Unit 5 Mass Media and Public Opinion

Private organization whose members attempt to shape public policy according to their shared view of an issue or issues

• mandate
• interest group
• universe
• random sample

The entire group whose opinions a poll seeks to measure is the 

• Universe
• Sample
• Random Sample
• Quota Sample

The most accurate way to measure public opinion is by

• election results.
• straw votes.
• studying the media.
• scientific polling.

Someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that support their affiliated interest group in conversation by providing information and support

• Lobbyist
• Filibuster
• media 
• Pocket Veto

How does the media influence public opinion?

• Gives money to political parties

• Regulates the type of media people use

• Focuses attention on certain issues

• Tells people who to vote for

Public affairs are those events and issues

• that concern only officeholders in government

• that concern only the President

• that concern all or most people

• that are held or discussed in public places

someone who has an unusually strong influence on others

• opinion leader
• public affairs 
• public opinion

attitudes held by a large number of people

• public affairs
• public opinion
• mass media
• opinion leader

Lobbying is the process by which group pressures are applied to

• legislative bodies

• executive agencies

• judicial courts

• all aspects of the public policy making process

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