WrittenAssignment4
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Thomas Edison State College *
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Course
110
Subject
Political Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
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4
Uploaded by BaronEnergy10700
American Government
Written Assignment 4
By
Lance Dickens
1.
Interest groups attempt to influence politicians and public policy in a variety of ways. Define the term
interest group
, distinguishing it from a political party, and briefly describe some of the ways interest groups seek influence.
[MO4.1, MO4.2]
An interest group is any formal association of individuals that attempt to influence the government for policy or decisions. Political parties occupy a
much broader scope that represent many citizens, while interest groups are usually more issue specific. The largest way interest groups tend to seek influence is through lobbying. The use of inside lobbying, which is direct communication with a lawmaker or outside lobbying, which is where
the group tries to get its message to the public and influence decisions from there.
2.
Discuss the differences between public and private interest groups. Which areas does each try to influence, and why? From which sources does each of these groups receive the funds needed to function?
[MO4.1, MO4.2]
Private interest groups seek specific benefits from the government that favor either one interest or a small group of interests, these are usually funded by wealthy individuals.
Public interest groups are those that want to promote goods that are benefits for most citizens, these goods are usually underfunded without government intervention.
3.
Through inside lobbying, groups seek to gain direct access to officials in order to influence their decisions. Describe key elements and tactics of the process of inside lobbying. Define
outside lobbying
. Who is involved, and who are the targets? What tactics are used, and what relationship is there with elections?
[MO4.1, MO4.2]
Inside lobbying is typically accomplished by directly talking to lawmakers, typically via testifying at hearings and helping to draft legislation.
Outside lobbying is considered indirect lobbying tactics. This is where the lobbyist will attempt to sway the public to come help or to contact interest
group members to pressure lawmakers. In this case outside lobbying can either be used to raise up or bash election candidates.
4.
Political action committees (PACs) are the financial arm of interest groups. Discuss PACs and super PACs. Discuss some of the controversies surrounding PACs.
[MO4.1, MO4.2]
Pacs are groups that collect funds from donations and then distribute them to candidates to help with various issues. Super Pacs are designated
Pacs that go through corporations and can spend almost as much money as they want, but they cannot spend it on one single candidate. Theyre controversial because they have all of this money they can use to slander or influence elections into their favor.
5.
Define a pluralist approach to group theory and the elite critique.
[MO4.1, MO4.2]
Pluralist theory is the belief that political power rests with various interest groups, while Elite theory is the belief that our government is controlled by elite citizens.
6.
Summarize the historical development of the news media from the nation’s founding to today. What has been happening to the news audience and the news media in recent years, and how has that affected the information levels of the American public? Why is it important for citizens to be attentive and informed?
[MO4.3]
Initially newspapers were a way to inform the American people of the various misdeeds of the British. From that point the cost of newspapers went down, allowing for a more diverse set of topics to be printed, which also helped bring about cartoons and such. With digital media in our day and age, we are hammered consistently by unnecessary “news” and topics, this also makes investigative journalism harder, while the media is extremely profit driven. This profit driven ideal and the ease that the news
to turned to become biased makes it difficult for citizens to determine what is real and what is fake. Citizens must be attentive and informed because that is exactly what is required to make correct decisions to your personal beliefs, not the beliefs of your peers or celebrities, but of your own wants.
7.
Define and explain the media functions of
agenda setting, promoting the public good
, and
watchdogs
. Why is the media referred to as the fourth estate, and what are the other three? Explain your answer.
[MO4.3]
Agenda setting is when media shows a groups intent, whether that is true or not. Media that attempts to tell citizens of actual ongoing events without bias, that is considered promoting the public good. The media can
be considered watchdogs, they find stories and share them with the people. The three estates are the branches of the government, while the media is considered the fourth because of how influential it is for our society.
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8.
Discuss divided government. Does redistricting have any effect? What is gerrymandering?
[MO4.3]
Divided government is when one or more houses of legislature are controlled by a party in opposition to the executive. Redistricting can have
an effect, as this redraws electoral maps and can cause people to gain or lose seats. Gerrymandering is the manipulation of legislative districts in an attempt to favor a particular candidate.