Mass Media and Interest Groups Vocabulary

The right of the press to write and print news and information free from government involvement; guaranteed in the First Amendment

• Freedom of Speech

• Freedom of Assembly

• Freedom of the Press

• Freedom to Petition

Participating in activities in order to influence government officials.

• Interest Groups

• Lobbying

• Lobbyist

• Watchdog

A person who participates in activities in order to influence government officials.

• Interest Groups

• Lobbying

• Lobbyist

• Watchdog

Plural form of the word "medium," refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, newspapers and the Internet (web) are different types. The term can also be used to describe news organizations as a whole group.

• Interest Group

• Media

• Political Action Committee

• Public Policy

An independent political organization that promotes the cause of a particular interest group, usually through raising money and campaigning to elect candidates who support the group's views.

• Interest Group

• Media

• Political Action Committee

• Public Policy

A person or group who acts as a protector or guardian.

• Watchdog

• Political action committee

• Media

• Lobbyist

A group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their favor, also known as a special interest group.

• Watchdog

• Political action committee

• Interest group

• Lobbyist

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

• Political action committee

• Public opinion polls

• Lobbyist

• Public policy

Interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.

• Political action committee

• Public opinion polls

• Lobbyist

• Public policy

Citizens have a right to impact elected leaders by sharing their opinions with them.

• Lobbyist

• Freedom of the Press

• Petition the government

• Public policy