Public approval of Congress has varied significantly over the past two decades. Describe what was happening in the country when the level of approval of Congress was at its highest and lowest points
Answer:
An ideal response will:
1. Identify 2001 as a high point. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, approval of government was high in general as the country came together.
2. Identify 2012 as a low point. Public was angry about Congress's inability to fix the economy in the wake of the Great Recession. Polarization in Congress led to gridlock. Many thought Congress was failing to meet its domestic responsibilities.
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What is infotainment?
a. The packaging of foreign policy in a simplistic manner so as not to burden the common citizen with multifaceted origins and political complexities b. The promotion of humanitarian issues through soft news sources such as This Week and Meet the Press c. The use of multiple sources of entertainment—such as television, newspapers, and the Web—by the government to draw attention to foreign aid initiatives d. Celebrity endorsements of humanitarian groups to promote specific causes and raise money
Political scientists have determined that public opinion has a strong influence on public policy. In light of the extent of the average citizen's political knowledge, is this encouraging news? How much does the average citizen know about domestic policy and foreign affairs? Which groups exhibit the highest degree of political knowledge? Should these groups have political power commensurate with their greater knowledge, or should American democratic politics retain an even playing field?
What will be an ideal response?