Political Concepts Essay

1) Mass Media as the `Fifth Branch` of government Definition: Mass Media is the fifth branch of government because it can shape public opinion and influence the national agenda. Importance: It is important because today’s media is so assertive and liable to such adversarial, negative reporting that they can be downright obstructive of government policy 2) Agenda Setting Definition: On a national level, this is a role usually reserved for the President, such as when he makes his State of the Union Address. Importance: As the leader of the nation it is his duty to set the Agenda for the coming year. Without a clear vision the nation will drift aimlessly. 3) Electoral College (how does it work?) Definitions: A ‘vote’ that will be counted purposes of electing a president; each state has a set number of electoral colleges.   The term refers to a â€Å"collegium† or assembly of 538 President Electors who meet after the popular vote and cast their votes for President and Vice-President. Importance: A presidential candidate may have technically ‘won’ by getting more of the popular vote overall but if he loses in too many States with a high number of Electors, he can still lose the elections. 4) Who votes (what kind of person is MOST likely to vote)? Why has voter turnout in America declined since 1960? A person who is involved in the campaign of some one running for election is most likely to vote. A charter member of the Republicans or the Democrats because they owe it to their group.   Those at the extremes of political opinion, who feel strongly for or against the candidates in question. Importance of voting: Voting is an essential political right, a chance to speak and be counted and an opportunity to affirm or reject state policy. It is often the only political exercise that the average person will have a say in. 5) Congress: What do they do? The Congress makes laws for the President to sign as well as attend to the needs of their constituency. Importance of what they do: Congress also provides an important check-and-balance to the power of the Executive, the President and the line departments because the framers of our Constitution did not wish the President to act arbitrarily without enabling laws from Congress. For example, he cannot wage war on Iraq without going to Congress to ask for appropriations that will cover soldiers’ salaries, aid to civilians, ammunition, fuel and support services. 6) Congress: What are Standing, Joint, and Conference Committees? A standing committee is an ordinary permanent committee. By U.S. Congress rules, a conference committee is â€Å"A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferees which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.† This means differences between the Senate and House versions of a bill.   A â€Å"joint committee† refers to all other bicameral committees convened for some special function or other except reporting legislation.   Examples of the latter are joint committee hearings on controversial matters or on impeaching the President. Importance of committee work: Laws are not made arbitrarily, often there is a need to consult with others before a bill is proposed in the floor. At the same time it is too chaotic present a half-baked bill to the general assembly of congress without refining it first. This is the work of committees. 7) Congress: How does a bill become a law? A bill must be authored, be deliberated on in committee then pass three readings in both houses of Congress. The President then signs the bill to make it law. Importance: On paper a bill must first pass through one house before it is forwarded to the other house for its own three readings there. But in practice a bill is often authored and filed simultaneously in both houses with each version differing little from the other. 8) Presidential Powers: The president is the commander-in-chief of the army. He can mobilize the armed forces even without a formal declaration of war for up to 60 days. Domestically, he has the power to make or break a bill with the stroke of a pen. He can also propose priority legislation to Congress. 9) Presidency: To be a successful leader of Congress, the President must be able to read the pulse of congress well. He must know when to act and push for his agenda. He is important because Congress must be united under strong leadership if it is to be an effective counter balance to the President’s domination. 10) Judiciary: Judicial Activists versus Judicial Restraintists. A Judicial Activist is a radical who tries to pursue social justice in his decisions. While a Judicial Restraintist is a conservative who tries to maintain the status quo. Importance: The judiciary needs a balanced mix of both kinds of Justices in order for it to be a fair and just final adjudicator of legal disputes. If it were made entirely of Restraintists or Activists, decisions would be biased. Section II: Short Essays. Answer ALL parts of each question in as much detail and depth as possible. 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mass Media is referred to as the fifth branch of government because of the sway it holds on public opinion. Media can reach into every aspect of our lives and influence us in ways the other branches of governance can only dream off. Regretfully, media is biased these days. It is biased for the highest bidder and for its own overly-liberal agenda. Media is a commercial proposition hence profitability is a concern. Since controversy creates cash, media is known to play up scandals and negative aspects of life because the shock value is known to create high ratings, which then attract more advertising money. As a result news today appears to be a parade of bad news and shocking events because media mercenaries know that by showing these they will get more advertising money and social responsibility be damned. 2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 2000 George W. Bush won as a result of the disaffection people felt with the Democrats. Bill Clinton’s presidency was rocked by scandal (Monica Lewinsky comes to mind) and economic depression (among other things, the frenzied dot-com bubble burst). People were tired of what they thought was the misrule of the Democrats and were eager to try what the Republicans had to offer. In 2004 Bush was flying high on the euphoria generated by his still successful War on Terror; both Afghanistan and Iraq had fallen in just a few weeks of fighting. His bold fighting stance was still supported by many then.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However Bush, in my humble opinion did not defeat Gore in 2000. Based on the total number of voters, first of all, Gore actually won the elections. He lost in the electoral vote, though. This is another reason why the electoral college system should be abolished, it devalues the principle of one man, one vote. In the extreme example, Gore could have had an overwhelming majority of the total voters but so long as he lost in enough large-college states like California, he would still lose the elections. Therefore, the electoral college system overvalues certain states if they have a large number of Electors. Kerry, for his part, lost during the 2004 elections because he could not present a strong alternative to Bush. 3.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The iron triangle is a corrupting influence in the American political process because it takes away from the sanctity of the political process enshrined in our Constitution. Congressmen are loved by their constituents for the benefits they can provide. A Congressman being a representative of his or her state tends to keep (and vote for) the best interest of the state in mind. After all if he votes or acts in a way detrimental to his constituents he will have to answer to them in the next elections. Also a Congressman’s recommendation is necessary to enter West Point.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Congress is hated, almost universally, because of its poor image. Recently, it has been unable to stem Bush’s warmongering. The economy is slowing down and Congress is getting a share of the blame for not doing anything to prevent it. Also, Congress is seen as a breeding pit of vested interests and lobbyists who push their agenda to the detriment of legitimate concerns of the country as a whole.