Unit 6 People and Politics. VOTING A right and a responsibility of citizenship

Unit 6Unit 6People and PoliticsPeople and Politics

VOTINGVOTING

A right and a A right and a responsibility of responsibility of

citizenship.citizenship.

VOTING: VOTING: QUALIFICATIONSQUALIFICATIONS

18 years old, can be 17 ½ at 18 years old, can be 17 ½ at registration if turning 18 before registration if turning 18 before electionelection

U.S. CitizenU.S. Citizen State ResidentState Resident Mentally CompetentMentally Competent Not a convicted felon currently Not a convicted felon currently

serving sentence in prison. Can serving sentence in prison. Can vote once sentence completedvote once sentence completed

VOTING: VOTING: REGISTRATIONREGISTRATION

Must register 29 Must register 29 days before the days before the election at:election at:

DMVDMV Registrar’s OfficeRegistrar’s Office Mail in Mail in

Application Application

VOTING: VOTING: PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

Increased turn-out Increased turn-out in Presidential in Presidential ElectionsElections

Participation more Participation more likely:likely:

EducationEducation

AgeAge

Income Income

VOTING: NON VOTING: NON VOTERSVOTERS

Lack InterestLack Interest Forget to registerForget to register Not informed on Not informed on

issuesissues Participation less Participation less

likely:likely: IncomeIncome

AgeAge

EducationEducation

VOTING: MAIN VOTING: MAIN IDEAIDEA

Qualified citizens have a Qualified citizens have a responsibility of stay responsibility of stay

informed about informed about campaign issues and campaign issues and exercise their right to exercise their right to

votevote. .

How the President Gets How the President Gets ElectedElected

Step 1: Candidate announces plan to run for Step 1: Candidate announces plan to run for presidentpresident

Step 2: Candidate campaigns to win delegate Step 2: Candidate campaigns to win delegate supportsupport

Step 3: Caucuses and Step 3: Caucuses and primary elections primary elections take take placeplace

Step 4: Nominee for president is announced at Step 4: Nominee for president is announced at national party conventionsnational party conventions

Step 5: Citizens casts their votes in Step 5: Citizens casts their votes in general general electionselections

Step 6: Step 6: Electoral College Electoral College casts its votescasts its votes Step 7: The President is inaugurated Step 7: The President is inaugurated

POLITICAL PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIESOrganizations made up of Organizations made up of people who share similar people who share similar ideas about the way the ideas about the way the

country should be governedcountry should be governed

FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES OF POLICAL PARTIESOF POLICAL PARTIES

Recruit and Recruit and Nominate Nominate

Candidates for Candidates for Public OfficesPublic Offices

PrimariesPrimaries- - Elect Elect CandidatesCandidates

ConventionsConventions- Name - Name Candidates Candidates

FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF POLICAL PARTIESOF POLICAL PARTIES

Help Help Candidates Candidates

Win Win ElectionsElections

Raise money for Raise money for campaigns campaigns

Campaign for Campaign for candidatescandidates

Most important Most important function since function since Candidate will Candidate will support party support party goals if electedgoals if elected


Set Set Party Party GoalsGoals

PlatformPlatform- - Statement Statement of party’s of party’s positions of positions of major major issuesissues


LeadershiLeadershipp

Work to Work to pass laws pass laws that that support support the party’s the party’s goalsgoals


WatchdogWatchdog Monitor the Monitor the actions of actions of officeholders officeholders to insure that to insure that they are they are honest and honest and hardworkinghardworking


Help Help CitizensCitizens

Educate citizens Educate citizens about issuesabout issues

Offer Offer opportunities opportunities for citizens to for citizens to be involved in be involved in the political the political process.process.

