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What is a linkage institution?
Channels through which people make their views to the government known
What are 3 media tactics that attract viewers?
1. Prioritizing the most compelling or exciting story
2. Scare tactics
3. Speculating about meaning
*Explain why there has been an increase in ideologically driven media.
There's been an increase in ideologically driven media because people gravitate toward their opinions, especially those they agree with. By increasing ideology within the media, it increases their chances of getting viewers and being successful.
Why does the media engage in commentary?
Commentary is more likely to drive people to take action
List 3 major media trends: (FRQ)
1. Print sources have declined
2. The elderly still rely on TV more than anyone else
3. Online news will become the dominant source in the future
What are three characteristics of horse race journalism?
1. Focus on differences between candidates instead of similarities
2. Focus on polling data and what the public thinks instead of policy implications
3. More score-keeping than actual substance (who is winning, like a race)
Why has trust in the media declined?
There are so many sources that it's hard to tell which ones are true or false (most aren't reputable)
*How does consumer driven social media reinforce people's existing beliefs?
It reinforces people's beliefs because there's hardly ever a neutral story, or people don't hear the other side of the story because it's not what they are seeking. Social media gives you more of what you want to watch and follow, so if people always follow and engage with one side of the story, they will never hear the other.
*What effect would the following characteristics have on someone's ability to discern fact-based journalism from opinion-based media?
Political Awareness:
Digital Savviness:
Trust in traditional media sources:
Political Awareness: The more aware people are of events and the way the government works, the better they will know and identify factual information
Digital Savviness: If people understand how apps and websites work, they will know what source information is from and whether it's factual.
Trust in traditional media sources: Trust in traditional media sources: Sources that have been around for decades are still the most reliable for presenting facts.
Explain the trend and concern regarding ownership of the media.
What's happened is that five big companies have bought out smaller ones, and they now control 90% of the media out there. The concern is that a few companies control the flow of information, and there are growing similarities in the way the news is being reported to get more consumers. There's no differentiation or differences between different media sources anymore.
What are 5 roles of the media in agenda setting?
1. Raise awareness and provide information
2. Get the government's attention on new problems
3. Persuade uncommitted voters by drawing attention to issues
4. Point out the consequences of the problems
5. Stress certain subjects and issues to increase their importance
What is a political party?
Teams seeking to control the government by gaining office and setting public policy
What is the main difference between a political party and an interest group?
Parties are designed to win elections and have a broad set of goals, while interest groups just seek to draw attention to one issue.
What are 5 major functions of political parties?
1. Mobilize and educate voters
2. Managing campaigns
3. Recruit candidates to run for office
4. Setting a platform
5. Coordinate policy making
*Explain how political parties use technology to educate and mobilize people.
Political parties use technology since it allows them and their members to actively and continuously engage and speak to the public. Linking news stories and making people aware of events through the internet has allowed more protest, rallies, and meetings since they can use technology to get massive amounts of voter data and reach people in ways that will appeal to them.
Why are parties less involved in recruiting candidates to run for office?
Candidates can now use their personality to appeal to voters instead o needing their party's endorsement. If the public likes you, the party will find a way to support you.
*What is a platform?
A party's official stance on issues
Why do parties need strong leadership within themselves?
Parties are made up of a wide range of political people and it can be hard to keep them in line. If laws are going to get passed, the party usually needs the support of all its members, so leaders can help mobilize everyone towards the same goals.
What is the biggest reason for the persistence of a two-party system in the US?
The winner-take-all district or the single-member district electoral system
*Explain and compare a proportional representation system vs a plurality system with a winner-take-all district.
In a proportional representation voting system, people vote for the party instead of the people. Congress is then filled based on the percentage of votes that each party received. If people voted for 30% Republicans, Congress would be filled with 30% Republicans, and so on. This voting system allows more parties to survive or be involved because each party gets at least one representative or person in Congress. In a plurality voting system, citizens vote for the people instead of the party, and the person with the most votes wins and goes to Congress. You don't need to win the majority party, you just need to be the person with the most votes. People will team up until only two choices remain because the stakes are high.
