Unit 3 Mastery Project
Identify and explain the role of the media in the political system.
LO 4.B.1: Explain the media’s role in providing citizens with political information.
LO 4.B.2: Analyze the development, implications, and consequences of increasingly diverse numbers of media and political communication outlets.
LO 4.C.1: Explain the functions and impact of political parties with regard to the electorate and the government.
LO 4.C.2: Analyze why political parties change and adapt to political realities.
LO 4.C.3: Explain structural barriers to third party and independent candidate success.
LO 4.C.4: Analyze the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making.
LO 4.C.5: Analyze the reasons for and impact of social movements and protest politics.
LO 4.C.6: Assess the impact of elections, public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on policy outcomes.
LO 4.E.2: Explain changes in the structure and function of election campaigns since 1972.
LO 4.E.3: Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of candidate-centered campaigns in the 21st century.
LO 4.E.4: Analyze the relative importance of money and democratic principles in elections.
LO 4.B.1-- The media is largely responsible for reporting on a candidate's background as well as the information not mentioned by the candidate directly. The media is supposed to focus on summarizing a candidate's political stance but is often too involved in the drama in politics. LO 4.B.2-- There is an increase in advertising to increase the information voters are aware of. It is also important to organize the political party at a more centralized, local level. The diversity of information different media groups report on results in varied political opinion of a candidate. LO 4.C.1-- Political parties are important in government because they prohibit the creation of a totalitarian state. They also help to represent a variety of opinions in the government. LO 4.C.2-- Political parties are constantly changing because different topics of discussion become more important over time. So as different issues become more important in politics, parties shift their platforms to favor an issue in a way that suits their political ideology. LO 4.C.3-- Third parties often have a difficult time developing because the two party system is so set in stone. On top of that, third parties also have a difficult time gaining support. LO 4.C.4-- Interest groups have a beneficial part in the political process by suggesting legislation and supporting a particular cause. However some interest groups tend to go overboard by petitioning and picketing important political events. LO 4.C.5-- Social movements have a huge impact on politics because the opinion of the people is what controls political elections. Often times parties will shift their entire campaigns on that topic to hopefully address the majority of people who share a stance on that new social movement. LO 4.C.6-- Elections and campaigns heavily influence policy making because those officials are bound to the grounds on which they ran their election, in that they guaranteed people that the would make their campaign ideas a reality. LO 4.E.2-- Campaigns have changed drastically with the innovations i technology such as television, improved radio, and social media. This new technology improves the manner in which all people are able to access political campaigning processes. LO 4.E.3-- Some benefits of one candidate centered campaigns are that people only have to choose based on how qualified they think that one person is but the down side is that people who are actually concerned aren't able to assess the minority people on that campaign team. LO 4.E.4-- Money is important because several individuals outside of campaigns donate in hopes that when that candidate wins, they will be rewarded a political position through a system called the spoils system. Money is incredibly important in controlling how heavily a candidate campaigns.