PoliSci Exam 2 Part 2

Question 1

Name two ways interest groups help democracy.

Answer 1

1. People participate - Increases participation

2. Makes government more transparent

Question 2

Name two ways interest groups harm democracy.

Answer 2

1. Most benefit for whoever has the most money.

2. U.S. governement is easily influenced by interest group because political parties are weak b/c of Federalism.

Question 3

What is the pluralist view of interest groups?

Answer 3

• all interest groups equal b/c of public support, PBS.

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Question 4

What is the elitist view of interest groups?

Answer 4

• Ones with more money will be able to do more
• Not all interest group equal
• merck pharma death prophet
• jack abramoff lobbying owned that congressman
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Question 5

What view do you take and why?

Answer 5

• Jack Abramoff got whatever he wanted with lunches and sports tickets.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of public interest groups?

Answer 6

• Benefit public good
• free rider
• many are benefitting, but contribute nothing
• strength in numbers
• outside lobbying
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Question 7

What are the characteristics of private interest groups?

Answer 7

• Only benefit the members involved.
• Small group
• inside lobbying

Question 8

What is the importance of media to democracy?

Answer 8

• Keeps the people informed
• Allows us to keep track of what the government is doing
• helps us make an informed decision
• sets the political agenda
• helps citizens hold gov accountable for wrongdoing

Question 9

How does the mass media affect public opinion and gov. policy?

Answer 9

By using agenda setting - topics media covers deemed important

• helps decide what govt. addressed and ignores
• Framing - determines how story should be interpreted

Question 10

How does the conglomeration of the media affect the way the information is being presented and why?

Answer 10

• dramatizes events
• focuses on dramatic event
• ignores non dramatic policies and political events
• gives shallow coverage
• oversimplifies events
• goal is to make a profit… need to get good ratings… fearful of controversy… good ratings = more $ from adverts.

Question 11

what is social capital?

Answer 11

• the sum of face to face civic interactions among citizens in a society
• television is blamed for decline

Question 12

civic duty?

Answer 12

it is inherited from parents.