American Government Jeopardy

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Final Exam Essay Choices

Dear Future statesmen and stateswomen, administrators, bureaucrats, and political elites,

Here are your three possible essay options for the final exam. Two will be on the final. You will be required to choose one to answer. Outline two of them ahead of time. Your answer will need to be in five paragraph-format.

Write a five-paragraph essay about one of the following topics. (25 points)

A.      What should be the United States’ role in Libya? Be sure to include information on the current events there, as well as your philosophy on when the US military is justified in going to war with another country.

B.      Who really governs in US politics? Answer the question with one of the four traditional answers to this question (Marxist, Bureaucratic, Elitist, Pluralist). Defend your answer by using examples from current events, history, and your knowledge of American politics.

C.      During the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, the media participated in “agenda-setting” to bring the issue to the forefront of the discussion and “framing” to change how the American public felt about President Clinton’s actions. On what issues today have the media “set the agenda” and attempted to “frame” American opinion a certain way?

Remember, only two of these will be on the final, so you will need to outline two. You cannot bring your outlines with you to the test. However, outlining them and preparing beforehand is a great, proven technique to help you write a solid essay on the exam. These questions are difficult, so start prepping now!

Happy studying,

Mr. Settecase

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 19: Media and the Lewinsky Scandal

Week 19: Media and the Lewinsky Scandal

Goals:

1.     Demonstrate understanding of how the media engages in agenda-setting and framing

2.    Analyze the effect of “economics of the media” on how issues are addressed in the public forum in the U.S.

3.    Convey the impact of White House News Management and Adversarial Journalism on the political culture in the United States

Key Questions:

·         What motivated the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal of 2008?

·         How do the media affect the issues which the public addresses?

Big idea:

Agenda-setting and framing are two major ways that the media influence politics.

Key Facts:

• The news media set the agenda for public discussion in the US
• The media and political public relations organizations sometimes compete with one another to frame a particular issue in the public eye

Review:

-       To what degree is agenda-setting by the media a conscious decision, and to what extend do scandals “take on a life of their own?”

-       What is an example of agenda setting today?

-       Do major issues disappear when the news stops caring about them?

-       What are some examples of big issues that have taken a backseat to smaller, trivial matters in recent months?

-       Look at the example of President Obama’s citizenship. How has the media “framed” this issue?

-       What about the death of Osama bin Laden?

-       Why would a news channel try and focus on an issue via talk shows (commentary) rather than actual journalism?

-       What is the role of “spin” in journalism?

-       Does the media generally support the president, or is it adversarial?

-       What is the role of the press in politics?

-       Does our current president have a “celebrity personality?” How so?

-       How did political opponents of President Clinton use the media? How successful are they?

-       What is adversarial journalism? Does news that can attract a wide audience give the media an interest in emphasizing political scandals?

-       Is the media biased? What is the media’s primary concern?

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 18: Abortion

Week 18: Abortion

Goals:

1. Consider what they know and understand about the topic of abortion and the controversy surrounding it in the United States.

2. Examine the anti-abortion movement’s current “incremental” approach to legislation by reading and discussing “Abortion’s Opponents Claim the Middle Ground.”

3. Research key court decisions, federal regulations, and legislation regarding abortion, from 1973 to the present

Key Questions:

·         Why is abortion such a hotly contested issue in the US?

·         Should abortion be illegal?

Review Questions:

a.     What happened in 1992 regarding the topic of abortion in the United States?

b. How, and in what context, is this issue being revisited currently?

c. How has the anti-abortion movement changed over the last twelve years, according to the article?

d. In what ways has the movement sought “incremental” legislative changes?

e. What is the Republican Party’s official position on abortion?

f. What is President Bush’s position on abortion, and in what terms has he discussed the topic?

g. What are some examples of recent legislation that illustrate the incremental approach, and how do these laws work?

h. What is meant by the expression “personhood” of the fetus?

i. What role has the Supreme Court played in the abortion debate, and how has that role changed over the years, according to the article?

