a) An advantage that the majority party in the House of Representatives has is that they decide which bills will get voted on and when they will get voted on.

b) A difference between the House and Senate is the filibuster. In the House a majority vote passes legislation, but in the Senate, a filibuster can block a vote, which is when an individual extends a debate in order to delay or prevent a vote on a proposal.

c) If a bill gets passed in the House, then it could go to the Senate and be blocked by a filibuster. The House could pass the bill, moving it to the Senate to get voted on, where it is then not completely agreed upon and prevented from possibly ever being voted on by one person who extends the debate for a period of time.

1) The ADA increased the power of federal government because it allows the federal gov. to practice its power nationally on an issue that can intersect with state laws. For example, it protects people with disabilities from discrimination, meaning that marriage can not be prevented from handicapped people, something that is classified as a state law.

Preemption gives the federal government authority over the states by invalidating state laws when they conflict with federal laws.

2) The U.S vs Lopez case decreased federal power by ruling against the federal government, and further limiting certain powers of theirs.

Devolution takes power from the federal government, and gives it to the local governments, therefore narrowing the powers of the national government and increasing those of the state governments.

Interest group classwork

a) The main goal of interest groups is to see their interests adopted and protected by the federal government.

b) The major goal of political parties is to get their candidate nominated and elected to office.

c) Interest groups help political parties by stressing issues that are important to the public so that officials can know what topics to focus on, and raising awareness in the public.

d) By raising awareness in the public, interest groups can gain more support for their goal, as well as more widely publicize their goal so that it becomes a larger issue in politics than it might have been before.

1) Collective Good- Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member

Free-Rider Problem- When individuals do not participate in helping reach the goal of the interest group, and just sit back and enjoy the benefits that the members of the interest group work hard to receive.

Selective Benefits- Benefits only provided to people whose resources and incomes fall below a prescribed level.

2) a.  American Marijuana Association (AMA)
b. Fully legalizing marijuana in Virginia
c. The country with the money it can gain from taxing marijuana, people with health issues, potheads
d. Legal marijuana for anyone over 21
e.
f. My group will send petitions around the state advocating the legalization of marijuana, and will then present this to the state legislature. My group will also send a polling survey around the state to see what percentage of the state is in favor of the legalization of marijuana.

E4

• Maine, Senate
• Angus King-Independent; Charlie Summers-Republican
• Angus King    
• Charlie Summers
• poll results: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/me/maine_senate_summers_vs_dill_vs_king-3242.html
• Issues- Taxes- King wants to raise some; Gov spending- Summers wants to cut it
• Strategies- Summers making King look bad by pointing out that King went against his word by creating a negative ad toward his opponent when he pledged not to make negative ads.
• "I think people are tired of politicians who’ll say one thing and do another,”-Summers. Makes Summers look like a unique politician, one who can be trusted by the people.
• Ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4a3blFhcDo -Negative ad by Summers who claimed King was the only one to make a negative ad out of the 3 candidates.

E2
1. huffingtonpost.com

2. I'd say that this site is mostly opinion. ex.) "Which is why it's important to discuss with kids, even those too young to yet understand all the specific policy points or platforms, why politics matters." (Drexler) While this statement is most likely true, i would not call it a fact, it is more of her personal belief. 

3. A good amount of this site is fact as well because it talks about political stories. ex.) "Three legalization initiatives on state ballots are drawing support from voters, newspapers, civic groups, celebrities and even some members of law enforcement." (Angell)
4. This site is mostly built off of other peoples blogs.
5. The majority of the bloggers on this site seem to be Democratic, usually talking against Romney and in support of Obama.
6. This site could influence the American public by enlightening them on current political issues and more specifically the effect these issues have on individuals. Many individuals who are well informed on politics provide their opinion on what's going on in the presidential race, and viewers can gain information on how other people are responding to the candidates' platforms to give them something to reflect on.

1) I learned that Tim Kaine had the most amount of money raised for him in Virginia, along with the fact that the National Beer Wholesalers Assn was the top contributor in Virginia, donating $2,884,750.

2) I learned that local candidates such as senators receive more money from fundraisers from their states than presidents do from that state.