THE POLITICAL THE POLITICAL SPECTRUMSPECTRUM

LeftLeft Center Center RightRight

Democrats Moderates Democrats Moderates RepublicansRepublicans

DEMOCRATSDEMOCRATS ““Liberal”Liberal” On the leftOn the left Support government financed Support government financed

programs to help the poorprograms to help the poor Emphasize domestic programsEmphasize domestic programs More/Expanded GovernmentMore/Expanded Government Supported by workers, laborers, Supported by workers, laborers,

lower and middle income levelslower and middle income levels

REPUBLICANSREPUBLICANS ““Conservative”Conservative” On the RightOn the Right Support individual initiative and Support individual initiative and

economic growth to help the pooreconomic growth to help the poor Emphasize foreign policy and a strong Emphasize foreign policy and a strong

militarymilitary Less/Limited GovernmentLess/Limited Government Gain support from big businesses and Gain support from big businesses and

upper income levelsupper income levels

MODERATEMODERATE A person who avoids A person who avoids the extremes of the extremes of either partyeither party

POLITICAL POLITICAL PARTIESPARTIES

The American political system is The American political system is dominated by the dominated by the Democrats Democrats and and

the the RepublicansRepublicans; but ; but third partiesthird parties play an important role.play an important role.

Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System Have both liberal and Have both liberal and

conservative viewsconservative views Organize to win Organize to win

electionselections Appeal to the political Appeal to the political

centercenter Influence public Influence public

policiespolicies Reflect citizens viewsReflect citizens views Want to associate with Want to associate with

many people to get many people to get more votes more votes

Similarities

BETWEEN REPUBLICANS &

DEMOCRATS

Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System

DifferenceDifferencess

BETWEEN REPUBLICANS &

DEMOCRATS

Party Party PlatformsPlatforms (positions (positions on major on major issues)issues)

THIRD PARTIESTHIRD PARTIES Third parties play an Third parties play an

important role in important role in American politics.American politics.

THIRD PARTIESTHIRD PARTIES Introduce new ideasIntroduce new ideas Support a particular issueSupport a particular issue Revolve around a person (Ross Revolve around a person (Ross

Perot; Ralph Nadar)Perot; Ralph Nadar) Rarely win electionsRarely win elections Change the outcome on an Change the outcome on an

electionelection

THIRD PARTIESTHIRD PARTIES

Ross PerotRoss PerotReform PartyReform Party

Teddy Roosevelt- Progressive party

Ralph NaderGreen Party

ELECTORAL ELECTORAL COLLEGECOLLEGE

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGE

The President and The President and the Vice President the Vice President are elected by a are elected by a

majority vote in the majority vote in the Electoral CollegeElectoral College..


Each state has Each state has the same the same number of number of electorselectors as it as it does Congress does Congress MembersMembers

# of Senators# of Senators

++

# of Representatives # of Representatives ==

____________________________________

# of electoral votes # of electoral votes in each statein each state

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGE 538538 Total Electoral Total Electoral

Votes Votes 270 270 Electoral votes Electoral votes

needed to win the needed to win the election election


What made the What made the framers of the framers of the Constitution Constitution create this create this

system for the system for the election of the election of the President and President and

Vice-President?Vice-President?

WHYWhy do we

need electors?


RepresentationRepresentation

Question for Question for the framers:the framers: How to balance How to balance power between power between the large and the large and small states?small states?

Result:Result: Electoral Electoral votes for votes for each state each state are are determined determined by by populationpopulation


FearFear

Issue for the Issue for the framers:framers:

People are not People are not educated educated enough to enough to

make a good make a good decision.decision.

ResultResult:: Electors who Electors who were were educated educated about the about the processprocess would would make the make the official vote.official vote.


KnowledgeKnowledge

Issue for the Issue for the framers:framers:

Voters do not Voters do not know about know about candidates candidates from other from other states.states.

ResultResult: Using : Using electors would electors would keep people keep people from only from only voting for voting for candidates candidates from their from their state. state.

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGEElectoral College

The President and the Vice President are elected by a majority vote in the electoral college.

Each state has the same number of electors as it does Congress Members

# of Senators+# of Representatives =____________________ # of electoral votes in each state


ProcessEach party picks electors who promise to vote for their party’s candidate.