j. What prompted the anti-abortion movement to change its approach to legislation?

k. Who is Dr. James C. Dobson, and what is his position in the abortion debate?

l. What do abortion rights supporters think about the new incremental approach on the part of the anti-abortion movement?

m. Who is Gloria Feldt, and what is her position in the abortion debate?

n. How do “moderates” challenge the position of abortion rights advocates?

o. What does Republican pollster, Bill McInturff, state about people’s positions on each side of the abortion debate?

p. About what does Gloria Feldt present the analogy of “losing one finger at a time”? What does she mean by this?

q. According to the article, what might prompt the abortion debate to “become raw and fundamental again, very quickly”?

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 17: Affirmative Action

Week 17: Affirmative Action.

Goals:

·         Define and explain judicial activism

·         Demonstrate understanding of the arguments for and against affirmative action

·         Develop and explain their own position on the Michigan case.  

Key Questions:

·         Should everybody be guaranteed an equal outcome?

·         Should certain groups of people be given an advantage due to past wrongs?

Key Facts: See your K/W/L chart for the key facts.

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 16: Who Governs? To What Ends?

Focus on Governmental Reform Movements.
Key Facts:

I.                    Key Questions on government

a.       Who Governs?

b.      To what ends?

II.                  No easy answers

a.       Everything depends on

                                                               i.      The policy being proposed

                                                             ii.      The opportunities to mobilize

1.       For opponents

2.       For proponents

III.                Changes over time

a.       Responsibilities and activities of Government have expanded

b.      New Challenges to Government

                                                               i.      Gov’t Structure

                                                             ii.      Ideals of Gov’t

IV.                Proposed reforms

a.       Can be sweeping (broad, expansive)

                                                               i.      One example: replacing Congressional system with Parliamentary one

b.      Effect will always be limited

                                                               i.      In how much they affect gov’t efficiency

                                                             ii.      Motivation behind reforms limit the speed of the reforms

c.       Motivation for reforms

                                                               i.      Public Opinion

                                                             ii.      Preserving rights = top goal\

                                                            iii.      Attempt to shape government

1.       Attempt to make gov’t more accountable

2.       Desire for more responsive leadership

V.                  Effects of attempts to change government

a.       May be effective

b.      Typically slow to take effect

Key Questions

1. What motivates political change?

2. Why doesn't political change take effect immediately?

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 15-16: Foreign and Military Policy

Week 15-16: Foreign and Military Policy

·         Explain how American foreign policy is set.

·         Demonstrate understanding of the importance of the president’s role in foreign policy

·         Outline a rationale for going to war Outline a position on when the United States military should be called overseas to intervene in a situation.

·         Explain the characteristics of an activist government and its consequences.

KEY FACTS:

·         The great issues of national diplomacy and military policy are shaped by majoritarian politics.

·         Majority opinion is weakly defined.

·         Elite opinion is powerful but divided.

·         Foreign policy is designed to give the public control.

·         The military budget is influenced by interest groups.

Discussion Points:

-       Is American foreign policy set by public wishes or elite views?

-       Elite views – most Americans are uninformed, and disagree with the elite. Yet, they will rally around the Pres when he sends troops overseas.

-       Why has the pres become so powerful in military affairs?

-       He is the Commander-in-Chief. The Supreme Court has supported him. If he has already sent troops, it makes it difficult to say no.

-       Why do we only go to war against some dictatorships and not others?

-       Should our foreign policy be based on American interests or human rights?

