Money and Media dominate modern day politics " how far do you agree?
"Money and Media dominate modern day politics" - how far do you agree? It is widely claimed that the media, and the money available to dominate it, has a much wider grasp over the voting public than manifesto or policy. The majority of the worlds media sources hold some sort of partisan alignment, and its hold on the public means this bias is passed on to the electorate. How much it influences the electorate however, is different amongst many theories. The manipulative theory suggests that the media submerges real news in meaningless trivia in order to benefit itself. An example of this is Rupert Murdoch's support of Labour only once they'd dropped clause 4 of the constitution. The Hegemonic theory agrees with the accusation of the biased nature of the media but argues that it is less calculating. Any political stance it holds is the genuine opinion of the papers or broadcasters, and its publicising of these views is not in an attempt to manipulate the electorate. The pluralist theory argues that the customers choose the media, not the other way around, and their political views are reflected by their choice of newspaper or broadcaster, not changed by it. Though these theories have different ideas on the motives of the media, they all essentially say the same thing, the hard truth that the media is biased, and that its opinions are carried by its consumers. Another undeniable
Canada: Becoming A Nation.
Canada: Becoming A Nation Independence is what makes us different from others. It's something unique and special to have and maintain. Canada's independence from Britain is a defining moment. With passing of British North Act in 1867, Canada became a dominion in the British Commonwealth and this did not mean that it was a fully independent country. Canada evolves over the years to become a one of the best countries. Showing Britain and to many other countries that they are capable of being independent. Canada wanted to be an independent country and by participating in world war one Canada started its journey to towards its independence. Where, signing the "Treaty of Versailles" (1919) was their remarkable success. For greater recognition from Britain they started a move which was fruitful. Statute of Westminster in 1931 after five years of Balfour Report was passed by Britain. It transferred to Canada full control over foreign affairs. The next step towards nationhood was Canada's own flag (1965) and national anthem. Finally in 1982 Canada became fully independent country by "bringing home the constitution" that ends the British control over Canada. At the beginning of world war one, Canada's foreign policy was decided by Britain. But by the end Canadian performance on battle field had earned Canada the right to be more independent. When world leaders met in 1919 in Paris to
To what extent is 'Restoration' a more fitting term than 'Reconstruction' for the period 1865-1877?During the period 1865 to 1877, Reconstruction was the period in American history immediately after the Civil War.
To what extent is 'Restoration' a more fitting term than 'Reconstruction' for the period 1865-1877? During the period 1865 to 1877, Reconstruction was the period in American history immediately after the Civil War. The physical rebuilding of Southern cities, ports, railroads, and farms that had been destroyed during the war was only a small part of the Reconstruction process. The major work of Reconstruction involved restoring the membership of the Southern states in the Union. The main president during this period was Johnson, following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and although Johnson disagreed with slavery he was opposed to equal rights for blacks and the notion that they were equal to whites. The main reason for his opposition to slavery was that he believed that between a slave and his white owner, they were continuing poor white poor, by doing their jobs for no pay etc. Johnson wanted reconstruction to essentially be a re-establishment of the previous America before slavery and this was why he was opposed to the equality between blacks and whites. This was opposite in opinion for the Republican Party their view of reconstruction was to ensure that blacks would become equal to whites and have the same rights they had, mainly the right to suffrage. To start on the long and arduous process of equality, the Republican Party showed that through willpower and
What light is shed on the themes of Presidential power by both the record of Clinton and the events during the period?
What light is shed on the themes of Presidential power by both the record of Clinton and the events during the period? Whereas authority is the right to exercise power, power is the ability to exercise power. Powers are the functions, tasks or jobs of an office. Power on the other hand, is the ability to get things done. Every American president has the same powers as his predecessor. Essentially, President George W. Bush has the same powers as Jimmy Carter had, as Harry Truman had, as Woodrow Wilson had, as Abraham Lincoln had, as George Washington had - the powers to sign and veto bills, to appoint cabinet officers and Supreme Court Justices, to negotiate treaties and so on. But the power that each president possesses is very much a variable. Indeed, it even varies for the same president throughout his period of office. One might argue for example, that Nixon after Watergate or Reagan after Iran-Contra, or Clinton after Lewinsky, had much less power than before those unfortunate episodes. Power is the ability to get people to do the things they wouldn't otherwise do. In his scholarly book on the American presidency (Presidential Power), Professor Richard Neustadt makes it clear that 'powers are no guarantee of power'. In other words, the jobs one has to do as President are no guarantee or actually getting things done. This is why the President has to resort to persuasion.
