Unit 4 Toward Collective Action: Mediating Institutions

Introduction

Unit/Module 4 provides a conceptual framework for voting, elections and the impact of public opinion. It answers some fundamental questions, e.g., How is public opinion measured and how accurate is it? What motivates people to register to vote and actually vote? How are elections actually run?

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Describe the main functions of the media in a free society
Differentiate the political parties and explain how they were formed.
Explain how interest groups influence the government through the governance processes and elections.

You will Demonstrate Mastery of Unit 4 by being able to:

Evaluate the impact of the media on politics and policymaking
Discuss the concepts of party alignment and realignment
Identify the various court cases, policies, and laws that outline what interest groups can and cannot do
Apply your learning to current events, specifically the "Politics in the News" discussion.