Popular vote: first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Winner take all system

The candidate with most votes in a state wins all of the electoral votes for that state.

Electoral Vote: December

Electors cast the official votes for President and Vice President.

Process Effect of the Electoral College on Campaigns

Candidates concentrate on

states with more electoral votes (California, New

York)

Small states can make the difference

in close elections

Favors a 2-party system

It is possible to tie (269 electoral votes each)

What if… no candidate receives 270 votes?

A TIE!!!

House of Representatives

selects the President

Senate selects the Vice

President

The Role of the Media The Role of the Media in Elections: in Elections: PropagandaPropaganda

MEDIAMEDIA

T.V.T.V.RadioRadioNewspapersNewspapersInternetInternet

Role of the Media in Role of the Media in ElectionsElections

The editorial section The editorial section of the newspaper, a of the newspaper, a televised debate or televised debate or T.V. program can T.V. program can provide candidates provide candidates and experts a way and experts a way to present opposing to present opposing viewpoints on the viewpoints on the issues.issues.

Air Different Air Different Points of Points of

ViewView


Call Attention Call Attention to Important to Important

IssuesIssues

By printing By printing articles or airing articles or airing stories about a stories about a particular issue, particular issue, the media is the media is able to create able to create interest in a interest in a topic where topic where none existednone existed..


Government Government officials and officials and candidates use candidates use the media to the media to communicate communicate

with the public.with the public.

Identify Identify candidates & candidates &

their platforms their platforms (stand/opinion (stand/opinion on the issues)on the issues)

How can How can voters voters

evaluate evaluate speeches, speeches,

literature and literature and advertisementadvertisements for accuracy?s for accuracy?

BY:BY: Separating fact Separating fact

from opinionfrom opinion Detecting biasDetecting bias Evaluating Evaluating

sources of sources of informationinformation

Identifying Identifying propagandapropaganda

Propaganda TechniquesPropaganda Techniques

PropagandaPropaganda

A A technique technique to sway to sway people’s people’s attitudes, attitudes, opinions opinions and and behaviorsbehaviors

Mass Mass media and media and technology technology enable the enable the spread of spread of propagandpropagandaa

Political Political candidates candidates use use propagandpropaganda to a to convince convince voters to voters to support support them.them.

BandwagonBandwagon““The latest poll shows that the The latest poll shows that the majority of people support Bill majority of people support Bill

Riberdy for President.”Riberdy for President.”

Everyone’s Doing Everyone’s Doing It!It!

Card StackingCard Stacking

““Bill Riberdy is clearly the Bill Riberdy is clearly the most qualified most qualified

candidate.”candidate.”

Use facts to Use facts to favor an opinionfavor an opinion

Barack Obama FactsBarack Obama Facts Obama worked as a Obama worked as a

community organizer community organizer immediately after immediately after graduation. graduation.

He also worked as a He also worked as a university professor, political university professor, political activist, and lawyer before activist, and lawyer before serving in the Illinois Senate serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. from 1997 to 2004.

He was propelled to stardom He was propelled to stardom by giving the 2004 by giving the 2004 democratic convention democratic convention keynote speech. keynote speech.

Obama has sponsored bills Obama has sponsored bills ranging from lobbying and ranging from lobbying and electoral fraud, climate electoral fraud, climate change, weapons control, change, weapons control, nuclear terrorism, and better nuclear terrorism, and better veterans care. veterans care.

John McCain FactsJohn McCain Facts McCain has never McCain has never

voted for a tax voted for a tax increase. increase.

McCain will continue McCain will continue the Bush tax cuts, the Bush tax cuts,

McCain will not cut McCain will not cut and run in Iraq, and run in Iraq,

McCain sponsored McCain sponsored legislation to keep the legislation to keep the Fairness Doctrine from Fairness Doctrine from rearing its head again, rearing its head again,

McCain supports McCain supports school choiceschool choice

Glittering Glittering GeneralitiesGeneralities

““A vote for Bill Riberdy is a A vote for Bill Riberdy is a vote for Virginia’s values.”vote for Virginia’s values.”

