Amendment

AMENDMENT XIX

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

All women have the right to vote and states cannot infringe on that right.

This amendment is important because it serves the democratic ideals if the United States and better represents the American population.

Comparing Health Care

United Kingdom

• funded by taxes, 8.3% GDP
• "socialized medicine" run by government (National Health Service)
• focused on preventative care, general practitioners=gatekeeper
• long waits, few options for care

Japan

• funded by individuals, 8% GDP
• $280/mo., employers foot 1/2 bill
• 30% copay, capped based on income
• "social insurance"
• required have insurance, help from gov. for those can't afford, privatized medicine
• very successful, too little $$ going to medicine

Germany

• funded by ind., 10.7 % GDP
• $750/mo. pegged by income
• $14/3 mo., certain exempt
• "social insurance" (orig. under Bismarck)
• sickness funds
• no gatekeeper, higher copay if private practitioner
• underpaid, top 10% exempt-->treated sooner, for profit insurance

Taiwan

• funded ind., 6.3% GDP
• $650/yr fam. 4, 20% copay
• government run issuer mandatory insurance
• underfunded

Switzerland

• ind. funded, 11.6% GDP
• $750, subsidies available, 10% copay
• universal, insurance for profit beyond basic care
• expensive

Looking at the graphs, Americans pay the most for care, but do not receive the same quality of care as other nations. We have the highest infant mortality rate of the compared nations and the lowest life expectancy.

I would like to live in Switzerland because, despite the high costs, it has a good reputation for quality of care and a high life expectancy. The copay on care is low and the government did not have to fight the people to get universal health care.

A Fierce Green Fire

A Fierce Green Fire. Dir. Mark Mitchell. Perf. Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Isabelle Allende, Van Jones. PBS, 2012. Online.

A Fierce Green Fire is an environmental documentary created to celebrate Earth Day. It chronicles the history of the movement through the formation of the Sierra Club and Greenpeace. The human cause and effect is discussed through the Love Canal incident, global warming, and Chico Mendes.

Liptak, Kevin, Kevin Liptak Reported from Washington, and Jethro Mullen Reported from London. "White House Sets out Looming Climate Risks for U.S., Calls for 'urgent Action'" CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 06 May 2014.

Climate change is no longer a threat that our descendants will have to deal with, according to the Obama administration. It is a very real and present threat. This issue has also emphasized the polarization of the government, as consensus with in the lawmaking body has not been reached. Hundreds of experts collaborated on this report citing flooding, drought, and heat waves as only the beginning.

Valdez, Linda. "Business vs. Environmentalism? Tucson Puts the Old Lie to Bed." Business vs. Environmentalism? Tucson Puts the Old Lie to Bed. Gannet Company, 5 May 2014. Web. 06 May 2014.

Some old preconceptions are being knocked down in Tuscon, AZ. There John Wesley Miller, Republican, environmentalist, and founder of Green Chamber, is proving that business, politics, and environmentalism can go hand in hand, and should. He and his organization are committed to building net zero buildings and homes.

FRQ #22

The merit system hires based on tests and skill or abilities, not political favors or seniority. Bureaucracies are independent from policy making for many reasons. Firstly, many positions require a high level of expertise to operate efficiently, expertise that many do not posses. Due to that expertise, and the merit system on which hiring and promotions are based on, it is very difficult to fire or remove positions. The legislative branch can check the bureaucracy, through the federal budget, restricting cash flow to certain areas. Also, the courts wield the power of judicial review and the ability to declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional. Finally, interest groups can limit the bureaucracy by using the media to put public pressure on the institution.

The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.

1. (a)  Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.
2. (b)  For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence.
   
   • The structure of the federal bureaucracy
   • The complexity of public policy problems
3. (c)  For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy.

