Political Concepts Essay

1) Mass Media as the Fifth Branch of government expla country Mass Media is the fifth branch of government because it mickle shape public sound judgement and influence the national agenda.Importance It is important because todays media is so assertive and liable to such adversarial, negative reporting that they can be downright obstructive of government policy2) Agenda SettingDefinition 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 entrust drift aimlessly.3) Electoral College (how does it twist?)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 collegium or assembly of 538 President Electors who allude after the popular vote and cast their votes for President and Vice-President.Impor tance A presidential candidate may have technically won by get more than of the popular vote overall but if he loses in too many States with a high number of Electors, he can cool off lose the elections.4) Who votes (what kind of person is MOST likely to vote)? Why has voter turnout in America dec aird since 1960?A person who is involved in the charge up 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 potently 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 pass state policy. It is oft the only political exercise that the average person will have a say in.5) coitionWhat 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) CongressWhat be Standing, Joint, and Conference Committees? A standing committee is an ordinary permanent committee. By U.S. Congress rules, a conference committee is 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 short letter. A joint committee refers to a ll former(a) bicameral committees convened for some special function or some 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 starting time. This is the work of committees.7) CongressHow does a bill become a law? A bill must be authored, be deliberated on in committee wherefore 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 PowersThe president is the commander-in-chief of the army. He can mobilize the armed forces even without a pro forma 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) PresidencyTo be a successful leader of Congress, the President must be able to read the heart rate of congress well. He must know when to act and push for his agenda. He is important because Congress must be united under strong lead if it is to be an effective counter balance to the Presidents domination.10) JudiciaryJudicial Activists versus Judicial Restraintists. A Judicial Activist is a radical who tries to chase social justice in his decisions. While a Judicial Restraintist is a conservative who tries to maintain the status quo.Importance The judiciary needs a equilibrise mix of both kinds of Justices in order for it to be a fair and just final adjudicator of lega l disputes. If it were made entirely of Restraintists or Activists, decisions would be biased. scratch II Short Essays. Answer ALL parts of each question in as much detail and depth as possible.1) 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 cognize 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 respo nsibility be damned.2) In 2000 George W. Bush won as a result of the disaffection people felt with the Democrats. posting Clintons 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 aegir 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 go in just a few weeks of fighting. His bold fighting stance was still supported by many then. 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 whelm maj ority 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.) 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 Congressmans recommendation is necessary to enter West Point. Congress is hated, almost universally, because of its poor image. Rece ntly, it has been unable to stem Bushs warmongering. The economy is retard 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.