Unit IV Political ParticipationChapters 5-9

What is a political party?

• A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office

What are the two major U.S. parties today?

• Democrats : represented by a Donkey• Republicans: represented by an Elephant

(GOP)

What are the 5 Functions of political parties in the United States?

• Nominating Function: naming a person to be the choice of the party to run for an office

• Informer-Stimulator Function: campaigning for candidates; getting information to the voters about the candidates and the issues that will inspire them to cast a vote.

• Bonding Agent /Seal of Approval Function: the party’s guarantee that their nominee is “the BEST person” for the job.

• Governmental or Governing Function: the idea that the government operates on the basis of political party– Example:• Seating in Congress• The Cabinet• Diplomatic Posts

• Watchdog Function: the parties engaging in negative campaigning or criticizing the ideas, issues ,and candidates of the other party

What is a two party system?

• A political system in which a nation-state has two major parties that regularly put forth candidates for office.

Why does the US have a 2 party system?

• History: we have always had 2 parties because we started with 2 parties

• Practicality: it’s easier to win a majority if only two candidates for office

• Theoretically: the Electoral College System is based on only having 2 candidates

• Ideologically: Americans generally fit within the philosophy of one of the 2 parties

What is a One Party System?

• Political system in which a nation-state has only one party

• Always results in a dictatorship• One party exists because all others are illegal

What is a multi-party system?

• A system in which a nation-state has more than 2 major parties that regularly offer candidates to the voters.

• Can lead to political instability• No one is in charge

What is the AVERAGE Democrat like?

• Lower middle-class• Blue collar• Urban• Member of a minority group (race/religion)• 18-25 or 55-65 years of age• Less educated (some college)• More liberal• From the west coast, north east, or mid-west• Etc…

What is the AVERAGE Republican like?

• Upper-class• College grad• Suburban• Protestant (religion)• White• 25-55 years of age• Conservative• Southern or Western • Etc…

What were the first Two Parties in the United States?

• Federalists (become the Republicans )• Democratic –Republicans (become the

Democrats)

• Why did they begin? Debate over ratification of the Constitution divided people into two groups.

What is a Minor or Third Party?• A small party that nominates candidates for office, but rarely

wins. Also called an opposition party. – Examples:

• Labor Party• American Nazi Party• The Green Party• The Populist Party (People’s Party)• American Independent Party• Libertarian Party• Natural Law Party• Workers World Party• Pink Triangle Party • Blue Square Party• ETC…

The Four Types of Third Party

• Ideological Parties: parties based upon a unique set of political beliefs– Examples:• American Communist Party• American Nazi Party• Socialist Party• Libertarian Party

Single Issue Parties

• A party that is concerned with only one political issue– Examples:• Know-nothing Party• Free Soil Party (also known as Americans Only Party)• Prohibition Party• Woman’s Party• Right to Life Party

Economic Protest Parties

• Parties that are rooted in times of economic distress and that promote new alternatives to the conditions.– Examples:• Greenback Party• Populist Party• United We Stand America

Splinter Parties

• Political parties that have broken away from the Democrats or Republicans– Examples:• Bull-moose Party (Progressive Party)• Dixiecrats

Three Roles of Third Parties

• Spoiler: take enough votes away from a major party candidate that you ruin his chances

• Critic: criticize the ideas and actions of both major parties

• Innovator: bring new ideas to public’s attention. Usually stolen by major parties if popular

Voting Options

• Split Ticket Voting: Vote for candidates from both parties on the same ballot

• Straight Ticket Voting: voting for only one party on the ballot

Chapter 6 Notes

Voters and Voter Behavior

Terms that mean right to vote

• Suffrage• Franchise

The Electorate

• The potential voting population• NOT those who do vote, but those who

COULD– Age– Registration– Residency– Felony Record– Etc…

Universal Suffrage

• All adult citizens can vote• Is it possible?• What restrictions do we have that prevent it?

Five stages of suffrage in US History

• Removing religious requirements (1840-60’s)• 15th Amendment ( remove racial limitations)• 19th Amendment (remove gender restrictions)• Civil Rights Acts (punish discrimination)• 26th Amendment (remove age restrictions)

Federal Standards for Voting

• If you can vote in State elections, can vote in federal

• No State may discriminate on basis of race• No State may discriminate on basis of gender• No State may require payment of taxes as a

qualification to vote• No State may deprive a citizen over the age of

18 the right to vote if otherwise qualified

Universal Voting Requirements

• Citizenship• Residence • Age• Registration

Residency Requirements

• Require that a person maintain a legal residence in a city, county, or State for a period of time to be eligible to vote

• Legal because:– People should familiarize themselves w/ issue and

candidates– States have an interest in preventing voter fraud

*In Texas, you must be a resident for 30 days prior to the election to be eligible to vote.

