THE AMERICAN ELECTION PROCESS US Government and Economics

THE AMERICAN ELECTION PROCESS

US Government and Economics

All Elections Are Based in Issues

As we approach the 2012 Presidential Election, we find ourselves in a time of much debate about what issues matter the most in our society.

Looking at the State of the Union Address and the Republican debates that have been ongoing, we can already see certain issues are going to help decide the election.WHAT ARE THE ISSUES OF

TODAY?

In-Class Assignment

Create a top ten list of what issues concern you for the 2012 elections. You must include each of the following: The issue at hand Why it matters What you believe

should happen in regards to that issue

Homework

Create 3 “Top Ten Issues of the 2012 Election” Lists Each

Ask the same questions to the person you interview, as well as this information if they are willing to provide it: Age Gender Race Religion Political Affiliation Who they would vote for if

election was todayNOTE: You must interview people of voting age and they must be of differing age groups.

The Two-Party System in America

What is a political party?

Political Party: A group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work to put their ideas into effective government action

Why do Political Parties Exist? In your notebooks, create a list of five (5)

reasons political parties exist in general

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Why do Political Parties Exist? Political parties have many roles

including: Nominate candidates Convince voters Show candidate ideologies Overview stances on issues Appeal to certain voters Influence policy Raise money Many more…

The Two-Party System

Simply means we have two main political parties Other parties do exist, but they

have almost no impact on national politics

Why it works? Both parties have almost equal

strength Trying to attract masses of

voters means the parties are fairly close to the political middle and drastic changes rarely happen

Party Systems Elsewhere

More than two strong parties

Common in Europe To run government,

parties need to work together and compromise

Coalition: Agreement between 2+ parties to work together

Single party controls government

Law often forbids the formation of other political parties

Dictatorships Totalitarian

Governments

Multiparty System One-Party System

WHICH SYSTEM DO YOU BELIEVE WORKS BEST? WHY?

In your notebook, compare what you know about the PRIMARY and GENERAL elections.

What are the types of elections?

Types of Elections

Primary Often held in late spring/early summer Allows voters to choose the party

candidates for the general election

General Election November election Voters choose their leaders from the

candidates of all the parties

The Primary

Closed Primary Voters who are

registered in a particular party vote to choose the party’s candidates

Independents cannot vote

Open Primary May vote for the

candidates of either major party, whether you belong to that party or not

Independents

Do not belong to any political party (Republican, Democrat, or 3rd Party) May not be able to

vote in primary

Candidates get onto the ballot by getting enough petition signatures

The General Election

First Tuesday following the first Monday of November

Presidential Elections: Every 4 years (…2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016…)

Congressional Elections: Every 2 Years (Even Years)

How to Vote

Historically, voting done by voice vote Public knowledge of vote…also peer

pressure

Secret ballot Started in 1888 Paper ballot that lists names of candidate Vote in private Keeps elections fair and honest

More on Election Day!

Voting today Machines, Punch cards,

Paper Votes Story of the “Hanging Chad”

Straight Ticket v. Split Ticket Straight Ticket: Vote for all

candidates of one party Split Ticket: Vote for

candidates from multiple parties

Getting Nominated

How to get nominated

Must get party’s nomination at the national convention Each state has

members represent it at the convention (delegates)

Some states get more based on who won the last election

Key Vocabulary

Platform Statement on the party’s views and policies on

important issues Outlines party’s program for actions to address

problems

Planks Each part of the platform Example

Platform: Increasing Education in America Plank: More money devoted to K-12 and Higher

Education

The Role of Third Parties

At times, third parties or independents with no party affiliation have greatly influenced politics However, it is VERY rare

1912: Teddy Roosevelt (Progressive Party) Took votes from Republican William Taft and

Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins election

1992: H. Ross Perot (Independent) 19% of vote; may have cost George H.W.

Bush the election

Role of Third Parties (continued) May not win elections, but can

influence policy

Late 1800s: Populist Party Graduated Income Tax, 8-hour

workday, Immigration Reform Biggest Change: Direct Election of

US Senators Republicans and Democrats opposed

change Populist support grew, forced 17th

Amendment

Who are the 3rd Parties Today?

List as many 3rd Parties in America as you can.

Reform Party

Some Questions to Consider

Would 3rd Parties disrupt the balance of power in the US? Would the emergence of a 3rd Party be a bad thing?

Should 3rd Party candidates be allowed to participate in presidential debates? Why/why not?

Who Believes What?

Democratic Issue Republican

Liberal Philosophy Conservative

Donkey Symbol Elephant

Blue Color Red

Favor minimum wage laws and progressive taxation (higher tax

rates for higher income brackets)

EconomyBelieve taxes shouldn't be

increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should reflect free market.

