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| Chapter 5, cont. |
| Thursday 14 October Nationalization of the news-- * Americans are getting their news from the same places from the same viewpoints. * National news is pulled from very few same sources. * There's no local perspective on Nat events b/c so many media outlets are owned by too few corporations. * 75% of daily newspapers owned by conglomerates. Regulation of the Media * In some places you have govt owned media--not in the U.S.! * Media not guaranteed right/correct, but its free * 1930s FFC (Federal Communications Commission) granted licenses to radio & TV stations Equal time rule: media must be willing to sell time to both candidates * No govt regulates papers/magazines * A free media is necessary in a democratic govt * It plays the role of our watchdog--the only organized, continuous check on official actions and use of govt authority Chapter 6 - Individual Participation In 2000, 51% of ppl eligible to vote actually cast a ballot. 1996�48% 2002 we voted for members of the house, etc 40% We vote less than other places with centralized govt We vote less than we did before Franchise (right to vote) Traditionally, states determine voter requirements Tuesday 19 October 2004 Historical Restrictions --Property requirements�those who owned the country should control it --Religious requirements�constitution against Fed centralizing a religion, but nothing against states doing it --Age�even though it was stupid to draft 18 yr olds to war when you wont let them vote on the representatives sending them * Only 5-6% of population eligible, too restrictive so Fed Govt had to get involved Requirements have Changed 1. Voluntary changes by the states religious requirements & property requirements *removed 2. Constitutional Amendments 15th Amendment (1870) African Americans right to vote former slaves right to vote, prohibit voter discrimination of race give Congress ability to enforce through legislation *wasn�t originally successful *Ways around it: 1. Poll Tax- you had to pay to vote- helped keep poor ppl from voting (esp Afr. Am.) 2. White Primary- white Democrats controlled South 3. Literacy Tests- had to read/comprehend @ 6th grade level it was rigged- white voters rarely had to go through it, registrar determined pass 4. Registration Obstacles: (only 39% in 1964 votable) -timing (not enough opportunities) -applications long and tedious -holding applications over due dates intentionally 19th Amendment (1919) Women right to vote 24th Amendment (1964) banned use of poll tax in national elections 26th Amendment (1972) lowered national voting age to 18 3. Through use of Court decisions 1944 Case (TX) ruled that the white primary was unconstitutional 1966 determined poll tax unconstitutional in ALL elections (not just national) 4. Use of Congressional Action * Voting Rights Acts of 1965 -Congress realized biggest barrier to voting (esp in South) were registration problems -if evidence of discrimination in registering, US Attorneys General given power to replace local registrars with Federal voter registrars * 1970 Congress outlawed voter literacy tests altogether **Even with the easy registration process, there is a low voter turnout in US compared to other countries. It�s even worse in local elections! Problems with Calculation (the way we calculate) # who vote: (understated) written in names don�t count, misread punches Eligible to vote: 18+ is misleading, not all are eligible (non-citizens, felons still in prison/on parole, mental institutions Registration Requirements 48/50 states�voters must be registered ahead of the election MN can register on election day ND has no registration Criticisms: -too complicated, lower education & lower income have trouble with time & knowledge -ppl may decide to vote between registration deadline and election day Motor Voter Act (1993) � National Voter Registration Act - intent was to expand registration, expand the electorate, make it easier to register - mandated opportunities to register (getting drivers licenses, welfare, etc) |