Unit 2Unit 2Political Behavior: Political Behavior:

Government by the PeopleGovernment by the PeopleBy Caroline Rudkin and Jaclyn By Caroline Rudkin and Jaclyn

Sterman-Soroko Sterman-Soroko

Constitutional PrinciplesConstitutional PrinciplesPopular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

The people rule, the people are The people rule, the people are sovereign.sovereign.

FederalismFederalismVoting for office holders.Voting for office holders.

Judicial ReviewJudicial ReviewCourts have the right to overrule Courts have the right to overrule

individual state’s decisions.individual state’s decisions.

What is a party?What is a party?A political party is a group of persons A political party is a group of persons

who seek to control the government who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and through the winning of elections and holding of public office. holding of public office.

Major parties:Major parties:DemocraticDemocraticRepublicanRepublican

What do parties do?What do parties do? Vital link between the people and the government Vital link between the people and the government Encourage compromiseEncourage compromise Bring conflicting groups togetherBring conflicting groups together Soften the impact of extremists at both ends of Soften the impact of extremists at both ends of

the political spectrumthe political spectrum Nominate candidatesNominate candidates Inform and activate supportsInform and activate supports GovernGovern PartisanshipPartisanship Acting as a watchdogActing as a watchdog

Why a two-party system?Why a two-party system? Historical basisHistorical basis Force of traditionForce of tradition

The U.S. had always been this way since the The U.S. had always been this way since the Federalists and the Anti-FederalistsFederalists and the Anti-Federalists

Electoral systemElectoral system Winning candidate gets plurality (largest Winning candidate gets plurality (largest

number votes cast for office).number votes cast for office). The American Ideological ConsensusThe American Ideological Consensus

American society does NOT permit more than American society does NOT permit more than two major partiestwo major parties

Multiparty SystemsMultiparty SystemsA system where several major and A system where several major and

many lesser parties exist.many lesser parties exist.They seriously compete for and They seriously compete for and

actually win public offices. actually win public offices. This is seen in European democracies.This is seen in European democracies.Coalition is temporary alliances of Coalition is temporary alliances of

several groups who come together to several groups who come together to form a working majority and so control form a working majority and so control a government. a government.

Party Membership Party Membership PatternsPatterns

Also called “no Also called “no party” systemparty” system Citizens have no Citizens have no

saysay Dictatorships Dictatorships Two party Two party

competition had competition had been spreadingbeen spreading

Voluntary Voluntary membershipmembership

Each party is made Each party is made up of different peopleup of different people

Individuals identify Individuals identify themselves with themselves with party for many party for many reasonsreasons Family being the Family being the

number one reason.number one reason.

One Party SystemOne Party System

The Two Party System in The Two Party System in American HistoryAmerican History

Nation’s First parties:Nation’s First parties:Federalists Federalists

Lead by Alexander HamiltonLead by Alexander HamiltonSupported the ConstitutionSupported the ConstitutionWanted stronger national government Wanted stronger national government Were considered the “rich and well born”Were considered the “rich and well born”

Anti-FederalistsAnti-FederalistsLead by Thomas JeffersonLead by Thomas Jefferson

Sympathetic to the “common man”Sympathetic to the “common man”Wanted limited role for the new governmentWanted limited role for the new government

The American Party PatternsThe American Party Patterns 1800-18601800-1860

Era of DemocratsEra of DemocratsCivil WarCivil War

1860-1932 1860-1932 Era of RepublicansEra of Republicans

Great DepressionGreat Depression 1932-19681932-1968

Era of Democrats (again)Era of Democrats (again)Height of VietnamHeight of Vietnam

1968-Present1968-Present Back and ForthBack and Forth

Minor PartiesMinor Parties Ideological PartyIdeological Party Party founded on Party founded on

their ideastheir ideas Socialist party, Socialist party,

Communist party ect.Communist party ect. Single Issue PartySingle Issue Party

Only have an opinion Only have an opinion about one thingabout one thing

Prohibition party, Free Prohibition party, Free soil partysoil party

Economic Protest Economic Protest PartyParty Supported issues Supported issues

they did not agree they did not agree withwith

Came out during Came out during recessionsrecessions

Splinter PartySplinter Party Broke off from one Broke off from one

of the major partiesof the major parties““Bull Moose” party Bull Moose” party

Importance of Minor PartiesImportance of Minor PartiesThe third party can:The third party can:

Play “spoiler” rolePlay “spoiler” rolePull votes from one of the major partiesPull votes from one of the major parties

Be critical of the major partyBe critical of the major partyBringing political issues to the surfaceBringing political issues to the surfaceContinue to be active to this very day!Continue to be active to this very day!