Support for the death penalty is strong among democrats but opponents are a substantial

fraction.

Death Penalty A large majority of Republicans support the death penalty.

Should not be made illegal; support Roe v. Wade (some

Democrats disagree)

Abortion Should not be legal; oppose Roe v. Wade (some

Republicans disagree)

Support (some Democrats disagree)

Gay Marriage Oppose (some Republicans disagree)

Democratic Issue Republican

Try to solve most foreign policy issues through diplomacy; less

open to military interventionForeign Policy

Open to Military Interventionism; Very far right

are isolationists

Prefer “pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants educated

in the US; many still favor punishments on employers, but

to a lesser degree

Immigration

Many favor deportation or tougher restrictions on illegal

immigrants;Many support increasing

punishments for employers hiring illegal migrants;

Most oppose “pathway to citizenship”

Decreased spending Military issues Increased spending

Community and social responsibility based

Social and Human Ideas Individual rights and justice based

Believe government regulations are necessary to keep

businesses in lineGovernment Regulation

Believe in very little government involvement in the

economy/private sector

The Right to Vote

Americans and their Rights

When we discuss rights, people are quick to point out freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right to bear arms, etc. This is especially true when people feel their rights are being violated in some form.

Yet, in 2010, not even 38% of eligible voters came to the polls. If a law stopped 62% of people from enacting their rights, we would likely be up in arms about it.

Why do we not seem to care more about this right?

In your notes make a list of what you must be/do to be eligible to vote.

Who Can Vote?

Who can vote?

Any citizen over the age of 18 Some states have other exemptions

To legally be able to vote you must be registered to vote Must be 18 by a set date before the election Usually needs name, address, DOB, etc.

Reason for registering: protect your right to vote One man, one vote Identification

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MESSAGE OF THIS CARTOON? WHY OR WHY NOT?

The Electoral College

Can the electors change votes? Yes, though it is highly unlikely to

affect the outcome Most states have punishment for

“faithless electors”

156 “Faithless Electors” 71 due to candidate dying before

electors vote 3 abstained 82 chose someone else on their own

initiative

NO ELECTION HAS BEEN CHANGED BY A FAITHLESS ELECTORAL VOTE

Categorize the states…

Blue State: Normally vote Democrat

Red State: Normally vote Republican

Swing State: Unknown

Swing states get campaigned in the most and often help decide the election

Red, Blue, or Swing?

Alabama Alaska Arizona

Arkansas Georgia Idaho Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Montana Nebraska

North Dakota Oklahoma

South Carolina South Dakota

Tennessee Texas Utah

West Virginia Wyoming

ColoradoFloridaIndiana

IowaMichiganMissouriNevada

New HampshireNew JerseyNew Mexico

North CarolinaOhio

PennsylvaniaVirigina

Wisconsin

CaliforniaConnecticutDelaware

HawaiiIllinoisMaine

MarylandMassachusetts

MinnesotaNew YorkOregon

Rhode IslandVermont

WashingtonDistrict of Columbia*











North CarolinaOhio


Wisconsin


HawaiiIllinoisMaine



Rhode IslandVermont


170 182

186











North CarolinaOhio


Wisconsin


HawaiiIllinoisMaine



Rhode IslandVermont


170 237

131

Election by year

Election by year

Election by year

Election by year

Election by year

Response Question

Looking at the data on swing states and candidate visits during the 2008 election, do you think the Electoral College creates state inequality in terms of electoral power? Feel free to consider the reading from last night,

other discussions in class, and the way the Electoral College is set up

Write a 1 paragraph response making your argument

Why not the popular vote?

Only three times has the popular vote winner not gotten the electoral victory

Most Recent: 2000

• Essentially the current system• Winner of the state gets all of the state’s electoral

votes

“Winner Take All” Electoral

System

• Winner of that national popular vote wins electionPopular Vote

• Each Congressional district gets one elector; winner of that district gets one electoral vote

• Additional state votes go to state popular vote• This is the system used in Maine and Nebraska

“District Based”

Electoral System

• Each state’s electoral vote would be percentage based by popular vote

• Example: PA popular vote split 60% Dem to 40% Rep• Electoral Votes: Democrat 12 Republican 8

“Proportional Allocation”

System• Uses the electoral college system we currently have

but gives the national popular vote winner a bonus of 102 electoral votes

• 538 electoral votes done current way + 102 for popular vote winner = 640 total (Winner would need 321)

National Bonus System

Documents

THE AMERICAN ELECTION PROCESS US Government and Economics