Emory Ronae
Ms. Sieg
AP Gov
December 18th 2007
Chapter 10: The Media And American Politics

1. Define Mass media
1. Means of communication that reaches the public, including newspapers and magazines, radio, television (broadcast, cable, and satelite) films, recordings, books, and electronic communication.
   
2. Describe the impact of television, talk radio, newspaper, and the internet
1. The media have been called the "forth estate," and the "fourth branch of government." By definition the mas media disseminate messages to a large and often heterogeneous audience. Mass media then is able to get messges out to a huge audience, influencing everyone about the actions of the government and other situations abroad affecting our country.
   
3. How does the government regulate the media?
1. The FCC
   
4. Describe several factors that limit media influence on public opinion
1. a belief that the media is one-sided and thus unreliable
2. Political Socialization: example: A conservative republican from arizona might watch "the liberal Eastern networks" and complain about their biased news coerage while sticking to her own opinions.
3. Selectivity
1. screening out messages that do not conform to their own biases
4. selective perception:
1. percieving what they want in media messages
5. What is meant by selective percception?
1. Selective perception is the process by which people only percieve the information they want from media messages
   
6. Define Horse race journalism
1. the process that media companies tend to report less on the issues that a candidate believes in and more on the candidates place in the polls, relative to other candidates.
   
7. Is there a political bias of the news media, explain?
   
1. There is no more a political bias in the news media then there is a personal bias in each person reporting the news. If you turn on the news to CNN on Keith Oberman you may believe that the news is liberal, however if you change to FOX news, you will recieve a very different oppinion.
   
8. asses the impact of the media on how voters make schoices
1. The media, in most instances, influences voters more than the actual candidates. In an ironic twist, what was once simply a machine to transmit the beliefs of the candidates to the masses, the media now represents a force that in fact shapes the candidates themselves. Not only that, but pundits and political talk show hosts further shape the public's belief.
   
9. compare differing relationships between the press and the president, the Congress, and the Supreme Court.
1. 
   

AP-Gov: Chapter 9 Questions

Emory Roane
Ms. Sieg
AP GOv
December 16th 2007
Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections = Democracy in Action

1. Examine the following "Rules of the game": Regularly scheduled elections, staggered terms, fixed terms, term limits, winner take all.
1. Regularly scheduled elections:
1. system that requires elections to be held at regular intervals, no matter what.
   
2. Staggered Terms:
1. Not all offices are up for election
   
3. Fixed Termsat the same time.
   
1. Length of Term in Office is specified, not indefinite.
   
4. Term Limits
1. Limits amount of terms someone can hold
   
5. Winner-Take-All
1. The system our electorates use to choose the candidate for general election. For example, in MD, we have 10 electorates. If 60 percent of Marylands choose democrat, and 40 percent choose Republican, all 10 vote democrat.
   
2. Explain the Electoral College System
1. We elect our president and vice president not by a national vote but by an indirect device known as the electoral college. Under this system, each state has as many electors as it has representatives and senators. These electorates then vote in elections based upon the beliefs of the rest of the state citizens.
   
3. Compare and contrast House and Senate elections
1. First, most congressional elections are not close
2. Competition is more likely when both candidates hav eadequat funding, which is not often the case in U.S. house elections.
3. Presidential popularity affects both House and Senate races during both presidential election tears and in midterm elections.
1. "Coattail effect"
4. List several advantages incumbents have over challengers.
1. Face recognition
2. Publics fear of change
3. Face Recognition
4. "More experience" excuse
   
5. Did I say Face Recognition??
5. Identify and describe, in great detail, the three stages of the formal process of running for the presidency.
1. Stage 1: The Nomination
1. 1. When to start campaigning
2. 2. Presidential Primaries: Choosing the candidate for each party's election
2. Stage 2: The National Party Convention
1. Once elected in the Primary election, the candidate appears at the National Party Convention to officially be selected as the running candidate.
2. Decide the Party Platform
3. The Vice Presidential Nominee: The candidate chooses his running mate
3. Stage 3: The General Election
1. Presidential Debates:
   
1. To counter the opposing argument,
   
2. acquire more media attention.
   
3. Inform people of their views, as well as try to convince people "on the fence"
2. Television and Radio Advertising
3. The Outcome
6. Outline the usual course of the presidential campaign after the close of the conventions.
1. (Is this question different then the above question?)
2. After the close of the conventions, the candidate chooses his vice presidential candidate, and begins participating in debates and touring the country, all the while buying advertising space on the radio, television, and more recently, the internet.
   
7. What are the most important factors in shaping campaign strategies for the presidentail general election?
1. Ironically, candidates for both parties have to appeal to both parties. A Democrat for example, has to appeal not only to liberals, democrats, and minorities, but as well as "fence sitters" and conservatives to win an ellection.
2. Iowa / New Hampshire early elections
3. "Winning in the primaries thus centers on a game of expectations, and candidates may intentially seek to lowr expectations so that "doing better than expected" will generate momentum for their campaign."
   
8. Explain the role played by debates between presidential candidates since 1960.
1. Presidential debates have come to be more of a joint appearance with opening and closing statements than a debate where the candidates interact with wach other.
   
1. Presdientail debates give candidates an opportunity to show how quickly and accurately they can respond to questions and outline their goals.
   
9. Outline the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and describe the purpose of the Federal Election Commission
1. In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act which limited amounts that Candidates for federal office could spend on advertising, required disclosure of the sources of campaign funds and how they are spent, and required political action committees to register with the government and report all major contributions and expenditures.
10. What was the decision the Supreme Court made in Buckley v. Valeo?
1. The Supreme Court upheld federal limits on campaign contributions.
11. Explain various proposed reforms on the presidential primaries, the Electoral College and campaign finance.
1. Reforming the Campaign Finance:
1. Among the unresolved issues are how preisential campaings will be financed, the role of Section 527 and 501(c) groups, the adequacy of disclosure, and the strength and viability of political parties.
2. Reforming the Nomination Process
1. The problem most people have with the Primary is that most people don't have a say in the choice of Presidential nominees, thanks to Iowa and New Hampshire. Possible solutions are to hold regional primaries, possibly at two or three week intervals across the country, or even to hold a national presidential primary.
3. Reforming the Electoral College
1. The most frequently proposed reform is direct popular election of the president. Presidents would be elected directly by the voters, just as governors are, and the electoral college and individual electors would be abolished.

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