Synopsis Halfway through the Senate term, senior Senator Joseph Paine finds himself having to fill the place of the recently dead Senator Samuel Foley. Paine contacts his colleges Governor Hubert Hopper and Jim Taylor, and the three discuss whom to appoint to the position. After a few failed appointees attempt to fill the position, Jefferson Smith, leader of the state's Boy Rangers group is appointed to the position. Smith is naïve, inexperienced and is also popular with the people. The reason for choosing Smith is simple: Taylor and Paine want to get a bill passed that would finance a dam at Willet Creek. The dam is totally unneeded but it would gain them popularity and votes. They need someone like Smith who is totally unaware of politics and who won't get in the way of their plans. Smith goes to Washington and after a rocky start decides to stay and is even convinced by Paine to stick around to create a boy ranger's camp. He is introduced to his personal assistant/secretary Clarissa Sanders, who at first is very cynical and standoffish but then begins to open up to Smith and even helps him with his idea of the boy ranger's camp. However trouble arises when the proposed site Smith has for his camp is the same site Paine and Taylor have planned for their dam. When Smith becomes aware of this information he attempts to expose them to the Senate but Paine deflects the attention by accusing Smith of being corrupt. It seems that Smith has lost the battle. With Smith contemplating defeat Sanders is there to convince Smith not to give up and to challenge Paine and Taylor on the senate floors! It seems that Smith's patriotic ideals and energy have rubbed off on Sanders and convinced her to change. Paine and Taylor bring out all the stops and do anything they can to stop Smith from exposing them. The climax comes when Smith delivers his energetic filibuster where he demands to be heard on the Senate floor leaving Paine voiceless. |
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Click on the following link to review for the test: quizlet.com/11951748/test Click on the following link to review for the test: www.cram.com/flashcards/test/american-government-chapter-8-565632 Elections •Candidates who win an election are said to have a mandate, or a command from the electorate, to carry out campaign promises. In reality, however, election results are seldom an accurate measure of public opinion. Interest Groups •Interest groups are private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy. Interest groups are a chief means by which public opinion is made known. •Try to get people to respond to their shared attitudes The Media •The media are frequently described as “mirrors” as well as “molders” of opinion. Public opinion is best measured by public opinion polls, devices that attempt to collect information about attitudes and viewpoints by asking people questions. Straw Votes •A straw vote is a method of polling that seeks to read the public’s mind simply by asking the same question of a large number of people. •The straw-vote technique is highly unreliable, however. Scientific Polling There are now more than 1,000 national and regional polling organizations in this country, with at least 200 of these polling political preferences. Public opinion can be described as those attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics. Different Publics •The United States is made up of many groups, or publics, who share common news. Public Affairs •Public affairs are those events and issues that concern the public at large. In its proper sense, public opinion includes only those views that relate to public affairs. Public Opinions •More than one public opinion can exist at the same time, because there are many publics. A view or position must be expressed in the open in order to be a public opinion. Many factors influence our political opinions and political socialization over the course of a lifetime. The Family •Children first see the political world from within the family and through the family’s eyes. •The strong influence the family has on the development of political opinions is due to the large amount of time children spend with the family. The Schools •Children acquire political knowledge throughout their time in the classroom. •Students are taught about political systems, patriotism, and great Americans. Some are even required to take a course on government in high school. Mass Media The mass media include those means of communication that reach large, widely dispersed audiences (masses of people) simultaneously. The mass media has a huge effect on the formation of public opinion. Peer Groups Peer groups are made up of the people with whom one regularly associates, including friends, classmates, neighbors, and co-workers. Opinion Leaders An opinion leader is any person who, for any reason, has an unusually strong influence on the views of others. Historic Events Historic events can have a major impact on public opinion. The Great Depression is one event that shaped the political views and opinions of a generation. American Government CONTENT STATEMENTS: 1. Opportunities for civic engagement with the structures of government are made possible through political and public policy processes. 2. Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means. 3. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of information from public records, surveys, research data and policy positions of advocacy groups. 4. The processes of persuasion, compromise, consensus building and negotiation contribute to the resolution of conflicts and differences. 5. As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles which help define the government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers and relationship with the governed. 6. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States. 7. Constitutional government in the United States has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation and informal practices. 8. The Bill of Rights was drafted in response to the national debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. 9. The Reconstruction Era prompted Amendments 13 through 15 to address the aftermath of slavery and the Civil War. 10. Amendments 16 through 19 responded to calls for reform during the Progressive Era. 11. Four amendments have provided for extensions of suffrage to disenfranchised groups. 12. Five amendments have altered provisions for presidential election, terms, and succession to address changing historical circumstances. 13. Amendments 11, 21 and 27 have addressed unique historical circumstances. 14. Law and public policy are created and implemented by three branches of government; each functions with its own set of powers and responsibilities. 15. The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing current issues. 16. In the United States, people have rights which protect them from undue governmental interference. Rights carry responsibilities which help define how people use their rights and which require respect for the rights of others. 17. Historically, the United States has struggled with majority rule and the extension of minority rights. As a result of this struggle, the government has increasingly extended civil rights to marginalized groups and broadened opportunities for participation. 18. The Ohio Constitution was drafted in 1851 to address difficulties in governing the state of Ohio. 19. As a framework for the state, the Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of government in the United States. 20. Individuals in Ohio have a responsibility to assist state and local governments as they address relevant and often controversial problems that directly affect their communities. 21. A variety of entities within the three branches of government, at all levels, address public policy issues which arise in domestic and international affairs. 22. Individuals and organizations play a role within federal, state and local governments in helping to determine public (domestic and foreign) policy. 23. The federal government uses spending and tax policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Regulatory actions carry economic costs and benefits. 24. The Federal Reserve System uses monetary tools to regulate the nation’s money supply and moderate the effects of expansion and contraction in the economy. State practice test: oh.portal.airast.org/users/students-and-families.stml Quizlet State Practice: quizlet.com/111679286/ohio-government-air-test-study-flash-cards/ Review the 27 Amendments: quizlet.com/100409905/flashcards Ohio Test Prep:www.ohiotestprep.com/american-government.html
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