In the House of Representatives, majority rule is a huge deciding factor in our government's process of establishing legislation. Majority rule allows the majority party to shape the legislation process to their liking and put them laws that they want to see passed. It also majority rule allows the majority to control the flow of a meeting, while prioritizing their own agendas.
The differences between the Senate and the House of Reps. are that the Senate includes two members from every state, while the House is based on population of each state. This differences in how the majority is controlled, because some states have more representatives then others. Also the party majority is different between the two branches of congress.
Legislation can be passed in one branch of congress and not the other because of the checks and balances system and the limiting of majority rule. These systems make it so no one branch of government can make executive decisions solely on their own political agendas. Also it allows the majority rule is be more diverse with multiple people involved in the government's legislation process.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
The History of North Korea
Following World War II, the Japanese occupation ended in Korea. Though at the time Soviet troops still occupying North Korea. Going forward, North Korea become a Communist party and was ruled by a dictator regime. After which North Korea experienced the industrial revolution and grew as a country. Continuing their Communist party leadership.
Jumping ahead, in 1994 North Korean leaders freeze the country's nuclear program. Two years later the country is hit with flooding and major famine follows. Continuing on into present day, North Korea is still facing famine and a lack of electricity. But their program is in action and the country continues to pose a threat to the U.S.
In the past decade North Korea has become a rather crazy power-driven society. People are homeless and starving in the streets, while the country's leaders live very comfortable in their mansions with unlimited amounts of food. The citizens are restricted from viewing foreign information, allowing the government to control what people do and see.
Going forward, I do not see a regime change anytime soon because as Kim Jun Un is a young ruler he will most likely lead until his death. Also North Korea has been operating the current government for decades, making it difficult to change.
Sources
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/
Jumping ahead, in 1994 North Korean leaders freeze the country's nuclear program. Two years later the country is hit with flooding and major famine follows. Continuing on into present day, North Korea is still facing famine and a lack of electricity. But their program is in action and the country continues to pose a threat to the U.S.
In the past decade North Korea has become a rather crazy power-driven society. People are homeless and starving in the streets, while the country's leaders live very comfortable in their mansions with unlimited amounts of food. The citizens are restricted from viewing foreign information, allowing the government to control what people do and see.
Going forward, I do not see a regime change anytime soon because as Kim Jun Un is a young ruler he will most likely lead until his death. Also North Korea has been operating the current government for decades, making it difficult to change.
Sources
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/
Monday, January 6, 2014
Essay Prompt #7- Soft Money
As campaign contributions become exceedingly important, different types of contributions arise along with limits on amounts for most of them. Soft money is one of the types of campaign contributions. Soft money are political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising. A benefit of this method is that soft money is donated to political parties, rather directly to candidates which allows the donor to give as much money as they want to any political party. While this may a benefit, it also is a flaw because the government cannot regulate amounts. This has caused issues and changing the soft money is hotly debated.
Another controversial issue in today is whether or not to raise limits on individual contributions in campaigns. The idea of raising the limits causes concern because it makes it more difficult to track where the contributions are coming from. Also this brings the legitimacy of the so-called "Super PAC's" into question. Supporters of the raise on limits argue that the raise would allow for candidates to gain more funding and tackle bigger issues in their campaigns.
Citizens United strongly supports the raise of individual campaign contributions as it allows them to fund more campaign that they support. But all while not revealing their identity, so they can fund campaigns by
Another controversial issue in today is whether or not to raise limits on individual contributions in campaigns. The idea of raising the limits causes concern because it makes it more difficult to track where the contributions are coming from. Also this brings the legitimacy of the so-called "Super PAC's" into question. Supporters of the raise on limits argue that the raise would allow for candidates to gain more funding and tackle bigger issues in their campaigns.
Citizens United strongly supports the raise of individual campaign contributions as it allows them to fund more campaign that they support. But all while not revealing their identity, so they can fund campaigns by
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Essay Prompt #6: Linkage Instituations
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.
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.
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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