outcome c: political ideology + electionspehs.psd202.org/documents/lwood/1542209153.pdfpolitical...
TRANSCRIPT
OUTCOME C: POLITICAL IDEOLOGY + ELECTIONS
ARE YOU A CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL?
Read each of the following pairs of statements: Decide which statement you most agree with.
A. GUNS KILL PEOPLE.
B. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.
A. OUR STRENGTH IS OUR DIVERSITY
B. OUR STRENGTH IS OUR UNITY
A. SEX EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS SHOULD EMPHASIZE SAFE SEX
B. SEX EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS SHOULD EMPHASIZE ABSTINENCE.
A. ABORTION IS PERSONAL DECISION THAT IS UP TO THE GIRL.
B. PARENTS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED BEFORE THEIR MINOR DAUGHTERS HAVE ABORTIONS.
A. ANY CHILD BORN IN THE UNITED STATES IS ENTITLED TO FULL CITIZENSHIP REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS BIRTH.
B. ONLY CHILDREN BORN TO U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD GAIN AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP
A. MARRIAGE SHOULD BE LEGAL FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES.
B. MARRIAGE PROPERLY JOINS ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN, AND SOCIETY HAS AN INTEREST IN UPHOLDING THAT STANDARD.
A. IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE TO GO TO WAR IN IRAQ WITHOUT UNITED NATIONS APPROVAL.
B. THE UNITED STATES DID NOT NEED UN APPROVAL TO REMOVE DICTATORS (SADDAM HUSSEIN) FROM POWER.
A. THE DEATH PENALTY IS “CRUEL AND UNUSUAL.”
B. THE DEATH PENALTY IS A USEFUL TOOL TO DETER CRIME.
A. IT VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT FOR DISTRICT 202 TO BLOCK WIKIPEDIA, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE FROM SCHOOL COMPUTERS.
B. DISTRICT 202 OWNS THE BUILDING AND COMPUTERS SO THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BLOCK WIKIPEDIA, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBEFROM SCHOOL COMPUTERS.
IF YOUR LIST HAS MORE A’S – YOU LEAN TOWARDS THE LIBERAL SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
IF YOUR LIST HAS MORE B’S – YOU LEAN TOWARDS THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Tend to be more
conservative
Believe government
should provide only the
necessary services
George Bush, Theodore
Roosevelt, Abraham
Lincoln
Political Spectrum
POLITICAL PARTIES
Political party – group of
people with common
interests and ideologies
who organize to win
elections
ideologies - basic beliefs
about life and the role of
government
POLITICAL PARTIES
Parties supply
candidates with financial
support and a platform
to follow
Platform – a statement
of principles, beliefs and
position on issues
POLITICAL PARTIES
The two major political
parties compete for control
in national, state, and local
elections.
The two dominant parties
today are the Democrats
and the Republicans
Control at all levels has
shifted between these 2
parties
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DONKEY)
*Tend to be more liberal
*Believe government can and should be a positive force in our lives (active nat’lgov’t)—gov should CHANGE society
Democrats (Liberals) GENERALLY tend to believe
the following statements:
-We need more restrictions on business
-The government should increase environmental
protections
-We should increase gun control
-The government is responsible for providing access to
health care for all citizens
-Pro-choice
-Open-border policy
-Increased taxation on the wealthy
-Marriage equality
Democrats (Liberals) GENERALLY appeal to the
following people:
-Women
-Minorities
-City-dwellers
-Union Workers
-Liberal-minded
REPUBLICAN PARTY (ELEPHANT)- GOP
*Tend to be more conservative
*Believe government should provide only the necessary services (limited nat’lgov’t)—maintain current customs + laws
Republicans (Conservatives) GENERALLY tend to
believe the following statements:
-We need fewer restrictions on business
-The government does not need to insist on additional
environmental protections
-We should lower restrictions on firearms
-Citizens should be in charge of their own healthcare
-Pro-Life
-Tough border policy
-Tax breaks for the wealthy + businesses
-Marriage is between man + woman
Republicans (Conservatives) GENERALLY appeal
to the following groups:
-Wealthy
-Suburban residents
-Conservatives
-Religious people
Democrats claim that government should be
highly involved in the daily lives of the people,
while Republicans claim the people can take
care of themselves.