*Explain how the winner-take-all system might affect a party's strategy when running a campaign.
Parties will pay attention to the districts or states they actually have a chance of winning and prioritize and spend their time and money in those places because it's not worth spending a bunch of money on districts or states they have no chance of winning.
*What kinds of groups predominantly make up the major parties?
Republicans:
Democrats:
Republicans: Christian, white, men
Democrats: Minorities, women
*What regions are currently dominated by the parties?
Republicans:
Democrats:
Republicans: South and Great Plains, Rural Areas
Democrats: Coast and Urban areas
What is realignment?
Switching parties
What is Dealignment?
Moving away from both parties
What are 4 criteria for a critical or realigning election?
1. Nationwide crisis or event happens
2. Parties respond to crises and campaign on new issues
3. Voters change their voting habits according to new events
4. One party dominates for a few years
What was the Solid South?
The Democrat control of the South from Reconstruction to the 1950s
What was the main reason for the realignment of the Southern States?
The Democrats supporting the Civil Rights Movement
What was the main reason for the realignment of African American voters?
The Democrats supporting the New Deal during the Great Depression
What is divided government?
When the president and Congress are split by party
What is polarization?
People sticking to their political ideology, meaning that the parties are working less together, Increased ideological consistency
What are 2 causes of party polarization?
1. Lobbying and interest groups
2. Media pressures
What are 3 contributions to the political system that third parties make? (FRQ)
1. Bring attention to specific issues that aren't popular
2. Provide a safe way for people to voice their discontent
3. Enhance participation and make other candidates clarify their positions
What are 4 barriers for third parties in the US? (FRQ)
1. The winter-take-all system makes it tough to win
2. Not automatically in debates or media coverage
3. Ballot restrictions (gaining enough signatures, paying high registration fees to be on the ballot)
4. Dominant parties will quickly adopt their issues
*Name 3 third parties that do or have existed in the US:
A. Green Party
B. Prohibition Party
C. Dixiecrat Party
What is an interest group?
Organization with policy goals that doesn't run candidates, Groups seeking to influence policy and change laws about specific issues (factions)
*What term did James Madison use for interest groups?
Factions
What was the best way that he stated to control the effects of interest groups?
A large republic is the best way to control factions
*Describe 4 ways that interest groups influence lawmakers (FRQ)
1. Campaign contributions motivate lawmakers to advocate for laws or policies that will help the interest group once they gain office
2. They will get information and propaganda to the public that will keep people aware and concerned about their issues, which lawmakers must cater to
3. They can send lobbyists to pressure government agencies and Congressmen to enforce things in a beneficial way
4. They can promise lawmakers a job when they decide to retire from office
What is an iron triangle?
A visual representation of the relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies that hlep to create and enforce policies in ways that benefit all of them
What is the Revolving Door Theory?
That the same people rotate between business, interest groups, and the government
*Explain how money can increase the chances of an interest group having policy success.
Money can allow the interest group to give more campaign funding and influence more lawmakers. It can also allow them to create more ads and work to get their message out there and get more voters and support. Money can allow them to get better access through lobbying and the ability to pay huge salaries to lawmakers once they retire.
*Explain the "Free Rider" problem that faces interest groups and how the successful ones usually solve the problem.
The "free rider" problem is that people aren't paying to join interest groups because they know they can gain the benefits from their success without paying. This leaves interest groups without money and funds to be influential. What interest groups do to prevent this is offer benefits with memberships as an incentive for people to join their group.
Which of the following is a definition of lobbying?
Representatives sent to interact with policymakers to influence votes
Which is a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of the news media?
There is increased similarity of news coverage
What was the main reason for the realignment of the Southern States?
Civil Rights Movement
What was the main reason for the realignment of African American voters?
The Great Depression and New Deal Policies
Which of the following is most likely a consequence of divided government?
Lack of legislation being passed and enacted
An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake is:
Narrow in scope and low in public visibility
All of the following are characteristics of horse race journalism except:
Focusing on policy implications if the candidate wins
