STANDARD CE.5c
Election Campaigns and the Media

How do citizens make informed choices in elections?
Voters evaluate information presented in political campaigns to make reasoned choices among candidates.

Strategies for evaluating campaign speeches, literature, and advertisements for accuracy:
•    Separating fact from opinion
•    Detecting bias
•    Evaluating sources
•    Identifying propaganda
 

How does the media play a role in the political process?
The media plays an important role in the political process.
Mass media roles in elections
•    Identifying candidates
•    Emphasizing selected issues
•    Writing editorials, creating political cartoons, publishing op-ed pieces
•    Broadcasting different points of view

STANDARD CE.5d
Campaign Contributions

How has the high cost of getting elected changed campaigning for public office?

Running for political office is expensive.

Rising campaign costs:
•    Require candidates to conduct extensive fund-raising activities
•    Limit opportunities to run for public office
•    Give an advantage to wealthy individuals who run for office
•    Encourage the development of political action committees (PACs)
•    Give issue-oriented special interest groups increased influence

Campaign finance reform
• Rising campaign costs have led to efforts to reform campaign finance laws.
• Limits exist on the amount individuals may contribute to political candidates and campaigns