Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Cha.5 How Do Citizens Connect With Their Government? - Coggle Diagram
Cha.5 How Do Citizens Connect With Their Government?
Introduction
Founders: members of Congress
But 1: 65000
Modern USA
"Linkage" institutions
(not offically)
Political Parties-Ideologies
Campaigns and elections
Interest groups-certain issue(s)
Media-shape minds and give feedback
5a. Political Parties
Tarnished reputation
Roles of Political Parties
Running candidates for political office: "labels"
Checking the other party→Partisanship
Informing the public
Organizing the government（legislative representatives）
George Washington warned against "the baneful effects of the spirit of party" as inciting American citizens "with ill-founded jealousies."-divide
Why a Two-Party System?
Consensus of Values
Historical Influence
The Winner-Take-All System(No proportional representation)
5b. Campaigns and Elections
Types of Elections
Direct Primaries:
party members to vote to choose the party's candidate for the general election
Closed: registered
Open
General elections
Most: Win√, 50% not required
Presidential Campaigns
Crisscross the country
Front-loading
Extensive polling, fund-raising activities
Campaigns: can very simple(local school board) \very complex
Party Convention(summer)
Formally nominate(today,however, the primaries make the decision)
General election begins
Shift their messages to "capture the middle."
Debate Oct.
5d. The Media
The Political Influence of the Media:
shape government and politics
By influencing political opinions of voters
Sway uncommitted people(voters)
By determining the behavior of candidates and officials
Eg: Franklin Roosevelt "Fireside Chats"
Comments: easily focus on superficial
By setting the public agenda
Comments: emphasizing scandal
→duller but more important political problems
→priorities rearranged
Vital link: fair?
Campaigns focus more on individual
Great power
Give people want, instead of need→profit
Player in modern "checks and balances" system
5e. The Internet in Politics
2000
But: interactive
Internet<old media
Internet vote tried
Comments
Easy to tamper, disfranchise the poor
Easier, faster, and more accessible
1996
Website, newsgroup,fringe organization(unregulated)
May could vote on all issues
Concerns:malicious hacker, the poor