Identify and explain the role of the media in the political system.
The media allows the public an inside view of politics, shaping their views and desires that they seek out of the political system, which in turn enables politicians and other officials to shape their own actions accordingly, parallel to the opinion of the public. News concerning campaigns, elections, and public policy are all transmitted through media. Media is also the outlet through which officials are able to present themselves to the people, especially through intricately crafted commercials and appearances.
LO 4.B.1: Explain the media’s role in providing citizens with political information.
Through sources such as the newspaper, television, radio, and internet sources, the media is able to broadcast political information to the masses of citizens within a country. However, in doing this such political information is capable of being convoluted and molded with bias and opinion, subject to the whims of the media outlet itself.
LO 4.B.2: Analyze the development, implications, and consequences of increasingly diverse numbers of media and political communication outlets.
LO 4.C.1: Explain the functions and impact of political parties with regard to the electorate and the government.
LO 4.C.2: Analyze why political parties change and adapt to political realities.
If unwilling to adapt to the everchanging political landscape of today’s society, political parties will lose interest and votes from the country’s mass of citizens, allowing their opposition to thrive and gain political control. Valuing the importance of relevancy, political parties change in order to not only suit the needs within the party, but the needs that they interpret the people to have as well.
LO 4.C.3: Explain structural barriers to third party and independent candidate success.
LO 4.C.4: Analyze the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making.
LO 4.C.5: Analyze the reasons for and impact of social movements and protest politics.
Social movements and protest politics are born out of the population’s need for political intimacy and closeness. When the people feel that the government is being particularly unresponsive to their wants and needs, such movements are created as means to garner political attention to their causes. In turn, their objectives are achieved; the government and other political components do in fact begin to listen – however, whether anything is done for change is a different story, as seen with the Ferguson movements, and the subsequent Eric Garner situation. Although the effectiveness of protest politics is debatable, what is obvious is its ability to bring together large amounts of people for a common cause.
LO 4.C.6: Assess the impact of elections, public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on policy outcomes.
Elections enable policy makers to determine what exactly the public desires, guiding their decision-making process. Political parties help shape what such officials decide on, considering political parties are usually the groups that get the matters out ot the people through way of election and otherwise. Public opinion is what generally fuels policy making, being the primary component of such a republic/democracy. Interest groups provide important information to the government pertaining to public policy.
LO 4.E.2: Explain changes in the structure and function of election campaigns since 1972.
LO 4.E.3: Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of candidate-centered campaigns in the 21st century.
Benefits of candidate-centered campaigns include the fact that such a styled campaign allows the public to gain a closer look at who is representing what party. While such campaigns can form closer connections between voters and the candidates on which they vote, they leave out vital stances of the party as a whole, and the overall cohesiveness and agreeability of the party on views as a whole.
LO 4.E.4: Analyze the relative importance of money and democratic principles in elections.
A campaign within an election that lacks monetary support is a doomed campaign. Without it, no staff is able to be hired, and no appearances and tours are able to be scheduled, ruining the outreach efforts a candidate must take to reach the people with their principles. Essentially, money is the platform on which an election is built. The necessity of money within elections doesn’t end there; there is also a great necessity for democratic principles. Despite candidates priding themselves on their upholding of said principes, though, they often are put on the backburner when dealing with their opponents.
LO 4.E.5: Analyze whether the Electoral College facilitates or impedes democracy.
In its true sense, the electoral college establishes and stands for democracy. Although it may lack the direct factor that allows the votes of the people to solely control presidential elections, it provides a safeguard for minority votes and interests. In addition to this, it is hard to win within the Electoral College if you win only in one region, therefore ensuring that presidential candidates must win transregionally. The general population needs the electorate, considering many individuals don’t pay attention to current events and the news. Events like picking the next president can’t be left in the hands of the bumbling general population.
The media allows the public an inside view of politics, shaping their views and desires that they seek out of the political system, which in turn enables politicians and other officials to shape their own actions accordingly, parallel to the opinion of the public. News concerning campaigns, elections, and public policy are all transmitted through media. Media is also the outlet through which officials are able to present themselves to the people, especially through intricately crafted commercials and appearances.
LO 4.B.1: Explain the media’s role in providing citizens with political information.
Through sources such as the newspaper, television, radio, and internet sources, the media is able to broadcast political information to the masses of citizens within a country. However, in doing this such political information is capable of being convoluted and molded with bias and opinion, subject to the whims of the media outlet itself.
LO 4.B.2: Analyze the development, implications, and consequences of increasingly diverse numbers of media and political communication outlets.
LO 4.C.1: Explain the functions and impact of political parties with regard to the electorate and the government.
LO 4.C.2: Analyze why political parties change and adapt to political realities.
If unwilling to adapt to the everchanging political landscape of today’s society, political parties will lose interest and votes from the country’s mass of citizens, allowing their opposition to thrive and gain political control. Valuing the importance of relevancy, political parties change in order to not only suit the needs within the party, but the needs that they interpret the people to have as well.
LO 4.C.3: Explain structural barriers to third party and independent candidate success.
LO 4.C.4: Analyze the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making.
LO 4.C.5: Analyze the reasons for and impact of social movements and protest politics.
Social movements and protest politics are born out of the population’s need for political intimacy and closeness. When the people feel that the government is being particularly unresponsive to their wants and needs, such movements are created as means to garner political attention to their causes. In turn, their objectives are achieved; the government and other political components do in fact begin to listen – however, whether anything is done for change is a different story, as seen with the Ferguson movements, and the subsequent Eric Garner situation. Although the effectiveness of protest politics is debatable, what is obvious is its ability to bring together large amounts of people for a common cause.
LO 4.C.6: Assess the impact of elections, public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on policy outcomes.
Elections enable policy makers to determine what exactly the public desires, guiding their decision-making process. Political parties help shape what such officials decide on, considering political parties are usually the groups that get the matters out ot the people through way of election and otherwise. Public opinion is what generally fuels policy making, being the primary component of such a republic/democracy. Interest groups provide important information to the government pertaining to public policy.
LO 4.E.2: Explain changes in the structure and function of election campaigns since 1972.
LO 4.E.3: Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of candidate-centered campaigns in the 21st century.
Benefits of candidate-centered campaigns include the fact that such a styled campaign allows the public to gain a closer look at who is representing what party. While such campaigns can form closer connections between voters and the candidates on which they vote, they leave out vital stances of the party as a whole, and the overall cohesiveness and agreeability of the party on views as a whole.
LO 4.E.4: Analyze the relative importance of money and democratic principles in elections.
A campaign within an election that lacks monetary support is a doomed campaign. Without it, no staff is able to be hired, and no appearances and tours are able to be scheduled, ruining the outreach efforts a candidate must take to reach the people with their principles. Essentially, money is the platform on which an election is built. The necessity of money within elections doesn’t end there; there is also a great necessity for democratic principles. Despite candidates priding themselves on their upholding of said principes, though, they often are put on the backburner when dealing with their opponents.
LO 4.E.5: Analyze whether the Electoral College facilitates or impedes democracy.
In its true sense, the electoral college establishes and stands for democracy. Although it may lack the direct factor that allows the votes of the people to solely control presidential elections, it provides a safeguard for minority votes and interests. In addition to this, it is hard to win within the Electoral College if you win only in one region, therefore ensuring that presidential candidates must win transregionally. The general population needs the electorate, considering many individuals don’t pay attention to current events and the news. Events like picking the next president can’t be left in the hands of the bumbling general population.