Post on 31-Dec-2015
Parties, Voting and Elections
Parties, Voting and Elections
Chapters 5-8Chapters 5-8
GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY
A form of government in which supreme authority rests with the people.
A form of government in which supreme authority rests with the people.
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.
2 major political parties:RepublicanDemocrat
Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.
2 major political parties:RepublicanDemocrat
What Do Political Parties Do?
What Do Political Parties Do?
Nominating Candidates Informing and Activating Supporters Bonding Agent
Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders
Governing Acting as a Watchdog
Watches the conduct of the party’s business
Nominating Candidates Informing and Activating Supporters Bonding Agent
Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders
Governing Acting as a Watchdog
Watches the conduct of the party’s business
Party PlatformsParty Platforms
A political party’s formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues and objectives.
A political party’s formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues and objectives.
Different Types of Systems
Different Types of Systems Two Party:
Type of system found in the U.S Tradition Established with Thomas Jefferson and the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Multi-Party:
Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.
One-Party: Found in nearly all dictatorships Can also be called a “no party” system
Two Party: Type of system found in the U.S Tradition Established with Thomas Jefferson and the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Multi-Party:
Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.
One-Party: Found in nearly all dictatorships Can also be called a “no party” system
First Political PartiesFirst Political Parties
Federalists:Founded by Alexander HamiltonSupported the ConstitutionMost were rich
Anti-Federalists:Founded by Thomas JeffersonLimited role for the governmentSympathetic to the “common man”
Federalists:Founded by Alexander HamiltonSupported the ConstitutionMost were rich
Anti-Federalists:Founded by Thomas JeffersonLimited role for the governmentSympathetic to the “common man”
Minor PartiesMinor Parties
Different Types of Political Parties: Ideological Parties-
Based on a set of beliefs Single-Issue Parties-
Focus only on one public-policy matter Economic Protest Parties-
Rooted in periods of economic trouble Splinter Parties-
Have split away from one of the major parties
Different Types of Political Parties: Ideological Parties-
Based on a set of beliefs Single-Issue Parties-
Focus only on one public-policy matter Economic Protest Parties-
Rooted in periods of economic trouble Splinter Parties-
Have split away from one of the major parties
Minor Parties Cont…Minor Parties Cont… America First America 3rd Position Party Boston Tea Party Citizen’s Party of the U.S. Constitution Party Green Party of the U.S. Independence Party of America Labor Party National Atheist Party Objectivist Party Populist Party of America Reform Party of the U.S.A Socialist Alternative United States Pirates Party Unity Party of America Workers Party Working Families Party
America First America 3rd Position Party Boston Tea Party Citizen’s Party of the U.S. Constitution Party Green Party of the U.S. Independence Party of America Labor Party National Atheist Party Objectivist Party Populist Party of America Reform Party of the U.S.A Socialist Alternative United States Pirates Party Unity Party of America Workers Party Working Families Party
A Little VocabularyA Little Vocabulary
Ward: Unit into which cities are divided for the
election of city council members Precinct:
Voters in each report to one polling place Split-Ticket Voting:
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
Ward: Unit into which cities are divided for the
election of city council members Precinct:
Voters in each report to one polling place Split-Ticket Voting:
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
The ElectorateThe Electorate
The size of the potential voting population
About 220 million peopleVarious groups of people have
struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.
The size of the potential voting population
About 220 million peopleVarious groups of people have
struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.
Extending the Right to Vote
Extending the Right to Vote
Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:15th: gave African American males
the right to vote after the Civil War19th: gave women the right to vote24th: eliminated the poll tax as a
condition for voting26th: lowered the voting age to 18
Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:15th: gave African American males
the right to vote after the Civil War19th: gave women the right to vote24th: eliminated the poll tax as a
condition for voting26th: lowered the voting age to 18
Requirements for VotingRequirements for Voting Citizenship
If not born here, must take the citizenship test Residence
You must live in the state for a certain period of time
Age Over 18
Registration All states except North Dakota require voters
to be registered to vote prior or at the election
Citizenship If not born here, must take the citizenship test
Residence You must live in the state for a certain period
of time Age
Over 18 Registration
All states except North Dakota require voters to be registered to vote prior or at the election
Limiting Voters RightsLimiting Voters Rights
Literacy Test Your right to vote was based on the
person’s ability to read and write Poll Tax
Pay a tax in order to be able to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the
tests and taxes illegal Today those convicted of serious crimes
and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.
Literacy Test Your right to vote was based on the
person’s ability to read and write Poll Tax
Pay a tax in order to be able to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the
tests and taxes illegal Today those convicted of serious crimes
and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.
EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction
Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction
EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction
Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction
INSTRUCTION "C"
(After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)
1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________
2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________
3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________
4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.
INSTRUCTION "C"
(After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)
1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________
2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________
3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________
4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.
Why Don’t People Vote?Why Don’t People Vote?
80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.
Non-voters are: Under 35 Unmarried Unskilled Live in the South and in rural areas Women are more likely to vote than men
80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.
Non-voters are: Under 35 Unmarried Unskilled Live in the South and in rural areas Women are more likely to vote than men
Voting BehaviorVoting Behavior Income, Occupation
Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats
Education College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high
school graduates
Gender, Age Women tend to favor Democrats Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats
Religious, Ethnic Background Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats
Geography The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for
Democrats
Family and Other Groups Family members vote in very similar ways
Income, Occupation Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats
Education College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high
school graduates
Gender, Age Women tend to favor Democrats Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats
Religious, Ethnic Background Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats
Geography The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for
Democrats
Family and Other Groups Family members vote in very similar ways
Nominating ProcessNominating Process
Nomination: naming of those who seek office
General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.
Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.
Primary:a political party’s nominating election
Nomination: naming of those who seek office
General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.
Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.
Primary:a political party’s nominating election
ElectionsElections Congress set the date as the “Tuesday-after-
the-first-Monday”. Absentee Voting: vote without actually going
to their polling places on election day. Polling Place: place where voters who live in
a precinct actually vote. Ballot: device by which a voter registers a
choice in an election. Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are
grouped together under the title of that office. Votes are counted electronically
Congress set the date as the “Tuesday-after-the-first-Monday”.
Absentee Voting: vote without actually going to their polling places on election day.
Polling Place: place where voters who live in a precinct actually vote.
Ballot: device by which a voter registers a choice in an election. Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are
grouped together under the title of that office. Votes are counted electronically
Campaign FinancingCampaign Financing
People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system
Campaign donations are limited to $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal
election or $25,000 to a party committee. Campaign spending limits
Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.
Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.
People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system
Campaign donations are limited to $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal
election or $25,000 to a party committee. Campaign spending limits
Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.
Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.