AP Gov Chapter 11 Essay

Americans are no more likely than the British to join...

-...social, business, professional, veterans', or charitable organizations, -and we are less likely to join labor unions

four factors help explain the rise of interest groups

-Broad economic developments that create new interests and redefine old ones -Government policy itself helps to create interest groups -Political organizations do not emerge automatically, even when government policy permits them and social circumstances seem to require them -The more government does, the more interest groups will arise or expand and try to influence public policy

2. Discuss the approach of the Founders toward executive power.

-Fear that president would use the militia to overpower state governments; -fear that president would become a tool of the Senate; -fear that the president would get reelected over and over due to corruption and manipulation. -The Electoral College cured some of these fears because it gave large states a voice, but also protected small states... this made it easier to decided issues about the president's power, so he was given the powers to make treaties and appoint lesser officials (with the advice and consent of the Senate). -they knew informed electors would have the final say.

America vs. Great Britain

-In Britain, only a few big interest groups exist; -America, citizens have been invested in their own freedom and rights; - Americans are more likely than Europeans to think that organized activity is an effective way to influence the national government; -it has proven to be effective throughout our history, so history keeps repeating itself

1. Explain the differences between the positions of president and prime minister.

-Presidents are outsiders, Prime Ministers chosen by Parliament; -President has no guaranteed majority in the legislature, PM's party always has majority; -Presidents chose cabinet members from outside Congress, PM picks from among Parliament members; -President fights to get what he wants, PM just needs support of his party

Characteristics of the American society

-Size and diversity of our country -Decentralizing effects of our Constitution (transfer of power from central to local government) -Vast number of nonprofit organizations -Weakness of our political parties

three types of incentives

-Solidary incentives; -Material incentives; -Purposive incentive

. the adversarial press and b. how reporters use their sources. c. Describe how an administration can develop tactics to use against the adversarial press.

-The tendency of the national media to be suspicious of officials and eager to reveal unflattering stories about them. -Reporters use their source confidentially. They don't go babbling to the entire world or revealing names. -Administrations can attack journalism by licensing journalists or giving out fines to discourage biased reporting

Demonstrate how the characteristics of the electronic media have affected the actions of public officials and candidates for national office.

-radio -TV -radio and television permitted candidates to speak directly to the audiences without filtering by and through editors and reporters. -audience could more easily tune[out or turn[off the communications -: bold, colorful, outrageous -the internet, blogging, social networking and tweeting have made communication the ultimate free market of political news and it appears now that there are truly no secrets for politicians

. Enumerate and discuss the various facets—formal and informal—of presidential power.

Formal Powers - Veto power, command armed forces, pardoning power, appointment powers, make treaties, convene Congress Informal Powers - The power to go public, power of persuasion, make executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, create & use bureaucracy, personality and leadership, and make legislative proposals.

. the evolution of journalism in American political history

early years of the Republic, politicians of various factions and parties created, sponsored and controlled newspapers ; partisan in their views. With changes to society and technology came the rise of self[supporting, mass[readership daily newspapers. High[speed rotary presses enabled publishers to print thousands of copies of a newspaper cheaply and quickly. The invention of the telegraph; stories had to be brief and this required that stories could not be as partisan or biased as before to attract as many subscribers as possible