• Congress
  
• The courts
  
• Interest groups 
  
  http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf
  

FRQ #21

Two major provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics are freedom of speech and freedom of press. Interest groups may use litigation to exert influence over policy by going to the Supreme Court to declare constitutionality. For example the NAACP has successfully used litigation in the Supreme Court to secure their civil rights. Also, interest groups may use lobbying in the House or Senate to promote their interests. Through lobbying, interest groups can have direct contact with policymakers, which helps put a face to a cause and hopefully sway policymakers. Federal government does regulate influence of interest groups by requiring the registration of PACs and setting limits on donations to candidates campaigns.

Individuals often form groups in order to promote their interests. The Constitution contains several provisions that protect the rights of individuals who try to promote their interests in a representative democracy.

1. (a)  Explain two provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics.
2. (b)  Interest groups engage in a variety of activities to affect public policy. Explain how each of the following is used by interest groups to exert influence over policy.
   
   • Grassroots mobilization
   • Lobbying of government institutions
   • Litigation
3. (c)  Describe one specific federal governmental regulation of interest groups. 
   
   http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf

FRQ # 20

The NAACP is a prominent interest group that is fairly effective at achieving policy-reform by targeting national level institutions. In this case, the Judicial Branch is used by the NAACP to achieve their goals. A resource that this interest group uses is a large population. This helps show the Judicial Branch that it is not a small decision they are making that would only affect a few; instead it is a substantial, historically subjugated, number of people. Also, more amicus curiae briefs can be filed by individuals outlining the effect of certain policies on their lives. The NAACP can also use media to its advantage. Through publicized statements and goals, more people sympathize with their goal and can put public pressure on the Judicial Branch to make use the power of judicial review.





(1999_2)National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.

Select one of the following national interest groups.
- AARP
- AMA (Medical Association
- NAACP
- NAM (national assoc. of Manufacturers)

For the group you selected do each of the following.
- a identify one major national-level policymaking institution that this group targets.
- b describe one resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a)
- c describe another resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a).

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_gov_pol_us_99.up_7047.pdf

FRQ #19

In recent decades, the candidate behind the presidential race has become more of the focal point of the campaign rather than the party and policy. Media has contributed to this by focusing on the personality of the presidential candidate and moving away from policy discussion. It has also moved put emphasis on the candidate's personal history and background, not simply his political past. The constant scrutiny of the individual and his/her appeal to the public is broadcast more frequently in public opinion polls, news, talk shows etc. Presidential candidates have formed strategies to use this new campaign system by engaging in negative ads. Anything and everything that can be used to discredit the opposition is used, both personal and professional to undermine their position, credibility, and like ability. Because of this emphasis on image, candidates also bolster how they are perceived.  Talk shows, emphasis on positive characteristics, public philanthropy and other tactics can be used in the media to improve image. This perpetuates the media focus on the individual and not the politics.



(1999_1)In the 1990’s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. Identify and explain two ways in which the media have contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns. Identify and explain two ways in which presidential candidates’ use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns.

Your answer should not include a discussion of presidential primary elections.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_gov_pol_us_99.up_7047.pdf

FRQ 18

As shown by the graph provided, the percent of southern seats in the House of Representatives held by Democrats has decreased over time. The support for Democrats in the House declined slower that support for Democrats in the presidency because representatives had the incumbency advantage of experience, name recognition, and campaign funding. Southerners voted for the incumbent consistently.  Also Democrats in Congress wanted to protect their southern seats so they gerrymandered through packing and cracking. Women have become more reliable Democratic voters in the past few decades, reinforcing the Democratic bloc, while Catholics and labor union members have become less reliable Democratic voters, potentially strengthening the Republican bloc.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf

3. Over the last several decades, the composition of the Democratic and Republican parties has changed in important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the South, but other demographic changes have also been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than in congressional elections.

(a) Identify one specific trend evident in the figure above.

(b) Choose two of the following and use each to explain why southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing Democratic candidates to Congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency.

• Incumbency advantage • Gerrymandering • Differences between state and national parties

(c) Several other changes in party composition have emerged in the past few decades. Select three of the following groups and for each explain how parties have changed in composition with respect to that group.

