Three Sources of Media influence
- Socialization
-Agenda setting
-Framing
-Spin doctors
- Pundits
(Pundits try t do what is right, and bring experts to come in and talk about an issue. Dr. Jewett is head of the pundits of the Political science department)
Covering Congress
- News enclaves
- Nationalization of the news
Feeding the local Press
- The Press Release game.
-regular Columns
The Local Press/incumbent advantage
- In many instances incumbents legislator press releases are printed verbatim
- Local reporters are “generalists”
- Local media cover the individual and no the institution.
-“News Hole” Refers to the amount of time that a station that has a gap that they can fill with a news story. The news channels have a lot of better chance to get the news in! Just imagine the CW! It’s Tv shows all day, and then just that 1 hour gap, the “News Hole” is when they show the news.
Why we Like our members?
- Some constituents
-Run against Congress
-Focus on local connections
-Highlight their parochial accomplishments
Why do we not like Congress?
- National issues are complex and often unsolvable
- Institution is reported on negative national media
-moves very slow
-rarely speaks with a single voice.
Generalities about media Coverage of Congress
- TV ads are becoming increasingly negative, and negative ads increase public cynicism
- Negative ads are not less truthful and tend to sharpen the issues in congressional campaigns
-Increase n Horse Race journalism from 38% to 55% from 1992 to 1996
- Sound bites are getting shorter
-Increase in coverage of national legislative elections, but no movement is coverage of state races.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
HW # 3! Answers coming Soon!
POS 3424 – Congress – Homework/Extra-Credit Assignment 3 – spring 2008
Rudder (Chapter 14 in D & O):
What is Rudder referring to when she suggests that the Bush Administration may be using fiscal crisis as an “action-forcing strategy?”
What percent of the deficit creating in the George W. Bush administration is the result of tax cuts? Discuss the debate over the precise percentage.
What is “bracket creep?” When was it eliminated?
In Addition:
Respond to the following – As most of you probably know there are no term limits for our national legislators, although they did exist for a short time in the early 1990s in a couple of states. Subsequently, term limits were declared unconstitutional as a violation of free speech. However, students of American history can note many times when the Supreme Court has, in effect, overturned itself. Moreover, term limits do exist for many legislators in this country at the state level. There is a plethora of academic literature on this subject. Use JSTOR, the key word “term limits,” and the journals prescribed in the grading rubric to gain insights for answering this question and the additional points for citing outside research. The on-line textbook also discusses the topic some. Some issues that you might wish to address on the subject are: 1) The constitutional basis for term limits 2) The effect term limits have on recruitment (who will run?) 3) The effect term limits have on interest group influence in American politics 4) How would term limits influence the committee system or the efficiency of the legislative process? 5) Would term limits alter the role of congressional staffers?
Rudder (Chapter 14 in D & O):
What is Rudder referring to when she suggests that the Bush Administration may be using fiscal crisis as an “action-forcing strategy?”
What percent of the deficit creating in the George W. Bush administration is the result of tax cuts? Discuss the debate over the precise percentage.
What is “bracket creep?” When was it eliminated?
In Addition:
Respond to the following – As most of you probably know there are no term limits for our national legislators, although they did exist for a short time in the early 1990s in a couple of states. Subsequently, term limits were declared unconstitutional as a violation of free speech. However, students of American history can note many times when the Supreme Court has, in effect, overturned itself. Moreover, term limits do exist for many legislators in this country at the state level. There is a plethora of academic literature on this subject. Use JSTOR, the key word “term limits,” and the journals prescribed in the grading rubric to gain insights for answering this question and the additional points for citing outside research. The on-line textbook also discusses the topic some. Some issues that you might wish to address on the subject are: 1) The constitutional basis for term limits 2) The effect term limits have on recruitment (who will run?) 3) The effect term limits have on interest group influence in American politics 4) How would term limits influence the committee system or the efficiency of the legislative process? 5) Would term limits alter the role of congressional staffers?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Class NOTES! FEB 25, 2008
Loopholes in '46 Law
- Only people spending someone else's money had to register
- Only people who had to register were those whose "principal purpose" Was to influence Legislation
-Grassroot Strategies were exempt.
The GOP and Lobby reform crica 1995
Specifics of '95 La, and Rule changes
- Bans on gifts in excess of $50.00
- Ban on Free trips
-Ban on Honorarium- Honorarium = Getting money in order to give a speech!
- Lobbying activities include work done to research or prepare legilation , as well as direct contact
- Lobbyists must disclose names of their clients, issues they are involved with, and the eamount they are paid for their services
- Non profit groups, 501 (c) 4, can not recieve direct federal grants.
(Which party is most corrupt? The one that has the most power! Why? They've got something the interest groups want, and that is the power to create legislations)
-Former US Trade representatives are deputies are banned for life from lobbying for foreign interests.
Loopholes after '95
- No ban on gifts to groups that legislators are affiliated with!
- No ban on gifts to election campaigns- other than limits in existing law.
-Honorarium can be received if the money is donated to a tax-exempt group
- Free travel is allowed if the travel is for
--- A. "Fact- Finding missions"
--- B. If the Intent to make a speech connected to their official duties!
Congress and teh Media
A love hate Relationship
Three Sources of Media Influence
1. Socialization
2. Agenda Setting- This is the media telling us what is the "NEWS"
3. Framing : - they frame what they want us to see!
- Spin Doctors
- Pundits
Hope this helps out those who couldn't make it to class! Also, there will be the summary of the chapters that we've had to read!
- Only people spending someone else's money had to register
- Only people who had to register were those whose "principal purpose" Was to influence Legislation
-Grassroot Strategies were exempt.
The GOP and Lobby reform crica 1995
Specifics of '95 La, and Rule changes
- Bans on gifts in excess of $50.00
- Ban on Free trips
-Ban on Honorarium- Honorarium = Getting money in order to give a speech!
- Lobbying activities include work done to research or prepare legilation , as well as direct contact
- Lobbyists must disclose names of their clients, issues they are involved with, and the eamount they are paid for their services
- Non profit groups, 501 (c) 4, can not recieve direct federal grants.
(Which party is most corrupt? The one that has the most power! Why? They've got something the interest groups want, and that is the power to create legislations)
-Former US Trade representatives are deputies are banned for life from lobbying for foreign interests.
Loopholes after '95
- No ban on gifts to groups that legislators are affiliated with!
- No ban on gifts to election campaigns- other than limits in existing law.
-Honorarium can be received if the money is donated to a tax-exempt group
- Free travel is allowed if the travel is for
--- A. "Fact- Finding missions"
--- B. If the Intent to make a speech connected to their official duties!
Congress and teh Media
A love hate Relationship
Three Sources of Media Influence
1. Socialization
2. Agenda Setting- This is the media telling us what is the "NEWS"
3. Framing : - they frame what they want us to see!
- Spin Doctors
- Pundits
Hope this helps out those who couldn't make it to class! Also, there will be the summary of the chapters that we've had to read!
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