UNIT 3: PEOPLE & POLITICS
Ch. 6 Public Opinion Objectives:
Ch. 7 Interest Group Objectives:
Ch. 8 Political Party Objectives:
Ch. 9 Campaigns, Elections, and the Media Objectives:
SuperPacs: Frontline Video
2012 Campaign Costs: NY Times
- Define public opinion, consensus, divided opinion.
- Discuss major sources of political socialization (family, education, race, gender, etc.)
- Identify how those sources of political socialization affect voting.
- Describe the characteristics of a scientific opinion poll.
- Consider the effect that public opinion may have on the political process.
- Explain and give examples of the paradox of collective action.
Ch. 7 Interest Group Objectives:
- Describe the basic characteristics of interest groups and how they are sometimes related to social movements.
- Provide major reasons why Americans join interest groups.
- List major types of interest groups.
- Discuss interest group strategies, differentiating between direct and indirect techniques.
- Describe the main ways in which lobbyists are regulated.
- Consider interest groups in terms of elite theory and pluralism.
Ch. 8 Political Party Objectives:
- Define the goal of political parties and the major activities performed.
- Explain how the history of political parties has resulted in a two-party system.
- Describe the key faces of a party: in the electorate, the party organization, and party in government.
- Evaluate the impact of third party politics in the U.S.
Ch. 9 Campaigns, Elections, and the Media Objectives:
- Describe who runs for office and how campaigns are managed.
- Describe the current system of campaign finance including court cases and Superpacs.
- Summarize the process of electing the President of the United States.
- Discuss voter turnout in the U.S.
- Consider the effects of the media on politicians and the role of politicians on the media.
- Summarize the impact of the media on the political process and voters.
SuperPacs: Frontline Video
2012 Campaign Costs: NY Times