The Influence of Political Advertising: A Case Study on Corporate and Union Support for Federal Candidates

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Select a corporation, labor union or other group that actively advertised for or against a federal candidate in the last election cycle. Prepare a written response that addresses the following questions: (1) Who did the group support? (2) Why did the group support this candidate? (3) What type of advertising did the group use? (4) What was the nature of the advertisement? (5) Was the advertisement consistent with the campaign strategy of the candidate? (6) What was the ultimate outcome of the election? (7) What impact will this spending have on a candidate’s future decisions? The assignment is to answer the question provided above in essay form. This is to be in narrative form and should be as thorough as possible. Bullet points should not to be used. The paper should be at least 1.5 – 2 pages in length, Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins and utilizing at least five outside scholarly or professional source.The textbook should also be utilized. Do not insert excess line spacing. APA formatting and citation should be used.

 

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This assignment requires you to analyze a corporation, labor union, or group that actively supported or opposed a federal candidate in the last election cycle. You need to explain who they supported, why they did so, what advertising methods they used, and the broader impact of their spending. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you complete this paper thoroughly and effectively.


Step 1: Understanding the Assignment

Your goal is to select a real-world example of an organization that engaged in political advertising. This could be a corporation (e.g., Amazon, Facebook), labor union (e.g., AFL-CIO, SEIU), or political action group (e.g., NRA, Planned Parenthood Action Fund) that spent money on ads supporting or opposing a candidate.

You will need to:
✔ Identify who the group supported or opposed.
✔ Explain why they chose to support this candidate.
✔ Describe what type of advertisements they used.
✔ Analyze whether the ads aligned with the candidate’s strategy.
✔ Evaluate the effectiveness of these ads and their impact on future policymaking.


Step 2: Research Your Chosen Organization

To support your analysis, you must find at least five credible sources, such as scholarly articles, government reports, or reputable news sites (e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post, Pew Research, Federal Election Commission reports). Your textbook must also be referenced in your discussion.

Examples of Organizations to Choose From:

  • Corporations: Amazon, Google, ExxonMobil, Tesla
  • Labor Unions: AFL-CIO, SEIU, Teamsters
  • Special Interest Groups: NRA, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, AARP, Sierra Club
  • Super PACs: Priorities USA, Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity

Step 3: Structure Your Paper

1. Introduction (1 Paragraph)

  • Introduce the importance of political advertising in federal elections.
  • Mention the organization you selected and the candidate they supported or opposed.
  • Briefly outline the key areas you will cover in the paper.

2. Who Did the Group Support? (1 Paragraph)

  • Identify the federal candidate the group supported or opposed.
  • Specify the election cycle (e.g., 2024 presidential election, 2022 congressional elections).

3. Why Did the Group Support This Candidate? (2-3 Paragraphs)

  • Explain the group’s interests and political agenda.
  • Discuss key policies or legislative positions that aligned with the candidate.
  • Provide evidence of the group’s contributions (financial support, endorsements, policy alignment).

4. What Type of Advertising Did the Group Use? (1-2 Paragraphs)

  • Describe whether the advertising was TV commercials, social media ads, print ads, rallies, mailers, etc.
  • Mention the budget spent on advertising, if available.

5. What Was the Nature of the Advertisement? (2 Paragraphs)

  • Was the ad positive (promoting the candidate) or negative (attacking the opponent)?
  • Did the ad focus on policy issues, personal character, or voter mobilization?
  • Provide examples of specific messaging, slogans, or visuals used in the ads.

6. Was the Advertisement Consistent with the Campaign Strategy? (1-2 Paragraphs)

  • Compare the group’s advertisements with the candidate’s official campaign message.
  • Did the ads reinforce the candidate’s talking points, or did they take a different approach?

7. What Was the Ultimate Outcome of the Election? (1 Paragraph)

  • Explain whether the candidate won or lost the election.
  • Discuss how much outside support from groups contributed to the outcome.

8. What Impact Will This Spending Have on Future Decisions? (1-2 Paragraphs)

  • Discuss how campaign donations and advertising influence a candidate’s future policies.
  • Will the winning candidate prioritize the interests of their corporate or labor union supporters?
  • Provide examples of past instances where elected officials changed policies due to campaign support.

9. Conclusion (1 Paragraph)

  • Summarize the main points discussed.
  • Reflect on how political advertising shapes election outcomes and government decisions.
  • Mention the ethical considerations of large-scale political spending.

Step 4: Format Your Paper Properly

Your paper must be in APA format:
Times New Roman, 12-pt font
Double-spaced with 1-inch margins
APA in-text citations and reference list
Minimum 1.5 – 2 pages (excluding references)
No bullet points (write in paragraph form)

Example APA Citation Format for a Scholarly Source:
Smith, J. (2022). The impact of political advertisements on voter behavior. Journal of Political Studies, 45(3), 123-145.


Step 5: Proofread and Submit

  • Check for clarity, logical flow, and grammar errors.
  • Ensure you answered all seven questions thoroughly.
  • Use plagiarism-checking tools to verify originality.
  • Submit on time!

By following this guide, you will write a well-researched and well-structured essay that meets all assignment requirements. Good luck! 🎯

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