Party OrganizationParty Organization No one is actually in charge No one is actually in charge

National PartyNational Party State Committee State Committee County Comm. County Comm. Local Comm. Local Comm. Incumbent president is the head of the Incumbent president is the head of the

party council. party council. The structure of the national parties have The structure of the national parties have

four basic elementsfour basic elements National convention- National convention- choose candidate and platformchoose candidate and platform National committee- National committee- between conventions party business is between conventions party business is

addressed addressed National chairperson- National chairperson- spokes person for the partyspokes person for the party Congressional campaign committee- Congressional campaign committee- deal with deal with

campaigns and reelections campaigns and reelections

State and Local Levels of State and Local Levels of OrganizationOrganization

State:State: Chairperson and central Chairperson and central

committee work committee work togethertogether

Local:Local: WardWard

Unit into which cities are Unit into which cities are often divided for the often divided for the election of city council election of city council members members

PrecinctPrecinct Smallest unit of election Smallest unit of election

administrations; voters administrations; voters report to one voting report to one voting destination.destination.

OrganizationOrganization Leaders and activistsLeaders and activists

In the electorateIn the electorate Loyalists who vote the Loyalists who vote the

straight party ticketstraight party ticket GovernmentGovernment

Office holdersOffice holders

Major parties were Major parties were never really popularnever really popular

There is a weakened There is a weakened state of people willing to state of people willing to identify with republican identify with republican or democratic views due or democratic views due to:to: Parties are more openParties are more open Changes in technology for Changes in technology for

campaigningcampaigning Growth in single issue Growth in single issue

parties and the parties and the independent party.independent party.

Future of the Major Future of the Major PartiesPartiesThree Components of the Three Components of the

PartyParty

The Right to Vote Suffrage or franchise: the right to vote

The electorate is the potential voting population and over the years, the American electorate has faced many challenges.

Extending Suffrage: The Five Stages

1800s Religious qualifications

disappeared; almost all white males could vote.

After Civil War 15th Amendment-the

right to vote can not be denied based on race or color.

1920s 19th Amendment-the

right to vote can not be denied because of sex.

1960s Federal legislation and

court decision focused on making sure the 15th Amendment was followed.

23rd Amendment-voters on D.C. could vote for the president.

24th Amendment-eliminated poll tax.

1971 26th Amendment-no state

can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18 years of age.

Universal Requirements for Voting

CitizenshipHave to be a citizen to vote.

ResidenceMust be a legal resident of the state to

vote.Transients- person living in the state for a

short time.Age

Suffrage to citizens who are at least 18 years old.

Requirements Continued…

RegistrationAll voters must be registered to vote (except in

North Dakota).Purging-local officials review the list of

registered voters and remove names who are no longer able to vote.

Poll books-official lists of qualified voters in each precinct

Literacy Tax Payment

Poll tax- payment of special tax to vote

Person Denied the VoteA person can be denied a vote in

some states if they have been…Convicted of a crimeIn a mental institutionLegally found mentally incompetentDischarged from the armed forces

Civil Rights15th Amendment

Ratified in 1870 and declares that no one can be denied the right to vote due to race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Gerrymandering The practice of drawing electoral district lines

This was abused by the white male Injunction

Court ordering forcing or limiting someone’s performance.

Preclearance States can only change election laws if first approved by

the justice department

Voting Rights Voting Rights Act of 1965Act of 1965

Outlaws Outlaws discrimination in discrimination in several areasseveral areas

Forbids voter Forbids voter registration to be registration to be based on literacybased on literacy

Made the 15Made the 15thth amendment a truly amendment a truly effective part of effective part of the constitutionthe constitution

The government The government crack down on the crack down on the states trying to go states trying to go around the around the amendment amendment

Civil Rights Civil Rights Act of 1964Act of 1964

Why People Do NOT VoteWhy People Do NOT Vote““Cannot Voters”Cannot Voters”

Some people do not careSome people do not careRacial or religious reasonRacial or religious reason

Actual NonvotersActual NonvotersPeople are convinced their vote will not People are convinced their vote will not

mattermatterPolitical efficacyPolitical efficacy

The lack of feeling of influence or The lack of feeling of influence or effectiveness in politicseffectiveness in politics

Voting Behavior Voting Behavior People in one area that are the majority tend to have the People in one area that are the majority tend to have the

same vote.same vote. Political socializationPolitical socialization

Process by which people gain their political attitude and Process by which people gain their political attitude and opinions opinions

Party identificationParty identification Loyalty to a particular political partyLoyalty to a particular political party

Straight Ticket VotingStraight Ticket Voting Voting for candidates of only one partyVoting for candidates of only one party

Split ticket votingSplit ticket voting Voting for candidates on more than one partyVoting for candidates on more than one party

Independence Independence People who have no party affiliation. People who have no party affiliation.

Factors That Influence VotersFactors That Influence Voters Income or Income or

occupationoccupation EducationEducation GenderGender AgeAge Religion or ethnicity Religion or ethnicity GeographyGeography Family and other Family and other

groupsgroups

Fin