Public opinion, interest groups, and polls influence government in several ways. Public opinion represents the views of the population and helps inform officials, but may not represent a consensus. Polls measure public opinion through random sampling, but push polls can manipulate responses. Interest groups lobby the government through expertise, funding, and mobilizing members to advocate for issues. However, groups may prioritize certain interests over the public good, and money in politics raises concerns about undue influence. Overall, these forces both support democracy by representing the people and informing officials, but can also distract from leadership and problem solving.

1. Influencing Government –Influencing Government –
Part 2Part 2
Public Opinion, Polls, InterestPublic Opinion, Polls, Interest
groups, lobbies and PACsgroups, lobbies and PACs

2. PublicPublic
OpinionOpinion
• What is it?
– ideas and attitudes that *most people hold
about a particular issue or person.
• Which public?
– Often not a consensus on issues – diversity
of beliefs [but watch how people and
organizations use the term “public opinion”
• Why does it matter?
– It supports democracy by informing officials
of people’s ideas and opinions
– Serves to direct or even shape government
priorities and actions
– Is that what public officials should do? The
answer may not be that simple [they never
are]
* What does “most” mean, and how do we
determine it?

3. Measuring public opinionMeasuring public opinion
• Public Opinion PollsPublic Opinion Polls
– Asking people to answerAsking people to answer content neutral questionscontent neutral questions aboutabout
their views and preferences.their views and preferences.
– Creating the polling universe – accounting for all theCreating the polling universe – accounting for all the
significant demographics [age, religion, gender, ethnicity,significant demographics [age, religion, gender, ethnicity,
region, income level, party affiliation, education, etc., etc.]region, income level, party affiliation, education, etc., etc.]
– Asking 1500 gives you an accuracy of +/- 3% nationwideAsking 1500 gives you an accuracy of +/- 3% nationwide
• E.g. a result of 55% could actually be as high as 58% or as low asE.g. a result of 55% could actually be as high as 58% or as low as
52%52%
• Push PollsPush Polls
– Questions are worded so they influence – manipulate – aQuestions are worded so they influence – manipulate – a
person’s responses one way or the other.person’s responses one way or the other.
• ““Which would you choose, a candidate who is tough on crime, orWhich would you choose, a candidate who is tough on crime, or
your neighborhood overrun with drugs and violence?”your neighborhood overrun with drugs and violence?”
• So the organization can claim “85% of Americans agree with us!”So the organization can claim “85% of Americans agree with us!”
• Now it’s propaganda [the bad kind]Now it’s propaganda [the bad kind]

4. Public Polls – Good or Bad?Public Polls – Good or Bad?
• YesYes
• Support for pollsSupport for polls
– It allows office holders to know how the public feels inIt allows office holders to know how the public feels in
between elections.between elections.
– Pretty accurately predicts election outcomes on election dayPretty accurately predicts election outcomes on election day
[exit polls][exit polls]
• Problems with PollsProblems with Polls
– The horse race – focus on who’s ahead rather than issuesThe horse race – focus on who’s ahead rather than issues
– Also makes elected officials care more about what the publicAlso makes elected officials care more about what the public
thinks instead of being a leader and making wise decisionsthinks instead of being a leader and making wise decisions
• ““There go my people. I must find out where they are going so I canThere go my people. I must find out where they are going so I can
lead them.”lead them.”
– May influence opinion as many will not want to be in aMay influence opinion as many will not want to be in a
minority position [bandwagon effect/spiral of silence]minority position [bandwagon effect/spiral of silence]

5. President Obama’s Approval RatingPresident Obama’s Approval Rating
• What does this mean?What does this mean?
• What might it mean?What might it mean?

6. Approval Ratings of Past PresidentsApproval Ratings of Past Presidents
What’s the trend? How much of this is self-reinforcing or self-fulfilling
prophecy?
How might that affect Congressional races? [we talked about this]
Or relations between Congress and the President? [we talked about this, too.]

7. Interest and Lobby GroupsInterest and Lobby Groups
• What are they?
– Groups with a common cause and
interest
• Connects people to activism and
possibly gov’t [freedom of assembly
– Attempt to influence policy makers
• Provide expert opinion and
information
• Often contribute heavily to
campaigns
– Many can count strength in
numbers – NRA, NOW
– Others’ strength is in legal/political

8. Interest and Lobby Groups, by typeInterest and Lobby Groups, by type
• Public interest groups
– Support causes for that
effect the lives of
American’s in general.
– Single issue groups
– Common Cause, Public
Citizen
• Economic groups
– Often represent/support
professional groups
[lawyers, soft drink
bottlers, tobacco
growers, etc., etc. ad
nauseum]
• Political action
committees (PAC’s)
– Fundraising and spending
for interest groups, unions
and corporations
– $$ contributions from
members are “bundled”
and used to advance an
issue and/or candidate
– Contribution limits
– Account for around 30%
of campaign donations
• Good or Bad?
– What’s the bad? [let’s talk!]
– What’s the good? [let’s talk!]
YES!

9. What and who are lobbyists?What and who are lobbyists?
• Lobbyists
– Representatives of interest
groups who contact
lawmakers or other
government officials
directly, to push their
interests.
• Pros?
– What they know
– A voice
• Cons?
– Revolving door?
– $$
– Influence?