The Media and PoliticsThe Media and Politics

Agenda settingAgenda setting Framing of issuesFraming of issues Sound bitesSound bites Cost of advertising and campaign Cost of advertising and campaign

financing financing The Federal Communications The Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) Commission (FCC) The equal time ruleThe equal time rule

Campaign Financing Campaign Financing

The Federal Election The Federal Election Commission (FEC)Commission (FEC) Political action committees (PAC’s)Political action committees (PAC’s) Hard and soft money (fundraising)Hard and soft money (fundraising) LobbyistsLobbyists

Political Primaries Political Primaries

Party delegates Party delegates state voting in party electionsstate voting in party elections National conventionsNational conventions Political platformsPolitical platforms

Politics and Voting DynamicsPolitics and Voting Dynamics

Incumbency advantagesIncumbency advantages The coattail effectThe coattail effect Straight and split ticketsStraight and split tickets Political consultantsPolitical consultants Gerrymandered districts (“Benign” Gerrymandered districts (“Benign”

Gerrymandering)Gerrymandering)

The American Two-Party The American Two-Party SystemSystem

Washington’s Farewell Address Washington’s Farewell Address (avoidance of faction)(avoidance of faction)

Federalists and Democratic-Federalists and Democratic-Republicans begin dual competition Republicans begin dual competition traditiontradition

Examples of Third Party Examples of Third Party ChallengesChallenges

Populists (1892-1896)Populists (1892-1896) Progressives (1912)Progressives (1912) States Rights Democratic Party States Rights Democratic Party

(Dixiecrats, 1948)(Dixiecrats, 1948) American Independent (1968)American Independent (1968) Reform Party (1992)Reform Party (1992) Green Party (2000) Green Party (2000)

Why Do Third Parties Generally Why Do Third Parties Generally Fail?Fail?

No proportional seats allotted (single No proportional seats allotted (single member districts)member districts)

First-past-the post elections (winner take First-past-the post elections (winner take all)all)

Two party traditionsTwo party traditions A main party addresses neglected issuesA main party addresses neglected issues Campaign financing thresholds (5% in Campaign financing thresholds (5% in

national presidential elections)national presidential elections)

Sample Political RealignmentsSample Political Realignments

Progressives (liberals) shift to the Progressives (liberals) shift to the Democrats in the 1930sDemocrats in the 1930s

Nixon’s southern strategyNixon’s southern strategy Clinton and triangulationClinton and triangulation

Some Methods of Political Some Methods of Political ParticipationParticipation

Initiative Initiative Referendum Referendum Recall Recall Direct political primariesDirect political primaries Grassroots activism (demonstrations)Grassroots activism (demonstrations) Violence Violence Voter mobilizationVoter mobilization LitigationLitigation