Final Exam Study Guide
- What is the media?
The media is a form of conveying information across the country and plays a role in all dimensions of the country’s system; political, social, and economical. Some laws give the press a lot of power and freedom to air. The free press is sometimes biased because their main goal would be to make money, divert them from their primary goal, to inform the citizens.
- What is the function of the media?
The media plays a massive role in the country. It educates the citizens on various issues concerning the country, such as voting rights. The media also investigates and reports specific issues to the public concerning households, organizations, or the government. Nonetheless, the media represent the country’s culture to the citizens.
- Slander and Libel
These are defamatory accusations that befall many media outlets if they are not careful with their words. Slander is an offense that is made orally, while libel is an offense that is written. There are laws in the state against slander and libel and could lead to a lawsuit against the media outlet causing severe consequences.
- Media as a watchdog
The media is perceived as a watchdog as it conveys the information to the people. For the public to be aware of what is going on, they highly depend on the media. Nonetheless, the media covers disputes and other malicious information meant to harm someone or the public; thus, the media is considered a watchdog.
- Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is the type of journalism that covers cases from the root cause until the effects of the cases to the people. Such cases include corruption, corporate embezzlement, and serious crimes. The media also covers investigations and political scandals in the government. This type of journalism takes up a lot of resources and time to come up with a factual story.
- Agenda setting and issue framing
Agenda setting is the media’s capability to influence the weight of importance on a particular topic available to the public. The media can select whatever story they feel would resonate well with the burning issue. On the other hand, issue framing does not focus on what story should be relayed but instead on what wat ways the story should be told to influence the mass.
- What do political parties do?
Political parties play a huge role in elections. People tie their political inclinations on the political parties. Members of the political parties use their membership in certain parties to woo people into voting for them. Besides that, the political parties have agendas in how they would make the country a better place and strive to achieve their objectives.
- Two-party system (Duverger’s Law and Institutional Barriers)
The two parties in the United States of America are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Duverger’s law is concerned with the parties concerning the electoral systems so that there is equal representation of the two parties in the legislature. Institutional barriers disadvantage some parties from getting equal representation from the policies put in place.
- The US’s Founding Fathers and political parties
The US’s founding fathers include George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Jay. They united the Americans and led the country to independence from British rule, and founded the first political parties; Federalist Party and Democratic-Republican Party.
- What are interest groups? What are lobbyists? Differences
Interest groups are groups sent by an organization or party to represent their interests to the people to influence them to make an important decision. Lobbyists are people in the organizations who form a direct link with the people they are concerned with. During elections, lobbyists reward or bribe the voters to influence their decision while interest groups check to ensure whomever they are representing is not being swindled off the votes.
- Iron triangle
The iron triangle is the relationship between interest groups, congress, and the bureaucracy during policy-making. The policies should be made so each unit would be able to help the other in case of anything, thus having a strong team. The relationship benefits between the three are mutual.
- Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission
The case was concerned with the amount of money used in election campaigns. Corporations were given the right to use any amount of money for the campaigns. However, the corporations dominate in the parties’ political process, and that would be the disadvantage of other parties that are not well funded. The decision held was that the corporations should not be involved in helping candidates.
- The main function of Congress (House of Representatives vs. Senate)
The House of Representatives makes laws for each district while the senate makes laws for the entire state. They both hold debates, hearings, and pass laws that concern the good of the people.
- The main function of the Presidency
The president is the head of all the states and oversees the laws being passed, and commands the army.
- How have presidents used their position to increase the power of the Presidency?
The president’s executive powers can enable him to pass laws that favor the president to have more power. Moreover, the president can sign treaties and other negotiation agreements to increase the power of Presidency.
- The main function of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court deals with cases that require the constitution to be interpreted or altered.
- Dual court system
This system is the existence of two independent courts; one at the federal and one at the national level.
- Guardians of the Constitution and individual rights
The judiciary is considered Guardian of the Constitution and individual rights because it promotes the constitution and guarantees people’s rights without deterrence from the government.
- Foreign and domestic policy
- What is domestic policy?
These are policies made to serve the citizens within the country’s boundaries.
- What is foreign policy?
These are policies made to cater to the world’s interests.
- How do the three-branch play a role in policy-making?
The three branches of the government include legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative makes the laws, the executive enforces them, and the judiciary ensures people follow the laws.
- California
- How is CA Governor? Lt Governor? CA Attorney General?
CA Governor is the head of state. Lieutenant Governor is the second in command to the governor. The CA Attorney General is the one who enforces civil rights and ensures the state’s resources are well utilized.
- What is a recall? Referendum? Amendment vs. Revision?
A recall is the order to return someone in their former position. A referendum is the vote of a particular question by the people. The amendment is the correction of policies while revision is the going through of the policies and suggesting which ones should be corrected.
- What is the composition of the CA State Legislature?
It contains two houses; the state assembly and the state senate with eighty and forty members, respectively.
References
Lenz, T., Holman, M. (2016). American Government.