MODULE 4

Civic Responsibility

Lesson 1 The Electoral Process: Voting 6 Characteristics of a good candidate (national)

Self: Confidence, ambition and drive Scratch: money raised Staff: larger, better qualified staff with more money Skills: people skills, communicate with voters Stuff: natural talent, background good, media savvy Service: devotion to political service

Run for President1. Announce2. Primary – by political party3. Convention – party platform4. General election – November (1st Tuesday after 1st

Monday5. Electoral college - December6. Inauguration day – January 20th @noon.

Lesson 1: Voting

Electoral College There are a total of 538 electoral votes Every states = their representation in

Congress Texas has 34 (32 House/2 Senate) 3 for District of Columbia 435 members of the House + 100 Senators + 3 DC =

538 270 electors needed to win the presidency

http://www.270towin.com/

Lesson 2: Two Party System

Effects of the Two Party System Continues because of the winner-take-all electoral

system Works on a National Level Allows for stability in our government Local/state 3rd party candidates can win Independent means no party

Party Organization National Party Organization

DNC/RNC – raise money, organize get out the vote, put on the conventions, create the party platform

Elected officials – Congress Majority Leader, majority Whip Minority Leader, minority Whip

Public Give money, vote, work for campaigns, can or are likely to

change party affiliation

Lesson 3: Public Opinion

3 Levels

Opinions: changing/political questions

Attitudes : Beliefs about policy (abortion/death penalty

Values: fundamental beliefs, generally not changing(life, liberty, pursuit of happiness/religion, etc.)

4 Characteristics of Public Opinion Direction – what does majority think Stability – has it changed or not (how fast) Salience – how important is it (relevance, care) Strength – the intensity of publics views

Public divided into 3 groups: Mass – 80% pays very little attention Attentive – 15-20% voices concerns over issues Opinion makers 3-5% shape opinions

Lesson 3: Media

Media Forms TV, Radio (talk), Print (newspaper, magazines), Internet. Mass or Niche Educational/Entertainment Highbrow/Lowbrow

Media Slant Controversy: hotly debated issue (abortion) Scandal: issues that raise moral or ethical outrage. Uniqueness: issues that are strange or unusual. Relevance: issues that have broad appeal and that relate

to their target audience. Personality: issues that involve interesting, unusual, or

otherwise fascinating people. Conflict: issues that involve some form of conflict between

clearly defined groups. Simplicity: issues that can be explained in a brief amount

of time.

Lesson 4: Interest Groups

Groups who share common interest People naturally join with those they agree

with Sources of Power

Membership – larger more powerful (AARP 30 M) Mobilization – cohesive group (similar beliefs) move

them to action (prolife, MADD) Money – ability to hire legal rep, give to campaigns,

advertise Skills – provide credible information (reports, studies) Strategy – how to use the sources power

Inside – influence elected officials directly Outside – influence public opinion to influence officials

Lesson 5: Lobbyists

Lobbyist : an attempt to influence legislation Got name from standing in the lobby of

Congress Building Work for an interest group

Provide information to Congress/Public Inside contact –

directly to elected officials, use their staff or other members to have access or influence

Outside contact – advertisement or information to public to influence

congress; Astroturf (fake public opinion)

Lesson 6: Responsible Government Political parties – help create a stable system

Adopt a platform (ideas/issues they stand on) Recruit candidates Inform people about platform Organize campaigns Hold political officials accountable (to platform) Organize the government

Parliamentary system Better job of responding to the public No term time periods, if government is not

doing what public wants they can call for new elections

Easily swayed by public opinion