Civic Participation: Media, Interest Groups, Government and Propaganda

What is an important difference between interest groups and political parties?

• Interest groups have more members than political parties.

• Interest groups have platforms addressing all issues of public concern.

• Interest groups are organized to elect their candidates to political office.

• Interest groups attempt to influence government directly on particular issues.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which the media affect politics?

• by providing information on both parties
• by contributing to election campaign funds
• by focusing public attention on particular issues
• by providing in-depth coverage of national issues.

The diagram in  the picture gives details about the American political system.
Which title completes the diagram?

• How interest groups decide an issue
• How interest groups engage in electioneering
• How interest groups use publicity to win support
• How interest groups lobby state and federal legislators

Sarah felt very strongly about an issue in the news. She wrote to her representative in Congress and expressed her feelings on the issue. Then she wrote a short editorial for the local newspaper and sent it off. Which statement describes Sarah's activities?

• She was acting as a lobbyist.

• She was forming her own political party.

• She was starting her own special interest group.

• She was participating directly in government.

Use the graph to answer this question: Based upon the information in the graph, where should a candidate spend the most campaign funds for advertising?

• Newpaper

• Television

• Internet

• Radio

Based on the graph, how have Americans' sources of news changed since 1992?

• People no longer obtain news information from television.

• The Internet is gradually replacing newspapers as a source of news.

• More people are now listening to news on the radio than previously.

• There has been a significant decline in the readership of news magazines.

Which group on the table would be most likely to support a ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?

• Interest Group 1

• Interest Group 2

• Interest Group 3

• Interest Group 4

Which best describes the main objective of a lobbyist?

• To raise campaign funds for political parties.

• To influence public decision-making for the common good.

• to influence state legislators or members of congress on issues

• to advise political candidates on how to manager their election campaigns

Which activity is used by interest groups to influence public policy?

• bribing legislators to support their proposals

• impeaching their opponents in the legislature

• sponsoring news programs on major television networks

• giving legislators the benefit of their subject-area expertise

A U.S. government poster from World War I is shown. Which propaganda technique is used in this poster?

• celebrity testimonials

• demonizing opponents

• bandwagon claims

• glittering generalities