ap gov- linkage institutions

paper of records

New York Times is used most widely by politicians

mass media

reporters, radio, editorialists, journalists, & tv

respond to profit motive

media events

staged events to get coverage & draw attention

trial balloon

gauge reaction to public view

new york times vs US

rule 6-3 for New York Times bc of 1st amendment freedom of the press

Ellsberg tried bc leak(espionage law)

should it be illegal to let citizens know?

espionage law

criminalize unauthorized information to a foreign government

Ellsberg

leaked pentagon papers about the vietnam war, which accelerated anti-war movement

tried under espionage act but later charges were dismissed

radio act of 1927

first congress attempt to regulate broadcasts

communications act of 1934

after radio act

more powerful and FCC(federal communications commission) watch over radio and telephone

equal time rule

non cable tv must have equal airtime for registered candidates 

fairness doctrine

now gone

stations must cover contriversal topics balanced & use multiple perspectives

sunshine laws

laws that allow info to be open to the public

FOIA

requires executive branch to provide information to citizens

plurality elections

single prize

“don’t throw away votes” & widen base

two party system

due to plurality elections & single member districts

democrats

younger & more educated

air different povs & looser correlation

blue dog

center democrats, moderates

republicans

older & working class

publicly very united 

populists

religious & deep red

herding cats

how difficult to actually get 100% of a political party to vote in singular way

ex) democrat Zell Miller voting for republican candidate & speaking at convention

party platform

broad 5 or 6 major points for political party

3rd party metaphor

bees bc “sting” one party & then die off

election 2000

green party Ralph Nader take votes from democrats, so they become greener

Ross Perot

independent candidate that got 19% of votes in 1992 election

republicans adopt his views next election

dealignment

voing bloc lose intensity of devotion

realignment

intensity of voting bloc go to new party

blue collar workers

dealign from democrats during Reagan

semi go back democrat during recession

fully realign with republicans now

african americans

align republican bc not as slavery

dealign during great depression

realign with democratic party during great depressio

solid south

1950s- full dealignment from democrats(after FDR die & Truman desgregate army)

1970s- south is solidly republican

1976- Nixon resign & Carter win some south

1980s- back to solid republican

1992- Clinton is south demo & win few states 

2000s- back to full republican

increase # of parties

majoritarian voting- must win majority

proportional representation- win over what portion you recieve

critical/realign election

nationwide crisis & modify platforms

change allegiances

rare- one party is dominant for years

THE critical election

1932 for democrats(great depression), lasts for 14 years

dominate red, dominate blue, & now 50/50

interest groups

organization of people with similar policy goals

most are businesses

revolving door

elected official complete & become lobbyist

lobbyist

represent interest group in front of gov

interest groups reach gov.

file amicus curiae- put in 2 cents in court

hire lobbyists & lawyers

iron triangle

interest group, congressional commitee, & arm of bureacracy 

olson’s law of large groups

larger groups=further from the collective good

free rider problem

believe in value, but dont actually do it

collective actions problem

percieved benefit is insufficient to costs

disturbance theory

external events mobilize interest groups & potential members

impacts of interest groups

persuade officials, pay for cadidates for elections, & mobilize public support

impacts of mass media

influences public policy, communication, & promotes government accountability

impacts of political parties

two party system due to plurality elections make compromises of candidates common