1. 2000 #3
y/govpol_us_00.pdf
y/sg_govpol_us_00.pdf

2. Mass Media What is the mass media? Simple functions of mass media
Entertainment
News reports
Creation of political forums

3. Linkage institutions
Connecting people to their government officials and vice versa
Mass media, political parties and interest groups are key linkage institutions.
How is mass media a linkage institution?
How are political parties a linkage institution?
How are interest groups a linkage institution
-interviewing citizens, presenting poll results, covering protests. Interview leaders and reporting gov programs
-Providing candidate information to voters, mobilizing voters, raising funds
-Express members’ preferences to gov, convey gov info to members, raise money

4. Print media What are some of the most influential papers?
What is the current trend in newspapers recently? Why?
What are some of the most influential magazines?
What is the current trend in magazines recently? Why?
-NYT, Wash Post, Wall Street Journal
-Time, Newsweek, US News

5. Broadcast Media How did FDR use radio to his advantage?
What are the 3 major TV networks?
Which is more widely used for news: TV or internet?
What is the role of blogs?
-NBC, CBS, ABC

6. Complex Functions Signaling Function
How does media help set the public agenda?
How can news create a “new” reality?
Why are almost all media channels the same?
Is media more about informing people or attracting viewers?

7. Complex Functions Common-Carrier Function What is framing?
The Watchdog Function
When has the media dropped back from its watchdog function?
Has the watchdog function gotten out of hand?

8. Media Why might the media not have a big impact on the public?
During elections, what does the media like to focus on?
What do they NOT focus on?
Horserace journalism
-People watch and read things that reinforce their beliefs

9. Review

10. Interest group theories
The Power Elite Theory
A small number of super rich people and corporations dominate key policy areas
PACs have a lot of influence
There is a close tie between Wall Street and Washington
Ordinary Americans got small stimulus checks, Wall Street got massive bailouts

11. Interest group theories
The Pluralist Theory
Many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas
Policies come from bargaining and compromises among competing groups
The division of federal power allows many access points
If you can’t get leg. influence, go to the courts

12. Interest group theories
The Hyper-pluralist Theory
There are too many interest groups trying to influence public policy
Leaders try to appease everyone so they don’t make hard decisions
Smoking

13. Function and Impact of PACs
A committee formed by interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaign of political candidates who they support
Key player in:
incumbency advantage
Increase in campaign finance
Decrease in trust of the government

14. Impacts of the era of divided government
Heightened partisanship
Made it more difficult to compromise
Slowed the legislative process (gridlock)
Increased public frustration
Decline in trust and confidence in the government
A decline in voters identifying as D or R

15. 2013 #4 part A
Explain the importance of the media in the formation of the policy agenda.
Affects agenda setting by what it chooses to cover (priming/gatekeeping/watchdog)
Media framing of issues

16. 2012 #4
Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. In doing so, however, they may not act in the overall public interest.
(a) Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections.
(b) Explain how interest groups use each of the following to influence government decision making.
-Issue networks (also known as iron triangles)
-Amicus curiae briefs
(c) Explain how each of the following serves to limit interest group influence.
-The media
-Pluralism

17. 2012 #4
us/ap-2012-united-states-government-politics-scoring- guidelines.pdf