• Catholics • Labor union members • Women • Social conservatives

FRQ 17

The merit system in bureaucracy rewards those who perform well and have relevant experience and works on a series of placement tests. Bureaucracies are able to operate fairly independently because many of the positions are appointed for long periods of time and employees are difficult to fire. They are large and require a high level of expertise, making it even more difficult for the government to exert much influence. Also, since bureaucracies operate on the merit system, incompetence or lack of knowledge is out of the question. Policy is complicated so Congress doesn't have time dwell on the details so it delegates to bureaucracies. The expertise allows bureaucrats to fill in the policy gaps. Congress can check the bureaucracy through the confirmation, or lack, of appointments. The courts hold the power of judicial review to check bureaucracy and interest can express their support or opposition of policies through the media, putting public pressure on the bureaucracies.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf

2. The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.

(a) Describe one key characteristic of the merit system. 

(b) For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence.

• The structure of the federal bureaucracy

• The complexity of public policy problems 

(c) For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy.

• Congress • The courts • Interest groups

FRQ 16

Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion because they do not want to be the victims of backlash if the policy is ill-received. Also, Congress does not want to devote time to the long process of implementing policies. The Federal Communications Commission controls much of communications and media such as television, radio, and telephone lines. The FCC exercises that discretion by issuing licenses and to companies and restricting inappropriate content for audiences. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for air, water, and other natural resources. The EPA ensures companies are not operating environmentally harmful procedures such as dumping waste into a river. Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent by controlling each agency's budget and forming oversight committees.


http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/_ap06_gopo_us_sg.pdf

2006-3 The United States congress and the president together have the power to enact federal law. Federal bureaucratic agencies have the responsibility to execute federal law. However, in the carrying out of these laws, federal agencies have policy making discretion.
(1) Explain two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion in executing federal laws.
(2) Choose one of the bureaucratic agencies listed below. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy-making discretion and give one specific example of how it exercises that discretion.
a. Environmental Protection Agency
b. Federal Communications Commission
c. Federal Reserve board
(3) Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.

FRQ 15

An entitlement program is one that all people qualify for regardless of need. THe primary source of revenue for the Social Security program is income taxes. As the population grows, the average age increases so there are more people on Social Security. The graph indicates that the pay out of Social Security will soon exceed the pay in, meaning that the people receiving Social Security will be greater than those paying taxes into Social Security and the program will run out of money. Age expectancy is longer and birthrates are down, causing the American population to become older overall. If the eligibility for Social Security were raised, then less people would be eligible for the benefit, thus decreasing the load put on the younger population, extending the depth of the reserve.


http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/_ap06_gopo_us_sg.pdf


2006-2 In recent decades, entitlement programs have constituted a substantial portion of the United States federal budget. Social Security is the largest entitlement program in the US. From the information in the chart above, and your knowledge of the US government and politics, perform the following tasks.
(a) define entitlement program
(b) What is the primary source of revenue for the Social Security program
(c) Identify one threat to the future of the Social security program should the trends depicted in the chart continue
(d) Describe on demographic trend that threatens the future of the Social Security program and explain how it is responsible for the threat that you identified in (c )
(e) Explain how any one of the trends in the chart above would change if the age of eligibility for social security were raised.

FRQ 14

The President of the United States' domestic influence can be quite limited, however, always resourceful politicians have found ways to make the most of their small enumerated powers to exert power. The president has the final say on legislation and can strike it down with a veto if it is not a policy he supports. This can be overruled by 2/3 of Congress, but the inconvenience can often be enough to stop a bill from passing. He also has considerable power over appointees such as the Cabinet Secretaries. Through his appointments he can influence labor, commerce, energy, etc.