Uses words that sound Uses words that sound good but have little or good but have little or

no meaningno meaning

Glittering GeneralitiesGlittering Generalities

Name CallingName Calling

““Candidate Roberts is Candidate Roberts is corrupt and caters to corrupt and caters to

special interest groups.”special interest groups.”

Use of an unpleasant label Use of an unpleasant label or description to harm an or description to harm an

opposing candidateopposing candidate..

Name CallingName Calling

Plain Folks AppealPlain Folks Appeal

““Vote for Steve Roberts, Vote for Steve Roberts, who understands the who understands the problems of Virginia.”problems of Virginia.”

Candidates describe Candidates describe themselves as regular people; themselves as regular people;

average, hard working average, hard working citizens.citizens.

Plain Folks AppealPlain Folks Appeal

TestimonialsTestimonials““Bill Clinton says, “Stephanie Bill Clinton says, “Stephanie Harbin is a candidate you can Harbin is a candidate you can

trust. She has my vote!”trust. She has my vote!”

An endorsement An endorsement from a celebrity.from a celebrity.

TestimonialsTestimonials

Financing a Financing a CampaignCampaign

Running for office is Running for office is expensive!expensive!

$

Rising Campai

gn Costs

$

Lots of fund raising by candidates and parties

Gives an advantage to rich people

Limits opportunities to run for office.

Limits opportunities to run for office.

Interest Groups have more power

Encourage PACs

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.

fundraiser06oENya4

Public PolicyPublic PolicyHow individuals, interest How individuals, interest

groups and the media groups and the media influence the actions of the influence the actions of the

government.government.

What influences people’s

opinions??•Family & Friends•Media (Print and T.V.)•Importance

Why might a group have more influence than an individual?

•Louder Voice•More $•Represent more people

Why might a group have more influence than an individual?

•Louder Voice•More $•Represent more people

Public PolicyThe actions of the

government as they deal with the issues

of the day.

Ways that Ways that individualsindividuals influence public policy.influence public policy.

VotingVoting Being informedBeing informed Participating in politicsParticipating in politics Expressing opinions:Expressing opinions: * Letters to politicians* Letters to politicians * Demonstrating* Demonstrating CampaigningCampaigning LobbyingLobbying Joining interest groupsJoining interest groups

Ways that Ways that groupsgroups influence public influence public

policy.policy. Interest GroupsInterest Groups: organizations that : organizations that

seek to influence government seek to influence government policypolicy

Identify and publicize issuesIdentify and publicize issues Offer different viewpointsOffer different viewpoints LobbyLobby- seeking to influence - seeking to influence

legislators to introduce legislation legislators to introduce legislation or to vote for or against a bill.or to vote for or against a bill.

Donate $Donate $

An interest group is a structured

organization of people with

shared attitudes who attempt to influence public

policy.

Interest groups:

-Vary in size, goals and budget -Attempt to influence both the government and public opinion -Hire lobbyists to represent their interests

Interest Groups

PACsPolitical Action

Committees

Established to raise money to

support an issue or candidate

MEDIAThe media influences public policy by:

•Bringing attention to issuesoShowing different views on issuesoHolding candidates accountableoAllowing officials to communicate with citizens

Public Policy is influenced by:

Individuals Interest GroupsInterest Groups MediaMedia

•Vote•campaign•Keep informed•Express Opinions by: -Writing letters to politicians -Demonstrating -Lobbying •Join interest groups

•Identify and publicize issues•Offer different viewpoints•Lobby•Donate Money $$$

•Draws attention to issues•Shows different views on issues•Holds candidates accountable•Allows officials to communicate with citizens

Political Action Committees

oPACs are the political branch of a special interest group.oPACs raise voluntary donations of money from people who agree with their cause.oThey give money to elections campaigns of people they support and to the political party that will work for their goals.

Documents

Unit 6 People and Politics. VOTING A right and a responsibility of citizenship