-Gun control
-“World’s Policeman”
-Public Aid
-Gay Marriage
-Abortion
THIRD PARTIES
*Any party other than Democrats and Republicans. Third parties have always been a part of our political system
*Third parties may organize around a single Issue…Or may splinter from the major party – Reform & Tea Party
*When they get a lot of attention, one of the two major parties incorporates their ideals
*Limitations: Fundraising, getting on the ballot, viewpoints
EARLY LIMITATIONS ON VOTING
Some colonies allowed
only white males who
owned property…
Others excluded those
who were not members of
a certain religious group
EXTENDING THE VOTE
The Constitution itself does not list the qualifications to vote… this left it up to each state
It took over 180 years before all men and women 18 years older could vote
AMENDMENT 15: 1870
MEN of any race can vote – if they are citizens
Passed in the wake of the Civil war
First time federal government set rules for voting
AFRICAN AMERICAN SUFFRAGE
States throughout
the country set up a
number of roadblocks
designed to limit and
discourage the
participation of African
American citizens
These were called Jim
Crow laws
LITERACY TEST
Some sates required
voters to pass a literacy
test to qualify to vote…
Effected illiterate people
of all races however,
African American voters
were often asked to do
much more
The ‘tax’ had to be paid before one could vote
In 1964, 24th amendment outlawed the Poll Tax
Poll Tax
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE
Only voters whose
grandfathers had voted
before 1867 were eligible
to vote without paying a
tax or passing a literacy
test
Declared unconstitutional
in 1915
VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
Gave broadest protection of the right to vote
Despite the elimination of these practices, African American voting in elections was still limited
-Nat’l Gov. Oversees elections laws of states to protect access to voting
The Civil Rights movement of 1950’s/60’s called for Congress to act
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Fight for suffrage began
in the mid 1850’s
By 1914, they had won
the right in 11 states, all
west of the Mississippi
River
AMENDMENT 19: SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN – 1920
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
18 TO VOTE
Movement began in the
1960’s
“Old enough to die, old enough to vote”
AMENDMENT 26: 18 TO VOTE – 1971
“The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age”
REQUIREMENTS TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS
1. U.S. Citizen
2. At least 18 years old (If you are 17 you can vote in the primary IF you will be 18 on/before general election
3. Resident of the district where voting will take place for 30 days
4. Show TWO forms of ID
Registration: DMV, county courthouse, library/school, county offices, etc.
*27-day period prior to election, *OR* grace period
INFLUENCES ON VOTERS
Five major factors
influence voter decisions
1. Personal background
- Age
- Education
- Socioeconomic Status
- Religion
- Ethnicity
INFLEUNCES ON VOTERS
2. Party Loyalty
- majority consider themselves Dem’s or Rep’s
- straight-party ticket – voters who select candidates from only their party
INFLUENCES ON VOTERS
3. Campaign Issues
- Some may let one or two issues guide their vote
- immigration
- environment
- economy/jobs
- taxes
INFLEUNCES ON VOTERS
4. Candidate’ s Image
- Is he a good speaker?
- Does he look like a President?
- Is he a strong leader?
“Are you better off than you were four years ago”
INFLEUNCES ON VOTERS5. Propaganda
- involves using ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion
- commercials, posters, bill boards, cartoons
- Presidential candidates will often spend more than 50 million
http://harlotofthearts.org/issues/issue_2/mccorkle/obama-poster/index.htm
8 Main ways candidates communicate their
message
Glittering Generalities:
Positive images meant to leave you with a good feeling about the candidate…vague words and phrases that have a positive effect and appeal to a variety of viewers
(Reagan kids)
Testimonial:
endorsements from celebrities and other well-known people.
Bandwagon:
Everyone’s doing it so you should too!(Ford Peace)
Card Stacking:
Use of statistics, often in a one-sided manner(Gore-Bejamins)
Contrast:
positive images of one candidate with negative images of the opponent in the same ad.
(Bush – Rats)
Mudslinging:
Attack Ads or Name Calling
Create a negative impression of a candidate’s opponent
•May backfire!(Bush – Tank)
Plain Folks:
An attempt by a candidate to appeal to the average voter as just “one of the people.”
(Obama – Country)
Transfer:
Use of popular symbols to create a positive or negative impression of a candidate or their opponent
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: WINNER-TAKE-ALL
Electoral College – group of individuals who elect the President, appointed by each states congress
It’s important to secure the states with large populations-CA, NY, TX, FL
Framers thought it would insure that only a qualified person became president.
At odds with popular sovereignty
Another example of Checks and Balances: Check on the people
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: WINNER-TAKE-ALL
Number of rep’s in the E. C. is determined by the total number of Senators and Representatives the state has
I
What happens when there
is a tie in the Electoral
College?
- House of Representatives votes directly for the winner
ACTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Democracy requires
citizens who are
willing to participate
People must use their
vote as an opportunity
to voice opinion and
concerns
ACTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
-Our government requires citizens to understand the issues–“culturally literate”
--Vote, run for office, read newspaper, campaign, perform jury duty