Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
Mr. Tamburro /Ms. Wallerstein
Syllabus and Unit Guide
Unit/Topic: 3/Linkage Institutions – Mass Media, Political Parties, and Interest Groups
Dates:
November 11, 2013 – December 16, 2013
I can respond to
this question
using specific
examples and
multiple points
of view.
I can respond to
this question in
general terms.
I am unable to
respond to this
question.
Essential Questions
1.) How does the media link the citizens and government?
2.) How does the news create a sense of reality and influence social
and political values?
3.) Is the media biased?
4.) How do political parties link citizens and government?
5.) Why does the U.S. have a two party system?
6.) How has the role and influence of political parties changed over the
nation’s history?
7.) Why do people join interest groups?
8.) Do interest groups effectively link people and government?
9.) Why have interest groups become more influential?
Objectives:
4: I can meet this objective by citing a classroom activity, and can relate to specific readings. I am able to discuss this
fully, and could explain to others.
3: I feel that I have enough information to meet this objective, but I would have a difficult time explaining the main
concepts in writing or to my peers.
2: I think I understand the key concepts, but I have questions that need to be answered before I can satisfy this
objective.
1: I find this objective to be confusing. I need to better understand the main concepts.
0: I have not read or prepared enough to meet this objective.
Students will be able to:
1.) Describe the structures and functions of the mass media.
2.) Compare different news reports of the same story and evaluate the distinctions.
3.) Evaluate a variety of media sources for political bias.
4.) Explain the importance of the media in the formation of the policy agenda.
5.) Analyze the relationship between demographic changes in the U.S. and new types of
media consumption and evaluate how this has affected American politics.
6.) Compare the structure and functions of political parties at the national, state and local
level.
7.) Identify key party eras in American history.
8.) Compare America’s two party system to the alternatives.
9.) Analyze the reasons why third parties are rarely successful in the U.S.
0
1
2
3
4
10.) Explain the causes of party dealignment
11.) Explain how demographic changes in the U.S. have led to changes in the major
political parties.
12.) Identify the different incentives that motivate people to join interest groups.
13.) Compare types of interest groups and different specific interest groups.
14.) Compare interest groups, lobbying firms, and PACs.
15.) Compare PACs and Super PACs.
16.) Evaluate the ways that interest groups attempt to influence elections and
government decision making and the limits on their influence.
17.) Describe how the federal government regulates interest groups.
18.) Compare the goals of political parties and interest groups and explain how they can
support each other’s goals.
Topic and Assignment Schedule
Day
Date
Topics and Activities
1
M 11/11
 Review – what are linkage
(D)
institutions?
 Intro to Media & Politics: Focus
Questions
Reading/Viewing Due
2
W 11/13
(B)
 Distribute research assignment
 Functions of mass media
 History of media & politics
 Edwards 197-207
3
R 11/14
(C)
 “Making News” exercise
 Government regulation of media
 Role of internet in politics
 Edwards 207-210
 Lanahan #79 “From
Republic.com 2.0”
4
F 11/15
(D)


5
T 11/19
(B)
 Media center: research project
 Edwards 210-217
 Read an article on a
news source that would
be aligned differently
than your ideology

6
W 11/20
(C)
 Intro to political parties
 Structure and functions of political
parties
 Hippocampus, “The
Function of Parties in
America” and
“Organization of
Parties”
 Wilson 97-101
7
R 11/21
(D)
 Party platforms: group activity

8
M 11/25
(B)
FRQ
Media bias

History of Parties in U.S.
 Hippocampus,
“Political Party Eras”
and “Party Realignment
and Dealignment”
 Wilson 101-107
Assignments Due
 Pew Research Center
News IQ Quiz –
Bring in results

Questions about
Lanahan #79
 News Article
Analysis discussion
 Research topic should
be chosen before
today
 Review Media & Politics
 Review Unit 2 Test
9
T 11/26
(C)
10
11
W 11/27
 Political videos
(21 min)
M 12/2 (D)  Two-party system vs. multiparty
systems
 Third parties
W 12/4 (B)  Third parties
12
R 12/5 (C)
13
F 12/6 (D)
(Sub
plans)
T 12/10
(B)
14
 Intro to interest groups
 Assign interest group research project
 Media center: research project




 Media Research
Project

Hippocampus,
“Third Parties”
 Wilson 107-112
 Obstacles to Third
Parties handouts
Wilson 117-119
 Wilson 119-122
Interest group handouts
15
W 12/11
16
R 12/12
Wilson 124-132

(D)
M 12/16
Unit Test – MC / FRQ
All Unit Readings
 Study for Test
(B)
**Reminder that any reading assignments are subject to unannounced, open-notes (not text) quizzes.**
17
Roles of interest groups
Theories of interest groups
How interest groups influence policy
Wilson 122-124


Interest group reading
assignment
Key Terms and Vocabulary
amicus curiae briefs
broadcast media
class action suits
coalition
coalition government
collective good
congressional campaign committee
critical election
Dixiecrats
economic protest parties
electioneering
elite theory
equal-time rule
faction
factional/charismatic personality parties
gatekeeper
grassroots lobbying / mass mobilization
hyperpluralist theory
ideological parties
interest group
investigative journalism
linkage institutions
litigation
lobbying
mass media
media event
narrowcasting
New Deal coalition
news leaks
party dealignment
party eras
party identification
party image
party neutrality
party platform
party realignment
patronage / spoils system
pluralist theory
plurality
policy agenda
policy entrepreneurs
political machine
political party
press conference
national chairperson
national committee
national convention
PACs
press secretary
print media
Progressives
proportional representation
public interest lobbies
Ralph Nader
“revolving door”
right-to-work law
Ross Perot
single-issue groups
single issue parties
single-member districts
sound bite
spin control
Strom Thurmond
subgovernments / issue networks / iron triangles
Super PACs
talking head
Tea Party movement
third or minor parties
ticket splitting v. straight-ticket voting
union shop
winner-take-all system