3rd

• 4th

Interest groups are also called pressure groups mainly because 

• they seek to put pressure on the government to affect policies
• they put pressue on individuals to join in the group's interests
• belonging to a group can create pressure, or stress, in one's life
• they put pressure on group members to act in certain ways

What is the goal of lobbying?

• to get favored candidates elected to office
• to influence government policy
• to make a group’s views known
• to provide a watchdog over government officials

When the media acts as a watchdog, it is:

• Keeping tabs on government & other powerful figures
• Making money from advertisements
• Deciding what stories will or won't be reported on
• Brainwashing people