Political Science - American Government

Political Science - American Government Public Opinion & Models of Democracy - Polling started in the 1930s and greatly increased in the 1950s because of computers Majoritarian: government should do what the people want; most people hold clear, consistent views Pluralist: government should consider public opinion, but it is seldom clear or consistent Political Socialization - Complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize) Primary Principle: - what is learned first is learned best -Agents of Early Socialization Structuring Principle - what is learned first structures later learning -Agents of Early Socialization Where do humans get their first political views? - Agents of Early Socialization Family Earliest political memories linked to family Politically involved parents create politically involved children Party identification learned from parents School Elementary: social order; national slogans and symbols, norms of behavior, decision making High School: build good citizens; rights, responsibilities; greater awareness of political process College: question authority and dominant political values Community and peers Homogenous communities: strong influence Pressure to conform Peer groups defend against community pressure Continuing Socialization Adulthood: peer groups and mass media assume greater importance Agents of Early Socialization Social Groups & Political Values - Education = increased awareness & understanding of political issues; more tolerance Income Region Ethnicity & race Socioeconomic status Religion Gender What percentage of the federal budget is spent on foreign aid? - About 1% The Development of the Mass Media in the US - Mass media: the means employed in mass communication; traditionally divided into print media (newspapers & magazines) and broadcast media (TV & radio). Media is a "linkage mechanism" connecting government & citizens Newspapers: first informational, with a purpose; then profitable with ads, entertaining; threatened by radio & TV; online versions Magazines: opinions/analysis over news; target attentive policy elites (leaders who follow news in specific policy areas); facilitate two-step flow of communication (elite reads, tells followers, all pressure government) Radio: began 1920; "hear personality" Television The Internet: began in 1969; 1983 networks became linked (creating the internet); blog (weblog) Private Ownership of the Media - Private ownership = political freedom...BUT... Advertising = profits = certain content favored Newsworthiness based on audience appeal; leads to market driven journalism Infotainment TV = 3 major networks Government Regulation of the Media - Government regulation focuses on: Technical considerations: FCC Federal Communications Commission ; issue broadcast license Ownership: Before Telecommunications Act of 1996, limited to 12 TV stations & 40 radio stations...after, limit is 35% of national TV market & no radio limit...next big issue: NET NEUTRALITY Content: 1st Amendment (freedom of the press); issues of 'obscenities,' equal opportunities rule (equal time for political candidates); fairness doctrine (cover both sides, repealed in 1987); reasonable access rule (make facilities available for expressions of conflicting views) Functions of the Mass Media for the Political System - Who decides what is important? Reporting the News: 1902, President Roosevelt gives reporters WH access News releases from politicians: controlling the story Bringing news from politicians to the public Interpreting & Presenting the News Gatekeepers: - media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who direct the flow of news (no internet gatekeepers)