Party polarization is increasing lack of consensus of policy issues within a party. This can greatly affect a president's influence in Congress because he does not have a strong backing by his party. It makes it easier for the opposing party to block legislation. Also, it does not build strong coalitions in the voting populace, which does not bode well for future elections. The lame -duck period is the few months between the election and the swearing in of a new president when the current president is still in office. Since he is heading out of office, the president's power is seen as weak. While his practical powers may not have diminished, his perceived influence has. This perception also creates a resistant Congress, as they will not have to deal with the current president for much longer.

2008-2)A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.

-The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.

-Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress.

*Mandatory spending

*Party polarization

*Lame-duck period

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/_ap07_us_go_po_sgs_final.pdf

FRQ 13

Congressional reapportionment is the process of redistributing House Representatives among the states based state population. This is important to the states because it keeps the policy makers more representative of the populace. As states grow, they receive more Representatives in the House, and vice versa. Congressional redistricting is the changing of district lines for voting for the House of Representatives. Politicians gerrymander, or try to manipulate the redistricting to their advantage. They can 'pack' districts by moving the lines in a way so the area is solidly of their party; this strengthens their position while weakening the other party's. Redistricting is also used by politicians to help underrepresented minorities in areas by creating districts with higher minority densities. Packing and cracking is discouraged by the United States Supreme Court, as demonstrated by limits imposed. Districts must contain the same size population and the borders of districts must be a continuous line encompassing an single area. 


2008-1) Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.
(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.
(b) Define congressional redistricting.
(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.
(d) Describe two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_us_gopo_q1.pdf

Deepwater Horizon

Works Cited

"Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster." 60 Minutes. CBS. 20 May 2010. Television. Through an interview with crewman, Mike Williams, Scott Pelley chronicles the destruction of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Although it had gone a remarkable seven years with out any crew injuries, After encountering issues with a drilling line, the crew was forced withdraw and start a new line, but not before a vital piece of safety equipment was damaged. On May 20, when executives came to congratulate the stellar safety record, the rig blew. Williams was left on the rig with two other crew members. He eventually jumped over 90 feet into the ocean and survived the destruction and his account has given the offshore rig investigator valuable information.

Smith, Martin, and Marcela Gaviria. "The Spill." Frontline. OPB. WGBH, Chicago, Illinois, 26 Oct. 2010. Television. The Frontline program, "The Spill," provides an informative account of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The controversial oil conglomerate has a spotted past and history of cost cutting (but safety endangering) practices as seen by the Texas City and Alaska incidents within a short time span. Despite three CEO's in less than four years, reforms were not made. After the spill, the heads of other major oil companies testified that BP's practices were unsafe and the company was banned from off shore drilling for seven years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/world/middleeast/sales-of-iranian-crude-oil-rose-in-january.html?

Inkley, Doug, and David Mizejewski. "How the Gulf Oil Spill Could Hurt Animals." - National Wildlife Federation. N.p., 4 May 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nwf.org/news-and-magazines/national-wildlife/animals/archives/2010/oil-spill-species.aspx>.

Meth

"The Meth Epidemic." PBS. PBS, 17 May 2011. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

This Frontline piece is a scholarly, semi-popular video that describes the meth epidemic that initially hit the west coast. It chronicled the efforts of law enforcement to identify and cut off the sources of meth. The control of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine was integral to the DEA and local police's efforts but with every victory, the cooks managed to find a new way around regulations. This is a reliable source because they drew information from a reporter who spent years dedicated to looking into this epidemic and it was produced by PBS. Much of the information is outdated for today's audience because it is several years old.

Davies, Dave, perf. Big Pharma And Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over The Counter.

Fresh Air. Rec. 26 Sept. 2013. WHYY, 2013. MP3.

The recording of Fresh Air, originally aired on the radio, describes the meth and the way that "cooks" create it. It is relatively easy to produce when someone has the right ingredients but can be highly volatile. Meth labs are generally more common in rural, poor areas of the United States but the regulation of pseudoephedrine is attempting to cut down on meth production and addiction. Big pharma, however, is against the regulation of the highly lucrative chemical needed many common cold medicinces. This scholarly interview is reliable because it was produced by NPR and has sufficient research and first hand accounts to back it up.

