AP US Government: Unit 5

politics shaped by technology

Means of popular communication on a grand level

events staged for the media and only gain significance through media coverage

meeting between officials and the media

in-depth reporting to unearth the “dirt” on political leaders

paper based media forms

non-paper based media forms

in contrast to broadcasting, focuses on a small segment of the public or interest

groups of newspapers published by media empires

specific locations from which news originates

leaks intended to assess public reaction

small, short video segments of 10 seconds that are shown instead of speeches

shot of a person’s face directly to the camera

issues that attract serious attention to those active in news

people who invest political capital into an issue

Limits the president to two terms in office

Establishes a system of electing a vice president when the office becomes vacant

Equivalent to an indictment in criminal court

Scandal involving Nixon that lead to the people mistrusting the president

Group of the presidents closest advisors

links the president’s foreign and military policy advisors

3 member body that advises on the economy

Prepares the president’s budget and advises and reviews proposed regulations

power of the president to send a bill back to congress with reasons for rejecting it

type of veto where the if Congress adjourns within 10 days of sending a bill to the president, it is left to die

casting votes for Congress towards the party affiliated with the president

a system in that has a operates on a hierarchy and is impersonal and achievement based

Award of jobs not based on merit or ability to perform the respective job

an act creating federal civil service removing patronage

hiring based on merit and competence and nonpartisanship

system to get the most fit people for the job

prohibition of individuals in sensitive position to be active in partisan politics

hires for most federal agencies and uses elaborate rules

a ranking from GS1-GS18 by which salaries are linked

an elite at the top of the civil service system

makes and enforces rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy and manages disputes

provides services that could be by a private sector and also charges

agency not accounted in the rest and typically appointed by and for the president

putting policies into a program

SOPs, that allow for uniformity in everyday decision and promote fairness

authority to select amongst various responses

those in contact with the publics and have great Administrative discretion

government authority to control or change some practice in the private sector

lifting of government restriction on the private sector

regulation where government tells the private sector how to operate and punishes offenders

(alt. to above) uses rewards to manage policy

regulation from the executive branch

bureaucracies, interest groups, and subcommittees in congress that are mutually dependent

requires president to consult with Congress prior to sending troops and to withdraw them after 60 days

An emergency or catastrophe that requires the president’s crisis management skills

Executive orders
Appointment Powers
Executive Privilege

Emergency Spending
Impoundment

State of the Union
Economic Report to Congress
Budget Message

Reprieve
Pardon
Amnesty

Appoints diplomatic representatives

Diplomatic recognition

Makes treaties and Executive Agreements

Commander in Chief: The president exerts civilian control over the military

Requires president to consult with Congress prior to a commitment of troops

Troops can be withdrawn after 60 days unless Congress declares war or extends deadline

Consumers can identify with the subject directly or indirectly

Potential for immediate impact on consumers

Possesses an element of the unusual

Timely

Has dramatic elements or conflicts

Involves magnitude

Broadcasting v. Narrowcasting

Ratings/Profits v. Watchdog Function

24 House News Cycle:
BREAKING NEWS!!!

Corporate Ownership:
Whose View?

Gatekeeper Function:
Who Decides the News?

Sound Bites/Spin/Leaks/Trial Balloons

Pack Journalism/Feeding Frenzy

On the Record/Off the Record

On Background/On Deep Background

Soft News v. Hard News or
The Oprah Effect

Grazing for News v. Reading/Watching the News

Information Society = Informed Society?

Objective Media v. Biased Media

Professionalism v. Solo Journalists

German sociologist Max Weber: Bureaucracies are a rational way for complex societies to organize themselves. Elements:
Hierarchical structure
Division of labor
Specialization
Goal oriented
Impersonality
Productivity

the spoils system

created the Civil Service System.
Merit-based hiring and promotion.

prohibited civil servants from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns; no campaigning, making contributions, or volunteering for a party

Federal employees can run for office in nonpartisan elections, contribute to campaigns, join parties, volunteer for campaign work

15 Cabinet Departments

Government Corporations

Independent Agencies

Independent Regulatory Commissions

focus on one group, industry, or segment of society.

Bureaucrats decide how best to do the job given to them by Congress.

Issuing regulations, have the force of law.

Paperwork required to enforce regulations.

Some agencies:
conduct investigations
levy fines
issue licenses
settle disputes
publish reports and findings
Adjudication applies the agency's policy to the past actions of a particular party, and it results in an order for or against that party. Both methods are strictly regulated by the law of administrative procedure.

legislative committee, bureaucratic agency, and interest group

Loose, informal relationships among individuals, groups, parties, and even nations centering around a particular issue or constituency.

Energetic, high self-esteem, productive, confident, love the job.

Hard working, intense, but get no real pleasure from job, insecure, take criticism personally.

Cooperative, laid-back, optimistic, does the job, then goes home.

Low self-esteem, brooding, avoids conflict, motivated by sense of duty.

Self-image
How the president confronts himself every day.

Management Skills
How he approaches the job of president.

World View
How the president views human nature, his moral compass, ability to handle conflicts, and his belief system.

Director
The president is out front, leading, establishing goals, getting people to go where they might not otherwise go.

Facilitator
The president “works the system,” exploits what is given to him to his best advantage, gets people to go where they would go anyway.

Forceful and decisive

Flexible and willing to compromise

Respects tradition

Practical and reasonable

Above politics

Won’t abuse power

Capable of an uncommon performance

35 years old
Natural born U.S. citizen
Lived in U.S. for 14 years

Serves as President of the Senate; votes if there is a tie
Helps decide if president is disabled and cannot serve (25th Amendment)
As determined by president
A heartbeat away

Establishes who is next in line to succeed the president.
Vice president
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate

Chief Executive President presides over the United States Government

Chief of State
President performs ceremonial functions

Chief Diplomat
President represents U.S. overseas

Commander in Chief
President is charged with command of U.S. armed forces

Chief Legislator
President sets national legislative agenda

Party Leader
President is the head of his political party

Voice of the People
President speaks for the nation

Protector of the Peace
President maintains domestic order

Economic Manager
President manages the U.S. economy through tax and spending policies

Leader of World’s Democracies
President speaks for all democratic nations

Moral Leader
Is (should) the president be the moral leader of the U.S.?