Voting and Interest GroupsVoting and Interest GroupsLet your voice be heard.Let your voice be heard.

Eligibility Requirements Eligibility Requirements

18 years old, resident 18 years old, resident of the state for a of the state for a specific time period, specific time period, citizen of the United citizen of the United States.States.

Once registered a Once registered a person is assigned to person is assigned to a district.a district.

You can only vote You can only vote once.once.

Gathering informationGathering information

Newspapers, Newspapers, magazines, radio, and magazines, radio, and television.television.

Political parties.Political parties.

It is important to learn It is important to learn the issues and the the issues and the candidates stand on candidates stand on them. them.

People that do not vote People that do not vote

Electorate: People eligible to Electorate: People eligible to vote.vote.People in mental hospitals, People in mental hospitals, people convicted of serious people convicted of serious crimes, and people who do not crimes, and people who do not meet state requirements can meet state requirements can not vote.not vote.The registration obstacle is not The registration obstacle is not really a problem because really a problem because states allow people to register states allow people to register when they renew their driver’s when they renew their driver’s license.license.Apathy: Lack of interest.Apathy: Lack of interest.

Nominating CandidatesNominating Candidates

Caucus: Meeting of party members.Caucus: Meeting of party members.

Nominating Convention: Delegates are chosen Nominating Convention: Delegates are chosen by party members to select the candidate.by party members to select the candidate.

Primary elections: Registered voters choose the Primary elections: Registered voters choose the candidate.candidate.– Open: Party membership not required to vote.Open: Party membership not required to vote.– Closed: Only registered party members may vote. Closed: Only registered party members may vote.

Presidential Candidates Presidential Candidates

Chosen at the National Convention.Chosen at the National Convention.

States choose delegates to attend the States choose delegates to attend the convention according to population.convention according to population.

The chosen candidate chooses a running The chosen candidate chooses a running mate for VP. (Ticket) mate for VP. (Ticket)

Campaigning Campaigning

It is important to create a positive image It is important to create a positive image for a candidate.for a candidate.

Propaganda: Attempt to promote a person Propaganda: Attempt to promote a person or idea.or idea.

Television is used a lot to familiarize the Television is used a lot to familiarize the American public with issues.American public with issues.

Canvassing: Going thorough Canvassing: Going thorough neighborhoods asking for support.neighborhoods asking for support.

Financing CampaignsFinancing Campaigns

Political Action Committees (PACs): Fund Political Action Committees (PACs): Fund raising organizations.raising organizations.

Presidential Election Campaign Fund: Tax Presidential Election Campaign Fund: Tax payers check a box on tax forms.payers check a box on tax forms.

Political parties hold elaborate dinners to Political parties hold elaborate dinners to raise money.raise money.

Individual donors contribute money.Individual donors contribute money.

Public Opinion Public Opinion

Opinions of a group of people about a Opinions of a group of people about a person or issue.person or issue.Age, gender, income, hobbies, race, Age, gender, income, hobbies, race, religion, and occupation play a role.religion, and occupation play a role.The nations economic system is also The nations economic system is also important in public opinion.important in public opinion.The mass media is a strong influence.The mass media is a strong influence.Interest group: People who share a Interest group: People who share a similar point of view. similar point of view.

Determining Public Opinion Determining Public Opinion

Election results are one way, but they are not Election results are one way, but they are not always reliable.always reliable.

Public Opinion polls are the most accurate way.Public Opinion polls are the most accurate way.

Pollsters: People who take polls.Pollsters: People who take polls.

Pollsters use random samples, questioning a Pollsters use random samples, questioning a variety of people to get results.variety of people to get results.

Loaded questions: Biased questions asked to Loaded questions: Biased questions asked to get a certain response. get a certain response.

Interest groupInterest group

Strength in numbers.Strength in numbers.

Sometimes called pressure groups Sometimes called pressure groups because they try and pressure the because they try and pressure the government into making decisions.government into making decisions.

Bias: One-sided point of view.Bias: One-sided point of view.

Types of interest groupsTypes of interest groups

The most common type are economic groups.The most common type are economic groups.– Business Organizations: Interested in trade Business Organizations: Interested in trade

relationships.relationships.– Industrial and trade: Represent certain types of Industrial and trade: Represent certain types of

businesses.businesses.– Labor unions: Interested in the rights of workers.Labor unions: Interested in the rights of workers.– Professional associations: Represent different Professional associations: Represent different

professions.professions.

There are groups for ethnic, age and gender.There are groups for ethnic, age and gender.

There are groups that focus on specific causes. There are groups that focus on specific causes.

Functions of interest groups Functions of interest groups

Bring issues to the public and lawmakers.Bring issues to the public and lawmakers.

Support candidates who favor their goals.Support candidates who favor their goals.

LobbiesLobbies

Lobby: Try to get government officials to Lobby: Try to get government officials to support a groups goals.support a groups goals.

Lobbyists are people that try and gain support.Lobbyists are people that try and gain support.

Spend a lot of time researching issues in order Spend a lot of time researching issues in order to persuade lawmakers. They are frequently to persuade lawmakers. They are frequently invited to speak in congressional committees.invited to speak in congressional committees.

They try and arouse public opinion encouraging They try and arouse public opinion encouraging the public to communicate with elected leaders.the public to communicate with elected leaders.

RegulationRegulation

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946): All lobbies must register with (1946): All lobbies must register with federal and state governments and report federal and state governments and report all expenditures.all expenditures.

All regulation laws have been relatively All regulation laws have been relatively ineffective.ineffective.