Rayman, Noah. "Breaking Bad Comes True: Blue Meth On Rise in New Mexico Read More:

'Breaking Bad' Blue Meth Appears in New Mexico http://nation.time.com/2014/01/14/breaking-bad-comes-true-blue-meth-on-rise-in-new-mexico/#ixzz2sfHsnfDO." Breaking Bad Comes True Blue Meth On Rise in New Mexico Comments. Time, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2014.

Based on the popular tv show, Breaking Bad, "blue meth" is on the rise in New Mexico and surrounding areas. Blue crystalized candy has been sold by stores as a tourist gimmick, but the presence of actual drug is increasing rapidly. The drug, though marketed well with Breaking Bad, is impure as it is cut with additional chemicals stateside that cause adverse sideffects beyond addiction. This article is reliable because it is based on a news story from the area and it was produced by Time magazine, a reputable institution.

FRQ 12

In recent years, people have become less satisfied and trustful of the government, and much of that is due to the divided government. A divided government is when the presidency belongs to one party and while the other party has the majority in Congress. This has led to a perceived lack of productivity and cooperation in Washington D.C. And essentially policy gridlock on many issues. The division has left no room for moderate political ideology while the extremes battle it out. The increased cost of elections has also contributed to the lack of trust in the government. PAC's play an increasing role, leading to speculation as to who is really controlling they government, the big business or the people of the Unite States. There is essentially a perpetual campaign season, forcing politicians to divert their attention away from policy issues and towards campaigning, furthering the question of what is getting done on the Hill. The lack of trust and confidence in the government had led to a decline in traditional political participation. Voter turnout is down and increase in unrest. Protesting has gone up as well. The dissatisfaction with the government in the hands of major parties has increased the presence of niche third parties, however.

3) Trust and confidence in government have declined in recent decades.

(a) Explain how divided government has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government. Be sure to include a definition of divided government in your response

(b) Explain how the increased cost of election campaigns has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government.

(c) Explain two specific consequences of the decline in trust and confidence in government for individual political behavior. 

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap04_sg_gopo_us_37090.pdf

FRQ 11

When running for office in Congress, there are many advantages when you are incumbent. According to the data from the graph, the House of Reoresentatives has a higher incumbency rate than the Senate, a rate that has only risen over the years. While incumbency rates are more variable in the Senate, they have increased overall as well. The incumbency advantage comes from manly places. Firstly, they have more resources for campaign fundraising. More money for a campaign means more money to spend on ads and media attention. Incumbents are generally more well known than their challengers and that also helps. People are more likely to vote for someone they have heard about rather than some up and coming stranger. The fact ther they were elected pars and have experience contributes as well because incumbents can point to policies and claim credit for them, further bolstering their position and giving them a bigger resume. The advantage of incumbents in races has also negatively affected the political process. For example, change is much slower and/or less likely when the same individuals are elected over and over. Also, Congress is less representative than it should be. Historically, white, older, Protestant men are elected and the incumbency factor blocks out females and minorities in House and Senate races.  

(2001_2) the graph above shows reelection rates for incumbents in the House and Senate. From this information and your knowledge of of the US politics, perform the following tasks. (Fig 12.1)

a) identify two patterns displayed in the graph

b) identify 2 factors that contribute to incumbency advantage. Explain how each factor contributes to incumbency advantage.

c) Discuss one consequence of incumbency advantage for the US political process

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_govpol_us_01_7046.pdf

FRQ Prompt 10

In politics, there are two main players: the interest groups and the political parties. Each are important and hold fairly equal sway in the process of policymaking. While both juggernauts battle it out in the political arena, it is obvious that their fundamental goals rarely align.
Interest groups generally focus on a specific policy or area, whether in support of or against. Their goal is to use the public and their resources to push for policies that favor them through tactics such as lobbying and litigation. Political parties, on the other hand, want to control the government. Parties achieve this by electing people to offices that allow them to control the policy agenda.
Interest groups can sometimes help political parties while moving toward their own goals. As a way to try to influence and promote policy, interest groups can contribute money to PACs. If a certain party or candidate supports a policy, the interest group can support that party of candidate to help push for, or against, policies. By contributing to a campaign, they can also influence future decisions that the candidate makes about unrelated topics. The access and influence to policy makers is integral to interest groups' goals.They can also be a large source of information for parties, information that they parties can use to gain control of the electoral system.