Motor Voter Law

• Allows people to register to vote when they renew their driver’s license.

Oregon v. Mitchell

• Outlawed the use of literacy tests as a qualification for voting .

• Tests were used to discriminate against minorities and poor whites.

Who is ineligible to vote in Texas?

• Mentally Ill• Mentally Incompetent• Felons• Non-citizens• Homeless• Dishonorably Discharged from military

• Called “cannot voters” because they cannot legally vote.

Voter requirements in Texas

• Be at least 18 years of age on election day• Be a US citizen• Register 30 days prior to the election• Be a resident 30 days prior to the election

Methods used by Southern States to prevent minority voting

• White Primaries• Grandfather Clauses• Poll tax• Literacy Tests• Property Tax Payments• Gerrymandering• Intimidation• Lynching• Etc…

Gerrymandering

• The illegal practice of drawing lines for congressional districts to the advantage of the majority

Gerrymandering

Methods of Gerrymandering

• Concentrate the minorities voters in one District so they can only win one seat

• Disburse the minorities voters in all districts so they can never get a majority and win no seats

What is an idiot?

• It is a Greek word for one who does not vote or participate in politics

How many Americans voted in last presidential election (2012)?

• 122,394,724 voters• 56.8% of those who could have voted did so• 10% of those between the ages of 18-29 voted• 67% of those between the ages of 55-69 voted• 65 million voted for Obama/Biden• 57 million voted for Romney/Ryan

Major reasons people give for not voting:

• Apathy (don’t care)• Voting is too difficult• Don’t have the time• Didn’t register• Don’t know where to go• Don’t have transportation• Ill• Etc…

What is a non-voter?

• One who is eligible to vote, but chooses not to do so. (also called an idiot!)

What is a cannot voter?

• One who is not eligible to vote

What is a non-voting voter?

• One who does not vote on all the choices on the ballot.

• Example: you vote only for President, not Senate, House, etc…

Political Socialization

• The process by which one gains one’s political attitudes and beliefs.

• #1 Source: MOM and DAD!

Sociological Factors that Impact Voting

• Family #1• Age• Race• Income• Occupation• Religion• Party membership/affiliation• Friends (peer pressure)• Opinion Leaders• Location of residence• Type of residence• Etc…

Psychological Factors that Impact Voting

• Party Identification• Your feelings about the candidates• How the issues impact you personally

Most likely voter in 2012• Professional• Upper income ($250,000+)• Married w/ kids• Owns home in suburbs• Very well-educated (2 college degrees or more)• Between the ages of 42-65• White (62% of voters)• Protestant • Member of a political party• FEMALE (54% of voters this time)

Chapter 7 NotesThe Election Process

Nomination

• The process of naming a person to be a candidate for political office

Methods of Nomination

• Self –announcement• Caucus• Convention (pres only)• Primary (#1 used today)• Petition (local elections)

Three types of primaries:

• Closed : only registered party members can vote

• Open: voters may chose which party’s ballot to vote on the day of the election

• Blanket: voters may vote on BOTH party’s ballots

Why do some States choose to have closed primaries?

• It makes voters choose both a party and candidates

• It makes the candidates more responsive to their party’s issues and agenda

• It prevents “primary raiding”

Why are closed primaries illegal in Texas?

• If a voter is required to reveal their party membership, it is no longer a secret ballot

• Closed primaries exclude independent voters• Closed primaries have been used to

discriminate against the poor and minorities• It violates our State Constitution!

When are congressional elections held?

• On the Tuesday, following the first Monday in November of every even numbered year!

What is the coattail effect?• A strong national candidate (usually for Pres)

attract voters to cast ballots for his/her party members lower on the ticket.

• EX: Reagan’s candidacy for Pres in 1980 led to a dramatic increase in the number of people who were elected to the House and Senate from the South in the Republican Party

How much did the 2012 Presidential election cost?

