POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, POLITICAL PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND ELECTIONS

Politics

Make a list of people, groups, organizations, etc. that influence a person’s political ideology or understanding of politics.

Circle the most important three (in your opinion) and rank them. Put a start by the most important.

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Political Socialization- process by which parents and others teach children about values, beliefs and attitudes of political culture

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION FACTORS

 Add to your list: 1. Family 2. Religious Institutions 3. Community – rural v. urban, North v. South, etc. 4. Race and Ethnicity 5. Social Class 6. Level of Education 7. Media 8.Teachers 9. Peer Group 10. National Identity 11. Gender

JOURNAL #39

What is political socialization? Based on the survey data from

yesterday, which factor of socialization do you think was most prevalent in our class?

Why?

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE IDEOLOGY AND PARTY AFFILIATION

Make some predictions about how: Region Ethnicity Age Gender Education Religion Marital status Socioeconomic status

REGION

ETHNICITY

More likely to vote…

Republican: whites

Democrat: minorities

Why?

Exit poll:

AGE Young

people have lower voter turnout in general

Many are less likely to identify with a party

2008 Election Exit Poll:

GENDER In the 2008

presidential election…

Men 50% Obama,

50% McCain Women

57% Obama, 43% McCain

“Gender Gap”—why?

RELIGION Who is more likely

to vote… Republican:

Christians (especially Protestants) 53% of

Protestant voters chose McCain

Democrat: Catholics (becoming less so), Jews, nonreligious Voting for

Obama: 53% of

Catholic voters

78% of Jewish voters

EDUCATION

Those in higher education (academia) tend to support Democrats

Those with less education are less likely to vote in general

MARITAL STATUS

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Voters in lower-income brackets tend to support the Democratic party more

REVISITING THE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY SPECTRUM

JOURNAL #40

Do you think political ideology lines up neatly with political parties? Why or why not?

Do you consider yourself a member of a particular party?

PARTY SYSTEMS

One-party: One party holds power Examples:

North Korea China Historic: Nazi Germany

Multiparty: Multiple parties can get elected Examples: United Kingdom, Canada, India UK: Conservative, Labour, Liberal

Democrats

U.S. TWO PARTY SYSTEM

Two-party system: Two parties are dominant, and chances of electoral success for other parties are slim

Democrats and Republicans American minor parties: Green Party,

Libertarian Party Emerging movement: Tea Party

HISTORICAL PARTIES

Federalists Democratic-Republicans Whigs Know-Nothings Free Soil

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS

http://www.270towin.com/2010_senate_election/

Current Senate, by party

Current House of Representatives

https://dsparks.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/isarithmic-history-of-the-two-party-vote/

POLITICAL PARTY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES Democrats: Republicans: Green Party: Libertarians: Tea Partiers:

JOURNAL #41

What is the purpose of a political party? Why do most political parties form? Why do third parties form? What

influence do they have on politics?

HOW POLITICAL PARTIES ARE RUN

Committees at the national, state, and local levels

Campaign committees: Help party/candidate get elected

Develop a campaign strategy Philosophy Candidate’s personality and qualifications Importance of electing them

COMMITTEE ROLES

Campaign manager Media advisor Political advisor Pollster Treasurer

JOURNAL #42

How are you going to run your campaign? What kind of advertisements/strategies are you going to use to win?

What political ads have you seen on TV or in the newspapers during this campaign season?

What strategies/techniques have those ads used?

TYPES OF CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING

Testimonial Mudslinging (“attack” ads) Transfer (symbols) Card Stacking (statistics) Plain Folks Glittering Generalities Bandwagon Contrast Ad Election promises?

SOME EXAMPLES

List the techniques present in each ad. Evaluate how effective/successful each

ad is.

Historical: 1964http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTBnsqxZ3k&feature=related

Current: Romney, Herman Cain

EXAMPLES OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

JOURNAL #43

What makes a good speech? What makes a good performance in a

debate?