NoKoBloPo

Post World War II, the peninsula of Korea was divided into two areas of control, the North and the South. The Soviet Union had troops in the former, and United States stationed forces in the latter. Since then, North Korea has become a state that is the subject of much criticism from the United States. The communist Korean Worker's party was formed in 1946 and came to power with the support of the Soviet Union. Kim Il-sung became the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and ruled the nation until 1980. During the course of his control, the South Korea declared independence and the Korean War ensued. The war, between the years on 1950 and 1953, officially divided the peninsula into two nations. The goal of the "eternal president" and his successor, his son Kim Jong Il, was to reunite north and south.

After the Korean War, the area remained two separate nations, despite Kim Il-sung's attempts. North Korea enjoyed a period of economic prosperity and made moves to become more industrialized and modern. Part of their technological progress was the development of a nuclear program, although the nation agreed to halt the program when Kim Jong-il became leader. Kim Jong-il first emerged as a political figure in the 80's and assumed the position following his father's passing in 1994. Under his administration, North Korea suffered the effects of floods and the resulting famine. North Korea also began to move into demilitarized zones (set up post Korean War). Tensions were high between the north and south but were relieved a little during the summit at Pyongyang in 2000 between the two state's leaders and communication was opened up. Within a few years, however, conflict between the pair had erupted again.

Currently Kim Jong-un controls North Korea. Under his guidance, the north has become more isolated and closed to the outside world. The brief period of openness at the turn of the century has given way to propaganda and conditioning. While some of the elite enjoy a pleasant lifestyle, most of the populace is malnourished. Orphans little more than toddlers wander the streets because they left their homes, lost their parents, or were forced out of their families. Resources are thin and media is tightly regulated. No information comes in or goes out. People who try to leave are severely punished. Any suspicion of disloyalty and the whole family, even distant cousins thrice removed, are thrown into prison camps, tortured, and questioned. Some of the lucky expatriates who managed to get out have set up shop in South Korea. They smuggle foreign movies, flash drives, and other media into the country as well as set up secret radio stations.

The feelings of fear and hoplessnes permeates through the North. This will come to an end eventually and the carefully constructed tower of power is beginning to collapse already. As seen in the Frontline, people are unhappy with the constant regulations. Even the well living elite are expressing dissent in private conversations. The black market foreign media helps a great deal because it allows the people to see the outside world without the filter that their government has put on the information they receive. As more pressure comes from all directions, internally and externally, the North Korean government falters and will certainly crumble.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15278612
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.2.html
http://www.history.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-north-korea
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_North_Korea

FRQ Prompt 9

In modern politics, media plays an increasingly large part in influencing policymakers. The collection of important issues that lawmakers examine and dedicate time to is called the policy agenda and is greatly influenced by what media.
National news media links the voters to what the policymakers have put on the policy agenda. It does this by bringing such issues to the foreground and providing information and increasing the public's knowledge about the agenda. Since national news media reaches a large percentage of the voting populous, it also can bolster support or opposition for certain policies. This causes the lawmakers to pay close attention to national news media and what their constituencies want.
When it comes to media attention, the president is a highly publicized part of our government. This is due to several reasons, primarily the fact that he is an individual. Congress is an amalgamation of people, making them less cohesive and relatable. Part of the president's election process requires him/her to campaign nationwide and make himself/herself a household name; the many individuals that make up Congress do not need to do that. That the president is an individual, also makes it much easier to condemn or praise him. While Congress represents a spectrum, the president holds definite views.
The media and news programs is how the majority of the nation receives its information about politics. As shown in the table, there are several trends of the viewing demographic of nightly news. Most significantly is the dramatic decrease in the percentage of young people who watch the nightly news in 2002 compared to 1974. For the elderly there is a similar trend, although not as dramatic. Another trend observed is that as people get older, they are more likely to watch the news. The elderly are approximately 30% more likely to watch regularly than youth, no matter what the year.
Though the media is still a large part of government, the news is playing a smaller and smaller role. The  public's shift away from using nightly news programs to gather information has changed the way the president presents policies. Since the elderly are more likely to watch the news, the president uses the evening time to target that specific demographic. Even then, the nightly news is not as effective as it once was for promoting and informing on the policy agenda. To reach those who don't watch the news, especially the younger generation, the president must find alternative media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, tumblr, etc.