Key Facts from Chapter 20:

Foreign Policy & Military Policy

I.                    Two great issues in American Policymaking shaped by majoritarian politics (politicians compete for votes in order to attain the power they need to create policy)

a.       National diplomacy

b.      Military policy

II.                  How are the policies shaped?

a.       Through majoritarian politics (politicians compete for votes in order to attain the power they need to create policy)

                                                               i.      political ideology – plays an important role

                                                             ii.      “Interest groups”:

1.       Exercise influence on certain issues only

a.       Free trade

b.      Allocation of military contracts

c.       Other issues that engage their interest

2.       Intervene when military budget is spent on services and military contractors

                                                            iii.      Majority opinion

1.       Difficult to define

2.       Generally approves of the US playing an international role

3.       Certain cases, would prefer the US to stay home and MIOB (Mind its own business)

4.       When troops are sent overseas, Americans generally support government decisions and “support our troops.”

                                                           iv.      Predominantly influences military budget creation

b.      Elite Opinion

                                                               i.      Plays a powerful role—more powerful than majority opinion

                                                             ii.      Divided into four worldviews – (2-4 are deeply at odds)

1.       Isolationist

a.       Formerly popular

b.      Less-common today

2.       Containment

3.       Disengagement

4.       Human Rights

                                                            iii.      Disagreement over:

1.       Whether we should have stayed in Vietnam,

2.       Driven Iraqi troops out of Kuwait,

3.       Given aid to Bosnia

4.       Launched an air campaign in Kosovo

III.                How are the policies organized?

a.       In order to give citizens control

b.      Dominant public figure : President Obama

                                                               i.      Assisted by the National Security Council

1.       Secretary of State

2.       Secretary of Defense

                                                             ii.      Maintains “civilian control” over the military

                                                            iii.      Issues orders through the Secretary of Defense (Robert Gates)

c.       Joint Chiefs of Staff—Planning and Advice

Key Questions:
1. How is the current "kinetic military action" in Libya similar to the Iraq War of 2003-present?

2. The cost of intervening in Libya is already at over $500 million, and President Obama's administration estimates it will cost $40M a month going forward. Is it worth these costs? Explain.

3. Hypothesize what will happen to Libya if Colonel Gaddafi is deposed or dies.

Am. Gov. Final Exam Review - Week 15: Elections

GOALS:

- Analyze the consequences of the effects of the media on the outcome of political elections

- Explain the effects of election outcomes on public policy.

Key Facts:

I.                    Political Campaigns

A.      Increasingly personalized

                                                               i.      Little connection to Party organization

                                                             ii.      Party influence has decayed

1.       Result of the direct primary

2.       Increasing influence of the media

3.       Changes in campaign finance laws

B.      Candidate goals and challenges

                                                               i.      Candidates must an create an organization

1.       Temporary

2.       Can raise money from many small donors

3.       Can mobilize enthusiastic supporters

                                                             ii.      Win the nomination by

1.       Appealing to the party faithful (especially in the primary election)

2.       Keep the ability to win moderate and independent voters who wouldn’t normally vote for them (in the general election).

C.      Election Outcomes’ effects

                                                               i.      Important for public policy (i.e. laws) (Barack Obama: “Elections have consequences.” The same quote was used by Republicans after 2010.)

                                                             ii.      Especially true during critical/realigning elections

1.       When new voters come into the electorate in large numbers

2.       Old Party Loyalties weaken

3.       A major issue is splitting the majority party.

II.                  The Media

A.      Has changed over time.

                                                               i.      This change accompanies and influences changes in American politics

1.       The rise of strong national parties

a.       was influenced by the emergence of daily newspapers.

2.       Major reform movements

a.       Influenced by national magazines catering to middle class opinion.

3.       Weakening of political parties

a.       Sped-up by ability of candidates to speak directly to voters through radio and TV.

                                                             ii.      Changing role of journalists over time

1.       Poses a problem

a.       They should serve well as information gatherers, gate keepers, score keepers, and watch dogs

b.      To do this, they must be free of government controls.

                                                                                                                                       i.      This means that they can act in their own political and economic interests.

2.       Effects

a.       a wide diversity of opinion

b.      a general but not unanimous goal of fairness in reporting

B.      Political Bias of Media

                                                               i.      National Media is generally more liberal than the local media.

                                                             ii.      How much do a reporter’s beliefs affect reporting?

1.       Varies greatly based on the type of

a.       Story

b.      Routine

c.       Feature

d.      insider