Unit 3 Media, Political Parties & Interest Groups

Learning Objectives

• Identify and explain the role of the media in the political system.
  
• Examine the impact of the media on public opinion, voter perceptions, campaign strategies, electoral outcomes, agenda development, and the images of officials and candidates.
  
• Identify and describe  the symbiotic and frequently conflicting relationship among candidates, elected officials, and the media.
  
• Identify and describe the goals and incentives of the media as an industry and how those goals influence the nature of news coverage.
  
• Examine and analyze the consequences of the increasing concentration of major media outlets in fewer hands, as well as the growing role of the Internet.
  
• Identify and describe the political roles played by a variety of lobbying and interest groups . 
  
• Explain why some interests are represented by organized groups while others are not, and the consequences of this difference in representation . Identify and describe interest groups, what do they do, how they do it, and how this affects both the political process and public policy.
  
• Discuss why certain segments of the population able to exert pressure on political institutions and actors in order to obtain favorable policies?
  
• Identify and describe the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and communicate their interests and concerns.
  
• Examine the significance of the historical evolution of the U .S . party system, the functions and structures of political parties, and the effects they have on the political process.
  
• Examine the of issues of party reform and of campaign strategies and financing in the electronic age provides students with important perspectives.
  
• Trace and discuss the development and the role of PACs in elections and the ideological and demographic differences between the two major parties, as well as third parties.
  

Vocabulary

Linkage institutions
Two-party system
Single-member districts
Winner-take-all
Proportional        representation
plurality
New Deal Coalition
Divided government
Gridlock

Straight ticket voting Rational choice theory
Maintaining elections
Deviating elections
Critical elections
Realigning elections
Dealigning elections
Party machines
Patronage
Caucuses

Party platform
Closed primary
Open primary 
Super Tuesday
Super delegates
Delegates
Frontloading
Horserace journalism
National committee
Party coalition
Pol Action Committees Soft money 

Independent expenditures
Issue advocacy ads
Super PACs
527s
Public funding
FEC
Electoral College
Interest groups
Single-issue groups
Public interest groups

Economic interest groups
Amicus curiae 
Class-action lawsuit
Litigation
Free riders
Lobbying
Grassroots lobbying
Mass media
Media events
Gatekeepers
Watchdogs

Lectures & Videos
For this unit, view and take notes from the Party Realignment and Media & Press Coverage sections.

Activities & Assignments

Media PPT

Development of Political Parties PDF

Development of Political Parties PPT

Difference between Democrats & Republicans PDF

Function of Political Parties PDF

Function of Political Parties PPT

Interest Groups Notes PDF

Interest Groups Chart PDF


Interest Groups PPT


PACs v 527s PDF

Campaign Election Reform PDF