Holiday Political Song

How the Government Works (to the tune of Silver Bells)

City sidewalks, politicians
In pretentious suits
In the air
There's a feeling of confusion


Children crying
People dying
Cause they don't have health care
And Obamacare is really messed up

Chorus

House and senate
Are incompetent
'Cause they can't compromise
So nothing gets done...ever

Chorus

Elections coming
But not really
It's not for 2 more years
But Hillary doesn't seem to know that

Chorus

Making laws, making laws
There's no making laws in the city
Wasting time, drinking wine
Instead of doing their job

FRQ Prompt 8

The legislative branch of the government was designed to make the lawmaking process slow and force compromise. The House and Senate are a very large part of the delayed procedure and both have differing methods of passing a bill. The party who holds the majority in both houses not only has the advantage of numbers, but also possess the upper hand in other ways. For example, in the House of Representatives, the majority party has the majority when it comes to putting bills to a vote and is able to exert a substantial amount of influence on the process. Through a series of procedural guidelines in the House, the majority party can prevent bills from even coming up because they control the agenda and debates.
The House and the Senate operate very differently when it comes to the lawmaking process. One of the major is the level of formality in the system. The House has much more of a set process, with many formalities in place that the Senate does not have. Part of the set process is the Rules Committee, a committee that views all bills before they reach the House floor to budget time. Also, in the Senate, members can filibuster and effectively stonewall a bill. The House has no such ability.
These difference can hinder the passage of a law because one chamber can pass a bill while the other does not. The filibuster is a very obvious roadblock that the Senate can use. If a bill was passed in the House, Senators agains it in the other chamber can stall a vote on the issue until it is effectively killed. On the other hand, the House can block a bill with the Rules Committee, an institution that the Senate does not posses. The House does not have unlimited debate so Rules Committee sees each proposed bill and allots the amount of time to be spent on it. If the Rules Committee (controlled by the majority party) does not want a bill to pass, they can cut time and prevent any issues with the bill from being resolved.

FRQ Prompt 7

Campaign finance is a controversial topic and finance reform has been highly debated in the halls of congress. One of the the most prominent reforms proposed is the elimination of soft money, or the contribution of funds that avoid present government regulations or limits. People sidestep such regulations by donating to party affiliates instead of directly to campaigns or candidates. The supporters of this reform argue that campaigns are too dependent on money and the anonymity does not allow for accountability. The McCain-Feingold finance reform act was an early attempt to limit soft money, however the majority if the regulations were lifted or loosened. Opponents of such elimination claim that soft money allows for people to participate in politics without fear of backlash from their peers, and the removal of soft money would be an infringement on freedom of speech.

Another proposed campaign finance reform is raising limits on individual contributions to campaigns. This means that individuals would be able to donate more directly to campaigns rather than to PACs or third party affiliates. Proponents of this idea say that it would allow for more transparency and accountability, as well as providing a path for people to donate large sums without going the soft money route. Those against, however, state that such large contributions feed into the money orientated campaign game that is based on monetary funds rather than political merits. It would also allow an individual to "buy" a politician with large campaign contributions.