Ch 21: WEST Middle Level Humanities: Public Influence on Government
About This Chapter
WEST Middle Level Humanities: Public Influence on Government - Chapter Summary
As part of a study guide course for the Washington Educator Skills Test-Endorsements (WEST-E) Middle Level Humanities this chapter will help you review the forms of political participation, the factors that influence it and the relationships and interactions between political parties, special interest groups and media. Follow along with our instructors in this series of short, engaging and mobile device friendly lesson videos as they discuss these topics and some historical examples that show the relationship between the government and the public. After these lessons you should have a firm understanding of:
- Voting and alternative forms of political participation
- Importance of public opinion
- Types of interest groups and their history
- Relationships between political parties and interests groups
- Media influences on political attitudes and elections
- Roosevelt's New Deals and Johnson's Great Society program
- Civil Society and citizenship
Test your understanding of the material presented in these lessons by completing the quizzes that accompany them. Use the results from these assessments to discover topics that challenge you and reinforce your understanding of them by returning to the lessons with video tags or lesson transcripts. When you think you have a firm understanding of the topics of this chapter be sure to test this assumption by taking the chapter exam.
WEST Middle Level Humanities: Public Influence on Government Objectives
The propose of the WEST-E Middle Level Humanities is to assess prospective middle grades educators' mastery over middle grades level language arts and social studies. To achieve its objective test takers of this computer-based certification exam are administered two subtests, each composed of 55 multiple-choice questions. Thirty-four percent of the questions on the second subtest will test your understanding of civics and economics. Use this chapter to prepare for some of the question in this domain to ask you about the participation and influence of citizens in government.

1. Political Participation in the United States: Influences & Voter Turnout
Despite an increase in the number of eligible voters, political participation in the United States seems to be on the decline. This lesson discusses influences on political participation and voter turnout.

2. Alternative Forms of Political Participation: Role & Types
Americans participate in government by voting, but they also participate in many other ways. This lesson discusses the role alternative forms of political participation play in our political involvement.

3. What is Public Opinion?
Public opinion is an expression of the general population's thoughts on a particular political issue. This lesson discusses the concept of public opinion and explores influences on public opinion.

4. What Are Interest Groups in the United States? - History & Types
The following lesson will discuss the history and types of interest groups that exist in the American political system. A short quiz will follow the lesson to check for your understanding.

5. The Relationship Between Political Parties & Interest Groups
The following lesson will cover the similarities and differences between political parties and interest groups. A short quiz will follow the lesson to check for your understanding.

6. Media's Influence on the Public's Political Attitudes
Most people make their political decisions based on impressions gained from the media. This lesson assesses the effect of media, especially newer forms of media, on the public's political attitudes.

7. The Role of Media in Elections & Other Government Activities
The media play several important roles in the campaign and election processes. This lesson examines the media's function in presidential campaigns and elections and other government activities.

8. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the First New Deal: The First 100 Days
President Franklin Roosevelt's first New Deal program represented an aggressive legislative campaign to relieve American suffering and end the Great Depression. Learn more about the first 100 days of the New Deal.

9. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Second New Deal
President Franklin Roosevelt's second New Deal represented a more conservative approach to battling the Great Depression. Learn more about the program, including its legislation and legacy.

10. President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society Program
The Great Society was an ambitious legislative program which attempted to eliminate poverty and racial inequity within the United States. Learn about the creation of the program, its endeavors and its ultimate legacy.

11. Civil Society and Citizenship
Citizenship and civil society are important concepts in the study of political science. In this lesson, you'll learn what citizenship is and what it means for people that hold it. You'll also learn about the important role of civil society in a democracy.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the WEST Middle Level Humanities (Subtests 1 & 2)(052/053): Practice & Study Guide course
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Phonology & Word Identification
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Teaching Vocabulary
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Reading Comprehension & Fluency
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Reading Interpretation & Analysis
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Elements of Literary Texts
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Rhetorical Devices
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Expository Texts
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Persuasive & Functional Texts
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Literary Genres
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Poetry Analysis
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Organizing an Essay
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Essay Structure
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Syntax & Sentence Structure
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Writing Strategy
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Using Source Materials
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Delivering Presentations
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Effective Listening
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Listening for Meaning
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Government Purpose & Function
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Democratic Government
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Civil Liberties & Rights
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Economic Systems & Components
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Roles of Economic Contributors
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Indigenous American Peoples
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Early North American Settlements
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Early American Resistance
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: The American Revolution
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: The U.S. Constitution
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: The Virginia Dynasty
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: The Jacksonian Democracy
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Manifest Destiny
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: American Civil War
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Reconstruction Era
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: American Industrialization & Urbanization
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: The Progressive Era
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: American Imperialism
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Washington State History
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Ancient Civilizations
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Ancient Middle East & India
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Ancient Greek History
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Ancient Roman History
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Early China and Japan
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Africa Before Colonization
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: History of the Americas
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Early France & England
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Geographic Concepts & Tools
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Human & Cultural Geography
- WEST Middle Level Humanities: Humans & the Environment
- WEST Middle Level Humanities Flashcards