3. Write about “The Giant: Television”. Summarize shortly how tv affects News and Politics (nomination & apathy).

When Americans say “ the media”, they mean television, for television rowers over everything else in terms of impact. Some 90% of Americans get their news from television-more from cable channels than from broadcast networks nowadays –and most accord it higher credibility than new-s. Television has touched and changed almost everything in US politics. Election campaigns now revolve around the acquisition of television time; winners are usually those who raise the most money to hire the best media consultants. Television has become a suspect in the decline of both US election turnout and political parties. Some observers see television, which focuses on”sound bites” of a few seconds, as contributing to the trivialization of US politics. Calm analysis is out; the cathy phrase is in.

Effects of the media on politics

Media coverage influences public opinion and policymaking

Agenda-setting effects

*Media covers what people believe is important? Or vice-versa? *Framing

Policy Preferences

Effects on policymaking

*Indirect *direct

Nomination by Television. Tv does much to nominate presidential candidates. With all eyes focused on the early presidential primaries – especially New Hampshire – commentators grandly proclaim who is the “real winner” and his “momentum” The candidate thus designed as front-runner goes into the remaining primaries and the national convention with a bandwagon effect, enhanced recognition, and lots of television coverage. In the nominating process, television has become a kind of kingmaker. It is no wonder that candidates arrange their schedules and strangles to capture as much television exposure as possible.

Television is not the sole culprit.

TV and apathy. Observers long suspected that tv induces passivity and apathy. Harvard political scientist Robert D. believes “the culprit is television”. Reviewing possible causes of the decline of “civic engagement” in the United States. Putnam found older people, those born before W War 2, are more trusting and more inclined to join groups and participate in politics.

4. Please, explain how Media and Government are interrelated with each other. You can cover case studies: “Watergate and Iraq war”

What do we mean by “the media”?

News organizations and journalists of either the print (new-s, magazines), broadcast(television, radio) or internet(websites, newsfeeds, blogs) media.

5. Summarize please in detail the Roles foe the Media in a Democracy: Common carrier, watchdog, signaler, public representative.

Take a look at Slides

Roles for the media in a democracy

1)Common-Carrier

2)Watchdog

3)Signaler

4)Public Representative

The media as common carrier

The media can serve as critical links among political and governmental institutions.

Vehicles for government, political parties, ineteres groups to speak to citizens

Spin-Officials try to get the most favorable coverage they can

1. Spin can often fail

2. Spin can take Legitimate and illegitimate forms

Channels of communication among political and governmental institutions

The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite

Sound Bite – amount of time a candidate speakes in a news story without interryption

1960’s – average sound bite was 40 seconds.

Recently-average sound bite has been less than 10 seconds. Hardly enough time to utter a complete sentence.

The media as signaler

“Reporting” alert the public to important events as soon as possible, keep public informed in a timely manner

Report “the facts”

Clarify electoral choices

Present ideas about public policy to the American public

The media as public representative

Critical political linkage serving as spokesperson/advocate for the public

Twoo flavors: advocacy and acting as self-interested actor.

Why journalists may not be well suited to this role:

Lack of accountability

Representation requires a point of view –media bias?

The media as watchdog

Press should dig up facts, warn public when officials doing something wrong.

*Watergate

*Iraqi Prisoner Mistreatment Scandal

*Justice Dept. US attorney Firing Scandal

Importance of the First Amendment…

Watchdog groups

Liberal-*Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) * Media Matters for America

Conservative - /Accuracy in media *Media research Center

Is the Media Biased? What are the Types of the BIAS?

(slides 16 and 17, Media)

Chapter 9. Basic Institutions. Federal & Unitary

1. Explain in detail what the Unitary System means?

(Slides 6-10, “the-basic-structures-of-government”)

2. Explain in detail what Federal System means?

(Slides 10-15, “the-basic-structures-of-government”)

3. What are the Six Principles of American Government? Explain six of them shortly, please.

(Slide 16-22, “the-basic-structures-of-government”)

4. Explain, please, the Cases of Decentralization in Unitary Systems? (Devolution in Britain, Decentralization in France, and Autonomy in Spain) Use book information more.

(Book PS, pages 241-243 and Slide 8, “the-basic-structures-of-government”)

5. Pros and Cons of Federal Systems and Examples of them in the Book (Ex-Soviet Federalism, Ex-Yugoslavia Federalism, and Canadian Federalism)

(Book PS, pages 244-248)

6. What was Mark Twain’s story of “Burden shifting”

(Book PS, pages 249)

Chapter 10. Branches of Government

7. What are the main Responsibilities (Roles) of the Executive? Explain them all in detail, please. Head of State, Chief of government, Party chief, Commander in chief, Chief diplomat, Dispenser of appointments, Chief legislator.

(Book PS, pages 279-281 and slide 6, “3 braches, Separation of power, & checks & balances”)

8. Briefly explain the Legislative Branch of US (responsibilities and both chambers)?

(slides 10-18: “3 braches, Separation of power, & checks & balances”)

9. Explain shortly the Functions of Legislatures. Lawmaking, Constituency work, Supervision & criticism of government, Representation, Constitution making & amending, Financial function, Judicial functions, Investigating functions, Informal functions.

(Book “People and Power”, pages 212-214) and/or Book PS, pages 265-268)

10. What is the Judiciary system of the USA (Duties, members and responsibilities)?

(slides 19-22: “3 braches, Separation of power, & checks & balances”)

11. What is the Separation of power? (you can draw the table if you wish)

(Book PS, pages 257-259 & “People and Power”, pages 203 & slides 24-34: “3 braches, Separation of power, & checks & balances”)

12. What is the Checks & Balances system? (you can draw the tables if you wish)

(slides 24-34: “3 braches, Separation of power, & checks & balances”)

Chapter 11. Presidential & Parliamentary