Snider vs Phelps
Bryan Castillo .Verdict The Supreme Court will declare Phelps innocent. Since, he is using the Christian church to back up his outrageous opinions; religion is an exception in the first amendment. He might win the case unless Snyder and his lawyer can prove that Phelps is just using the religion as a gate way. Therefore, if my point is not proven Phelps will win the case. However, freedom of speech will be in danger, if he is punished without proving that he is using religion in order to get away with this. Phelps' opinions are opinions that do not contain provable facts; Such as "God hates fags" or "You're going to hell". No one will be able to prove such opinions. Therefore, they are protected constitutionally. Snider considers that his right to privacy was violated since he is not a public image. He also says that the first amendment has been misplaced and that it can be only used against public figures. In addition, to that Snyder says that Phelps' picketing caused him emotional distress. In my opinion, the Supreme Court and the members of the Congress should agree with the senators supporting Snyder's position in the case. Because what Phelps did and has been doing on funerals of fallen heroes, is something that many people in the United States specially will not tolerate no matter how insane you are. Something that I don't agree within this case is that Snyder
Power in the American Political System
Power in the American Political System As the complexity of government increase, the legislative branches of many western democracies have lost power to their executives giving rise to terms such as "elected dictatorships" and the elected members of parliament as merely "lobby-fodder". While occasionally eclipsed, and led, by strong Presidents the American Congress has mostly managed to maintain its control over the legislative process and imperial presidencies. President Bush's Nov. 13 executive order asserting his right to establish military tribunals for terrorists and the antiterrorism bill containing a section entitled "Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus" (Newsweek, 12/10/2001) is an example of the executive attempts at grabbing for power being controlled by congress. Congress has four main functions these are representation, legislation, investigation and scrutiny (oversight), and financial control. This essay is concerned with the legislative element only though it will be seen that due to the nature of American politics representation must always be considered The construction of the constitution is such that it implies that Congress was to be the dominant institution of the American political system (Article 1 S1-S8 of the constitution). The powers of congress are granted, guarded and constrained by the constitution and it is not, like the British House of
Politics In The Classroom
The debate topic is: whether in times of national crisis, should professors have either the right or obligation to discuss these issues in class regardless of class syllabus. My position is that a professor teaching a course of soft sciences has the obligation to discuss crisis occurring at the moment. I hold the stance that a professor has the right not the obligation to state his opinion on the affair. The later view concerns all courses even those outside the soft sciences. The importance of college is that it helps us prepare for the real world. Academic freedom is not only important for faculty members to further their research and teach their courses without outside intervention, but it gives the professor the right to allow an open discussion and debate in the classroom on issues that he considers crucial. Through the articles, books and even some projects that professors assigns he has an agenda and ideas he is imposing in the classroom. So why is it wrong for the professor to directly state his opinion in politics, war or any form of crisis? Only two things can happen: students can agree with the professor and change their formal views because of argument from authority or students can find flaws in the professor's argument and reinforce their preconceived notions. Either way is helping students become independent critical thinkers. Often students come into
Westward Expansion and Slavery
Westward Expansion and Slavery The North and the South had always been in turmoil, even from the beginning of United States history. At the Constitutional Convention, for example, they argued over congressional elections, and slavery. Although never mentioned in the Constitution it is evident that these two regions fought bitterly over the sensitive issue and came to great compromises such as the 3/5ths clause and the 1808 clause. Yet the two did agree on two things, the first was that they decided to cast aside the issue of slavery until 1808, and the second was they envisioned the expansion of the United States. Little did they know shortly after their tremendous decisions, the North and South would fight in a long war dealing with slavery, prompted by the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a compromise that allowed Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state there was also a line drawn at 36th latitude which allowed states above that line to be free and states below to be slave. This compromise was made to ensure the power in Congress between the North and South remained equal. Yet the south was not satisfied with the decision because the federal government was the overseer of which states were free and slave, and the north had the majority in
To What Extent were the rights and interests of American Negroes safeguarded in the period 1865-1890?
To What Extent were the rights and interests of American Negroes safeguarded in the period 1865-1890? At the close of the war more attention was given to the reconstruction of Southern institutions than to the elevation of the ex-slave. While a handful of the Radical Republicans, such as Sumner and Stevens, were aware that slavery had not prepared the ex-slave for participation in a free competitive society, most liberals assumed that the termination of slavery meant the end of their problems. They believed that blacks could immediately enter into community life on an equal footing with other citizens, Any suggestion that the ex-slave needed help to get started drew considerable resentment and hostility from liberals and conservatives alike. With the abolition of the peculiar institution, the anti-slavery societies considered their work finished. Frederick Douglass, however, complained that the slaves were sent out into the world empty-handed. In fact, both the war and emancipation had intensified racial hostility. The ex-slave had not yet been granted his civil rights. At the same time, he was no longer covered by property rights. Therefore he was even more vulnerable to physical intimidation than before. After Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson further accelerated he pace of reconciliation. Granting personal pardons by the thousands, he initiated a plan for
Analyse the claim that 'the process for electing the president is flawed and in need of reform'.
Analyse the claim that 'the process for electing the president is flawed and in need of reform'. The president is seen by most as the American leader, someone who is American through and through, from this position, and the constitution, the president has few powers. Presidential candidates are chosen in the Primaries, used for both congressional and presidential elections. Primaries themselves actually begin in January of the election year, with the aim of helping the two major parties choose their presidential candidate by competing like candidates against others e.g. Democrat candidate against another Democrat candidate. The primary season then ends with the parties each holding a national convention with aim set out of choosing a presidential candidate For the selection of presidential candidates, the choice is left entirely to the public and, unlike the British System, not to the party itself. The candidates chosen also arrange their own funding and run their own campaigns. The presidential primaries have four sub-divisions; Open, Closed, Advisory and Binding. Closed primaries are applicable to party members and affiliated voters only e.g. in the states of New Hampshire and California. In Open primaries all registered voters can vote in either the Democrat or Republican primary. This has shown to draw a very strong cross-party appeal from some voters which can
