Federal policy-making
Role of the media, interest groups, political parties, and the internet in furthering democracy in the federal government
In the competitive media market, mass media and contemporary media are responsible for the restored democracy in the federal government. The media acts as a credible watchdog by publicly maintaining the credibility of the government through disclosure of plans that government has on the people, the transcending impacts that may arise, and also answering to concerning issues from the public. Investigative reporting has created openness and disclosure among governments (Coronel, p4-5). Further, in the participatory process of voting, the media engages different parties in public debates to give adequate information on policies, parties, and candidates so that the people can make informed choices. Overly the media keeps the citizens abreast of the issuing raising awareness and the current events affecting the society and how the media government responds.
Interest groups serve as source cues for the public in different matters relating to public policies, economic, political, or environmental purposes. Interest groups based on shared concerns will influence the policymaking by ensuring that the government is not corrupt or making illegitimate plans at the expense of the public. Any decision that the government takes, they consider the likely effect on the public as a whole and ramble for the best possible way forward. Interest groups additionally affect public opinion by strongly favoring a specific policy to convince decision-makers on the policy merits.
Political parties bring together people of the same political ideologies. During elections is when the majority of the votes are gathered and influence as many members as possible to promote the interest of voters (Stokes, 250). Winning political parties promote their agenda to the people and the opposition parties act as a watchdog on the ruling party to ensure that democracy is promoted and upheld by the ruling party. Further, the opposition party promotes ideology transformation by pushing the government to cater to the interest of the people. Thus parties maintain the continued responsiveness of the government towards the preferences of the citizens.
The digital age of today has the capability of transforming economies and so does it have the capability to influence the relationships between the government and citizens. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook serve as political debate platforms promoting rightful freedom of expression. Additionally, the government transparently shares its data online allowing people to access the activities of the government. Through the internet, people stay up on date with the government happenings as they occur. Further, people can express their opinions and comment on government courses of action on the internet through social media sites.
Federal policy-making process in addressing the covid-19 pandemic
The world at present is at a crossroads with a severe pandemic of the covid-19. Some of the federal course of actions taken are for the betterment of the Americans and their livelihoods. The decision to reopen the country through a guided process will ensure that the people keep up on their economic earnings and most importantly that they get to maintain a healthy mental construction because remaining confined to spaces is most likely to affect the people. The health experts are tagging along to ensure that safety measures on reopening the country are maintained. Further, aid packages that have been signed by President Trump and passed by congress ensure that paychecks for the Americans are boosted to support their families.
Role of the executive branch
When dealing with major issues such as climate change and nuclear proliferation, the executive is tasked with the role of signing bills into laws as they have been passed by congress which supports certain major decisions (“the executive branch”). The majority of issues will rely on the legal considerations taken for them to be upheld. Thus the executive deals with such main issues by passing or rejecting laws that support or reject major issues. Further, the executive negotiates foreign treaties which control issues such as the proliferation of nuclear issues. The executive through the president makes executive decisions which are key to major issues in a country such as decisions concerning the recent pandemic covid-19.
Work cited
Coronel S. Sheila. The role of the media in deepening democracy. Retrieved from http://www.changecommunications.org/docs/dib/dibengunpan010194.pdf
Stokes .C.S. Political parties and democracy. University of Chicago. 1999.2:243-267. Retrieved from https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.polisci.2.1.243
The executive branch. The white house North portico. The White house. Retrieved from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/executive-branch