Interest groups and the political process

2. What effect will new technologies have on the influence of interest groups?

3 Why do some seek to limit the influence of interest groups on the political process?

4. Why do the major parties become increasingly moderate as the general election approaches?

5. Contrast our presidential, two party, winner-take-all system with a parliamentary, multiparty, proportional representation system.

6. Summarize arguments for and against concern about non-voting.

7. What considerations are important to measuring public opinion?

8. How are values, attitudes, and beliefs related to voting?

9. What factors are important in political socialization?

10. What role does the media play in determining election outcomes?

11. What challenges exist for candidates who must run in both primaries and general elections?

12. How do political campaigns reflect the role of the media in politics? Does the role of the media actually exclude some good candidates for office? How?

13. What important differences do you see between the "new" media and the "old" media?

14. How independent is the media, given that they have to rely on government sources for some of their information?