LO 4.B.1: Explain the media’s role in providing citizens with political information.
LO 4.B.2: Analyze the development, implications, and consequences of increasingly diverse numbers of media and political communication outlets.
LO 4.C.1: Explain the functions and impact of political parties with regard to the electorate and the government.
LO 4.C.2: Analyze why political parties change and adapt to political realities.
LO 4.C.3: Explain structural barriers to third party and independent candidate success.
LO 4.C.4: Analyze the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making.
Interest groups may represent a certain issue that the people support, and their political influence could be useful because the people are being heard and addressed. It could lead to potential problems because interest groups represent solely a minority of a group and the greater majority might not agree with that certain group.
LO 4.C.5: Analyze the reasons for and impact of social movements and protest politics.
LO 4.C.6: Assess the impact of elections, public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on policy outcomes.
The listed factors above serves to influence and encourage members who share similar viewpoints, to vote for them in the elections. Hence influencing party platforms and nominations of candidates.
LO 4.E.2: Explain changes in the structure and function of election campaigns since 1972.
The structure of election campaigns has advanced since 1972, because campaigns are now more effective and spread more widely with the innovation of social media, etc. They candidates are more directly involved with the voters. Over time, the function has changed as well. There’s an increase in independent voters and a loss of support by party loyalists.
LO 4.E.3: Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of candidate-centered campaigns in the 21st century.
There is more flexibility and responsiveness from the office officials as the candidate is campaigning himself. But they rely heavily on contributions of organizations that will provide financial help to them.
LO 4.E.4: Analyze the relative importance of money and democratic principles in elections.
LO 4.E.5: Analyze whether the Electoral College facilitates or impedes democracy.
It facilitates democracy because it focuses on the idea of “winning by majority vote.” For example, in presidency, the presidential candidate has to win more than half of the electoral votes.