Unit 4 - media and intrest groups ( ap gov and politics )
If a researcher were interested in understanding how much the NRA spent in each state, what visual could be created to accurately display this information in the bar graph? ( check SPENDING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA), BY ELECTION CYCLE graph Q#6-7)
A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992 Quantitative maps can effectively show how much money was spent in each state. Maps are most effective when the data are available for each state and can fit within the map.
A 2017 study in The American Economic Review found that watching Fox News during an election cycle increased a Democrat's chances of voting Republican by 28 percent. Conversely, by watching MSNBC Republicans were more inclined to vote Democrat by 8 percent. This scenario best illustrates which of the following about the media?
Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view. Some cable news stations have adopted ideological perspectives and incorporated partisan bias in their news coverage and commentary on politics. The study in the scenario shows that this has led to many viewers being persuaded to vote for a different party in the upcoming election.
Which of the following statements about Americans' trust in the mass media is best supported by the data in the graph? ( check american trust in media graph Q#20 )
It generally decreased over time. The line graph shows that after 1996 the overall trust in media declined.
Which of the following portrays an accurate example of horse race media coverage?
News media outlets report the results of public opinion polls that show the relative popularity of presidential candidates. This is an example of horse race media coverage because the media is using polling results to show the popularity of candidates rather than focusing on candidate qualifications or policy issues.
While the central goal of political parties is to win elections, parties can also support democracy. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates this relationship?
Political parties use the social media site Instagram to reach out to younger voters to inform them about upcoming elections and encourage them to register to vote. A functioning democracy requires that citizens understand when and how to vote. Parties serve as the primary linkage institutions by which this process occurs in the United States.
Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims?
The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. The institution representing banking interests most likely has resources that outweigh those of a group seeking to protect consumers.
Which of the following describes a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of the news media?
There is increased similarity of network news coverage.
Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs?
They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.
The three points of an iron triangle include
an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee
In 1987 the cooperation among the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court was an example of
coalition building
Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs?
decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention
The media's effect on public opinion can best be described as
influencing which issues the public sees as important
An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving
narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information
Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through
providing legislators with information on technical issues
Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT
using the franking privilege
The bar graph shows the National Rifle Association's spending on Democratic and Republican candidates over several decades of election cycles in support of gun ownership rights. ( check SPENDING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA), BY ELECTION CYCLE graph Q#6-7) How could a visual best be created to better understand how the spending of the NRA compares to that of gun control proponents?
A pie chart that tallies total spending by both the NRA and gun control proponents since 1992
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario?
Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. PETA is an animal rights group that some consider a single-issue group. Their goal is to impact policy, which is demonstrated by how their website encourages members to take part in the political process on behalf of the issues PETA supports.
Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States?
Political Parties - Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups - Interest groups seek to influence public policy. Political parties primarily focus on running candidates for office, while interest groups seek to influence public policy.
An important Senate race takes place in the state of Georgia. Rather than focus on the issue positions taken by the candidates, a 24-hour cable news station instead focuses primarily on poll results and campaign strategies using a "big board" to show the counties where each candidate has the most support. Which of the following is an effect of this type of new coverage?
The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election. Media coverage that focuses primarily on poll results devotes less time and fewer resources to educating the electorate on matters of policy.
Which of the following describes the potential impact on the electorate when daily media coverage of elections focuses primarily on the newest poll results?
The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election. This option is correct. Media coverage that focuses primarily on poll results devotes less time and resources to educating the electorate on matters of policy.
