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!