• $5.3 Billion !• $176 for every man, woman, and child in the

US

Where did all that $ come from?• Small donors : people who give $5-50 • “Fat Cats”• Candidates themselves • PACs: Political Action Committees (fund raising arms of

special interests)• Temporary Organizations: created to support one

candidate (FOB : Friends of Bill)• Fund-raisers• Public subsidies• Etc…

Why do people give $ to candidates/campaigns?

• Believe in candidate/campaign• Want access to people in office• Want an appointment• Want to get a promotion• Seeking social status• Want to have dinner at the White House or a ride on Air

Force I• Want to effect a change in policy• Want to change a government regulation• Etc…

What does the FEC regulate?

• The Federal Election Commission regulates four areas of campaign finance:– Timely disclosure of data– Limitations on contributions– Limitations on spending– Public funding of Presidential elections

What are the current disclosure requirements?

• You cannot give more than $2,400 to a candidate per year• You cannot give more than $5,000 a year to a PAC• Your total contributions to all candidates cannot exceed

$45,600 per year• Your total contributions to all PACs cannot exceed $69,900

per year• Corporations and Labor Unions cannot donate• Non-citizens cannot donate• PACs cannot give more than $5,000 per year to a candidate• No limit on total PAC or Party donations to ALL candidates

Buckley v. Valeo

• Supreme Court rules that campaign donations are a form of free speech and can be limited, but not outlawed.– Can limit donations; indirect speech– Cannot limit personal spending; direct speech

Loopholes in Campaign Finance Law

• Soft Money: unlimited funds that can be given to parties for educational efforts or party building

• Independent Expenditures: individuals spending own $ on own ads supporting candidate or cause; unlimited

• Issue Ads: independent ads that compare stands on issues but do not support a candidate; unlimited

Citizens United v. FEC, 2010

• Struck down parts of the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002

• Corporations and Labor Unions may NOT directly contribute to candidates/campaigns

• Corporations and Labor Unions MAY use their funds for independent ads and PACs

• Disclosure Requirements were upheld by the Court

Chapter 8

Mass Media and Public Opinion

Public Opinion

• A collection of the attitudes held by many people on issues of politics and government

How is public opinion shaped?

• By factors like:– Family– School– Religion– Occupation– Group memberships– Opinion leaders– Etc…

How is public opinion measured?

• Election Results• Interest Group Surveys• Media Counts• Personal Contacts• Scientific Polls (best and most accurate way)

Opinion Leaders

• People that you admire, trust, respect, and whose opinions matter to you

• People who have the power to influence you• Different group for everyonePoliticians are always looking for someone who

has an impact on many people.

Mass Media

• Any means of communication that reaches a large, diverse audience

• Examples:– TV– Radio– Internet– Newspapers– Magazines– Etc…

Media

• The majority of Americans (61% in 2008 poll) get 100% of their information about government and politics from network news .

• 98% of Americans own at least one TV.• Most American families (83%) said they had at

least one TV for each person in their household.

Chapter 9

Interest Groups

Interest Groups• An organization of people that tries to persuade

government officials to respond to their members interests.

• Examples:– NRA: National Rifle Association– AMA: American Medical Association– AARP: American Association of Retired Citizens– Common Cause– National Taxpayers Union– ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union– ETC…

Functions of Interest Groups

• Stimulate interest in public policy• Represent their members’ views• Provide information• Ensure that government officials act

appropriately

Criticisms of Interest Groups

• They have too much influence over politicians• Can’t always tell who they really represent• Use of unethical or illegal practices

Propaganda

• The use of language to persuade people to your point of view

• Techniques:– Plain Folks– Bandwagon– Name Calling– Glittering Generalities– Transfer– Testimonial– Card Stacking

Lobbying• The use of group pressure to try to influence

public policy• Lobbyist: one who seeks to influence a

government officials • Called lobbyists because they used to hang

out in the lobby of the Willard Hotel trying to catch President Grant.

Lobbying Techniques

• Polite Persuasion• Provide information• Write bills• Wine and Dine• Testify as experts in congressional hearings• Write letters• Provide junkets (field trips for Congress)• Raise Money!

Current Legislation regulating Lobbying

• Donations must be disclosed• Cannot give anything valued over $50 to a

member of Congress• Can take a member of Congress to a meal or

event twice a year for $50 or less• No regulation on gift to staff members

The End!

• Study for your test!• Read Ch 5-9• Complete your notes!• Finish your test review!