Currently, the United States has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country. This can be attributed to many variables and demographics. One of which variables is age. The younger the citizens they less likely they are to vote. Young people do not pay attention to politics and do not understand it's impact on their daily lives. Polls show that senior citizens vote far more often then their young counterparts. Another factor that affects voter turnout is your level of education. College graduates are more likely to vote then those didn't regardless of race.
Jury duty is required for those registered to vote, which may have an effect on voter turnout. This is because people don't like jury duty as it takes up a lot of time and they aren't payed for it. Also the extensive process of going to vote, turns many of the politically uninterested voters away.
An example of a linkage institution would be the media. As they inform the citizens about the current state of world politics. Also they connect to citizens many different outlets and opinions, allows citizens to form their own opinions based on the different perspectives.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Essay #5 Prompt: Interest Group
Interest Groups have many methods of obtaining the funding they need to run their operations. Litigation is one of these methods, as it is the process of taking legal action. For example groups concerned with environmental issues may take legal action against corporations causing destruction to the environment. Another method used by interest groups are campaign contributions. These contributions help interest groups endorse candidates whose political agenda supports that of the interest group. Limits are set on how much money a known organization can contribute as opposed to an unknown contributor. Lastly another method used by interest groups is grassroots lobbying/ mass mobilization. Also known as indirect lobbying, this method allows an attempt to affect the public opinion on legislature. This is used by interest groups because it lets them impact the legislation process.
An example of an organization at work today, would be the NRA (National Rifle Association). The NRA has been operating since 1871and is a strong advocate of gun safety, proficiency and ownership. Of the methods listed the NRA frequently uses campaign contributions as a way to garner attention. By endorsing candidates who support the values of the NRA, the NRA gains more support in their cause. The NRA would choose this method over the others because it is simpler and while it more require more funding, it gains a more positive media spotlight then going through the court systems.
An example of an organization at work today, would be the NRA (National Rifle Association). The NRA has been operating since 1871and is a strong advocate of gun safety, proficiency and ownership. Of the methods listed the NRA frequently uses campaign contributions as a way to garner attention. By endorsing candidates who support the values of the NRA, the NRA gains more support in their cause. The NRA would choose this method over the others because it is simpler and while it more require more funding, it gains a more positive media spotlight then going through the court systems.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Essay #5 Outline: Interest Groups
ESSAY Prompt
Create your draft response for this essay.
Publish.
Essay 5
Different interest groups will choose different techniques to achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals.
a) describe each of the following techniques and explain why an interest group would choose each technique.
Litigation
Campaign contributions
Grassroots Lobbying / mass mobilization.
b) Select one of the following groups and identify the primary technique it uses from the list in part (a). Explain why the group you selected would employ that technique over the other two techniques.
American Medical Association
Sierra Club
NRA
NAACP
Publish.
Essay 5
Different interest groups will choose different techniques to achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals.
a) describe each of the following techniques and explain why an interest group would choose each technique.
Litigation
Campaign contributions
Grassroots Lobbying / mass mobilization.
b) Select one of the following groups and identify the primary technique it uses from the list in part (a). Explain why the group you selected would employ that technique over the other two techniques.
American Medical Association
Sierra Club
NRA
NAACP
Essay Outline
Litigation- The process of taking legal action
Campaign Contributions- Money given to political campaigns to run for office. caps are set on how money a known organization can give versus an unknown organization.
Grassroots Lobbying/ Mass mobilization- Also known as indirect lobbying, is an attempt to affect the public opinion on legislature. With the intention of reaching the legislature and affecting the decision making process.
Part B Outline
NRA- The National Rifle Association is a nonprofit organization since 1871 and is an advocate of gun proficiency, ownership and safety.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Senator Wyden Bio and Questions
Ron Wyden was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1949. His parents were both jewish, living in the Nazi Germany, which they fled to live in the U.S. Wyden grew up in Palo Alto, California. Later he went on to attend University of California Santa Barbara, Stanford and University of Oregon School of Law.
His first position in politics was as a member of the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996. He was wildly popular as a democratic candidate with at least 70% of the vote in each house election. After serving in the House of Representatives, Wyden ran for the Senate in 1996 and barely won against Gordon Smith. He then was elected to a full term and remains an Oregon Senator to this day.
Committees Involved with:
Senator Wyden is a big supporter of education and aims to make the college education accessible to more people. In 2001, he authored the College Tuition Savings Act which eliminated taxes on college savings funds. Also he authored the Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, which helped potential college students understand what majors made how money in a career.
Sources:
http://www.wyden.senate.gov
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Wyden
His first position in politics was as a member of the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996. He was wildly popular as a democratic candidate with at least 70% of the vote in each house election. After serving in the House of Representatives, Wyden ran for the Senate in 1996 and barely won against Gordon Smith. He then was elected to a full term and remains an Oregon Senator to this day.
Committees Involved with:
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Finance
- Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
- Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness (Chairman)
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Chairman)
- Select Committee on Intelligence
- Special Committee on Aging
- Joint Committee on Taxation
- In today's troubled economy many politicians contemplate the best approach. Senator Wyden is a supporter of tax reform. Wyden cosponsored the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act. Which has been many economists as the best way to simplify our tax codes and economy going forward.The reform is meant to aid in corporate and individual tax codes,while creating millions of new jobs.
Senator Wyden is a big supporter of education and aims to make the college education accessible to more people. In 2001, he authored the College Tuition Savings Act which eliminated taxes on college savings funds. Also he authored the Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, which helped potential college students understand what majors made how money in a career.
Sources:
http://www.wyden.senate.gov
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Wyden
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