Parties, Voting and Elections

Parties, Voting and Elections

Chapters 5-8Chapters 5-8

GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

A form of government in which supreme authority rests with the people.

A form of government in which supreme authority rests with the people.

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

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

2 major political parties:RepublicanDemocrat

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

2 major political parties:RepublicanDemocrat

What Do Political Parties Do?

What Do Political Parties Do?

Nominating Candidates Informing and Activating Supporters Bonding Agent

Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders

Governing Acting as a Watchdog

Watches the conduct of the party’s business

Nominating Candidates Informing and Activating Supporters Bonding Agent

Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders

Governing Acting as a Watchdog

Watches the conduct of the party’s business

Party PlatformsParty Platforms

A political party’s formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues and objectives.

A political party’s formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues and objectives.

Different Types of Systems

Different Types of Systems Two Party:

Type of system found in the U.S Tradition Established with Thomas Jefferson and the

Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Multi-Party:

Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.

One-Party: Found in nearly all dictatorships Can also be called a “no party” system

Two Party: Type of system found in the U.S Tradition Established with Thomas Jefferson and the

Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Multi-Party:

Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.

One-Party: Found in nearly all dictatorships Can also be called a “no party” system

First Political PartiesFirst Political Parties

Federalists:Founded by Alexander HamiltonSupported the ConstitutionMost were rich

Anti-Federalists:Founded by Thomas JeffersonLimited role for the governmentSympathetic to the “common man”

Federalists:Founded by Alexander HamiltonSupported the ConstitutionMost were rich

Anti-Federalists:Founded by Thomas JeffersonLimited role for the governmentSympathetic to the “common man”

Minor PartiesMinor Parties

Different Types of Political Parties: Ideological Parties-

Based on a set of beliefs Single-Issue Parties-

Focus only on one public-policy matter Economic Protest Parties-

Rooted in periods of economic trouble Splinter Parties-

Have split away from one of the major parties

Different Types of Political Parties: Ideological Parties-

Based on a set of beliefs Single-Issue Parties-

Focus only on one public-policy matter Economic Protest Parties-

Rooted in periods of economic trouble Splinter Parties-

Have split away from one of the major parties

Minor Parties Cont…Minor Parties Cont… America First America 3rd Position Party Boston Tea Party Citizen’s Party of the U.S. Constitution Party Green Party of the U.S. Independence Party of America Labor Party National Atheist Party Objectivist Party Populist Party of America Reform Party of the U.S.A Socialist Alternative United States Pirates Party Unity Party of America Workers Party Working Families Party

America First America 3rd Position Party Boston Tea Party Citizen’s Party of the U.S. Constitution Party Green Party of the U.S. Independence Party of America Labor Party National Atheist Party Objectivist Party Populist Party of America Reform Party of the U.S.A Socialist Alternative United States Pirates Party Unity Party of America Workers Party Working Families Party

A Little VocabularyA Little Vocabulary

Ward: Unit into which cities are divided for the

election of city council members Precinct:

Voters in each report to one polling place Split-Ticket Voting:

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

Ward: Unit into which cities are divided for the

election of city council members Precinct:

Voters in each report to one polling place Split-Ticket Voting:

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

The ElectorateThe Electorate

The size of the potential voting population

About 220 million peopleVarious groups of people have

struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.

The size of the potential voting population

About 220 million peopleVarious groups of people have

struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.

Extending the Right to Vote

Extending the Right to Vote

Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:15th: gave African American males

the right to vote after the Civil War19th: gave women the right to vote24th: eliminated the poll tax as a

condition for voting26th: lowered the voting age to 18

Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:15th: gave African American males

the right to vote after the Civil War19th: gave women the right to vote24th: eliminated the poll tax as a

condition for voting26th: lowered the voting age to 18

Requirements for VotingRequirements for Voting Citizenship

If not born here, must take the citizenship test Residence

You must live in the state for a certain period of time

Age Over 18

Registration All states except North Dakota require voters

to be registered to vote prior or at the election

Citizenship If not born here, must take the citizenship test

Residence You must live in the state for a certain period

of time Age

Over 18 Registration

All states except North Dakota require voters to be registered to vote prior or at the election

Limiting Voters RightsLimiting Voters Rights

Literacy Test Your right to vote was based on the

person’s ability to read and write Poll Tax

Pay a tax in order to be able to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the

tests and taxes illegal Today those convicted of serious crimes

and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.

Literacy Test Your right to vote was based on the

person’s ability to read and write Poll Tax

Pay a tax in order to be able to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the

tests and taxes illegal Today those convicted of serious crimes

and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.

EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction

Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction

EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction

Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction

INSTRUCTION "C"

(After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)

1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________

2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________

3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________

4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.

INSTRUCTION "C"

(After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)

1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________

2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________

3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________

4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.

Why Don’t People Vote?Why Don’t People Vote?

80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.

Non-voters are: Under 35 Unmarried Unskilled Live in the South and in rural areas Women are more likely to vote than men

80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.

Non-voters are: Under 35 Unmarried Unskilled Live in the South and in rural areas Women are more likely to vote than men

Voting BehaviorVoting Behavior Income, Occupation

Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats

Education College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high

school graduates

Gender, Age Women tend to favor Democrats Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats

Religious, Ethnic Background Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats

Geography The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for

Democrats

Family and Other Groups Family members vote in very similar ways

Income, Occupation Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats

Education College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high

school graduates

Gender, Age Women tend to favor Democrats Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats

Religious, Ethnic Background Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats

Geography The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for

Democrats

Family and Other Groups Family members vote in very similar ways

Nominating ProcessNominating Process

Nomination: naming of those who seek office

General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.

Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.

Primary:a political party’s nominating election

Nomination: naming of those who seek office

General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.

Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.

Primary:a political party’s nominating election

ElectionsElections Congress set the date as the “Tuesday-after-

the-first-Monday”. Absentee Voting: vote without actually going

to their polling places on election day. Polling Place: place where voters who live in

a precinct actually vote. Ballot: device by which a voter registers a

choice in an election. Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are

grouped together under the title of that office. Votes are counted electronically

Congress set the date as the “Tuesday-after-the-first-Monday”.

Absentee Voting: vote without actually going to their polling places on election day.

Polling Place: place where voters who live in a precinct actually vote.

Ballot: device by which a voter registers a choice in an election. Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are

grouped together under the title of that office. Votes are counted electronically

Campaign FinancingCampaign Financing

People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system

Campaign donations are limited to $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal

election or $25,000 to a party committee. Campaign spending limits

Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.

Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.

People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system

Campaign donations are limited to $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal

election or $25,000 to a party committee. Campaign spending limits

Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.

Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.