today’s agenda (4/22/15): 1)review “how laws are created”/go over last night’s hw (unclear...

Today’s Agenda (4/22/15):

1) Review “How Laws Are Created”/Go over last night’s HW (Unclear Marijuana Law…)

2) Today’s Central Questions3) Voting and Elections4) Extension Activity: Increasing the Voter Turn-

Out

Tonight’s HW:

• Negative Campaign Ads…analysis questions (due tomorrow)

• Section Assessment 1 Friday (20-25 Questions)

• Supreme Court Case topic selection (Checkpoint 1 for Final Project) due Tuesday 4/28

Legislative Process: Review

1) What would be some examples of “federal laws” passed by Congress? What about “state laws” passed by state legislatures?

2) What is meant by the “Supremacy Clause” of the US Constitution (Article 6)?

3) How does the executive branch and the judicial branch play a role in the legislative process?

HW: Unclear Marijuana Law analysis

Today’s Central Questions:

• Why is voting considered to be by many “our most important legal right AND responsibility” as Americans?

• What “eligibility requirements” does one have to meet in order to vote in the US?

• Is there any way to explain why only 58% of eligible voters in the US ACTUALLY voted in the 2012 US Presidential election and only 36.4% of eligible voters in the US ACTUALLY voted in the 2014 midterm election?

Voting and Elections

Why Vote?

• It is a Constitutional right given to all Americans

• 1. found in the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments

• 2. right to vote cannot be denied due to:– Race or national origin– Economic status– gender

Vote (cont’d)

• Voting is the key element of any democracy; it allows us to choose leaders and express opinions on issues

Vote (cont’d)

• To be eligible to vote:• 1. you must be at least 18

years old• 2. you must be a US

citizen• 3. you must register in

the town/city in which you live

• 4. you must be a permanent resident of one State only

A sample Pennsylvania Voter Registration Card

Elections

• There are two each year in PA

• 1. Primary – party members vote to nominate people to run for political office

On May 19th 2015, Democratic Party members in Philadelphia will nominate their candidate for the position of Mayor. They will be choosing between Lynne Abraham, Nelson Diaz, James Kenney, Doug Oliver, and Anthony H. Williams.

Elections (cont’d)

• General - we choose from the primary winners who will win the office that is open

The last time Philadelphians voted for mayor in a general election in 2011, incumbent Mayor Michael Nutter (D.) defeated challenger Karen Brown (R.) by carrying 75% of the overall vote. According to the city’s charter, Nutter cannot run for a 3rd consecutive term in 2015. He COULD theoretically run again in 2019…

Elections (cont’d)

• In certain years, the entire country elects:

• 1. the President• 2. the entire House of

Representatives• 3. one-third of the

members of the Senate (about 33 seats)

In 2012, the majority of Pennsylvania voted Barack Obama (D.) for President and reelected Bob Casey Jr. (D.) for US Senate

Elections (cont’d)

• 2 years into a President’s term, we have what are called national midterm elections

• 1. the entire House of Representatives

• 2. another 1/3 of the Senate

In the 2014 midterm election, the majority of 8th District residents reelected Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R.) as their district representative in the House. The Republicans won back control of the Senate for the first time since 2006 and gained their largest majority in the House of Representatives since 1928 (247 seats).

Ballot Initiatives & Special Elections

• Legislatures will sometimes submit potential laws to the voters for final approval or rejection; this method is called a referendum

California’s Referendum 13 of 1978 essentially had the voters, not the legislature, decide to “cap” the amount of taxes they could be charged for their property. The overwhelming majority voted “Yes”.

BI and SE (cont’d)

• If more than one candidate runs, and no one gets a majority of votes, there will be a runoff election between the two top candidates to determine the winner