TIPS FOR SPEECHES

Clear message Persuasive language Effective tone Audience engagement

INTRODUCING YOUR CAMPAIGN

1. Introduce your candidate (present resume)

2. Introduce your advertising (present campaign materials)

3. Introduce your issue (give speech) 4. Sum up why your candidate/party

should win this Mock Election!

DEBATE GUIDELINES

3 sections: Economy, foreign policy, social issues

I will choose five questions generated by the class

Each committee member will have to answer one question

Each party will get 2 min. to answer and 1 min. rebuttal

Audience (class) will grade the groups

PREPPING FOR THE DEBATE

Party platform: A statement of principles and objectives a

political party and a candidate supports in order to win the general election.

Plank: Individual topics in a party’s platform

JOURNAL #44

What makes a candidate popular? Is it their debate performance or do other things have a bigger impact? Explain.

On what criteria should a candidate be selected? In other words, in an ideal world, what characteristics or personal traits held by a candidate should determine their popularity?

DEBATE QUESTIONS

Make a chart to summarize the positions/arguments/performance of each candidate: Mitt Romney Ron Paul Newt Gingrich Rick Santorum

Who was the most effective debater and why?

SAMPLE DEBATE

http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012/02/video-watch-the-full-cnnarizona-republican-debate/

TIPS FOR DEBATES

Respectful—attack issues, not people! Be prepared for the rebuttal

Bring your notes Remain calm and composed Know your stuff—don’t just read off

your notes

Republicans: Jerry Johnson Democrats: Harvey Clark Green: Jacob Green Tea Party: Gideon Cobb Libertarian: Tony Stark

THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE

0-11 months: Announcement of candidacy, building organization, obtaining support

11-14 months: Early primaries (Feb-March)

15-18 months: Late primaries 20-24 months: Nominating

convention, national campaign Election Day: Tues. after the first

Monday in November

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Primary campaign: Candidates in the same party compete for their party’s nomination

General election: Candidates compete against candidates from other political parties to win the White House

PRIMARY CAMPAIGN

Caucuses: Small meetings to determine which candidate to endorse Most important: Iowa

Primaries: States vote and the candidate with the most votes wins delegates at their party’s nominating convention Most important: New Hampshire Can be closed or open

JOURNAL #45

What are the pros and cons of: Primaries Caucuses Closed or open primaries

Closed: Only party members can vote Open: Everyone can vote

“FRONT LOADING”

Brainstorm reasons why Iowa and New Hampshire appear to draw a disproportionate amount of attention from candidates and the media.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Both? Neither?

NOMINATING CONVENTION

Assembly held by political parties every four years, often in large cities

Attended by voting representatives called delegates Vote based on the primary and caucus

results Systems:

Democrats: Proportional Republicans: “Winner takes all”

CHOOSING A VEEP (VICE PRESIDENT) Choose running mates based on

“balancing the ticket” Politically Geographically Culturally- a candidate will try to pick

someone from another social or cultural group.

JOURNAL #46

Do you think voting is important in a democracy?

If you asked 100 Americans if they felt that voting was important in a democracy, how many do you think would say yes?

What were the results of your poll? What percentage of American citizens

do you think voted in the 2004 election? 2008?

PREDICTIONS

Predict: The top two main reasons people don’t vote Which demographics vote the MOST in the

following categories: Age: Gender: Socioeconomic status: Education: Region: Race:

TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE DON’T VOTE  1. Did not register 42% 2. Do not like the candidates 17% 3. No particular reason 10% 4. Are sick or disabled 8% 5. Are not U.S. citizens 5% 6. Are not interested in politics 5% 7. Are new residents in the area 4% 8. Are away from home 3% 9. Cannot leave job 3% 10. Cannot get to the polls 1%

JOURNAL #47

Any ideas for increasing voter turnout?

PROPOSALS FOR INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT

Mandatory (compulsory) voting? Same-day registration? Lower the voting age to 16?

http://www.youthrights.org/issues/voting-age/

CAMPAIGN FINANCES: FOLLOW THE MONEY

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

–Too much money is spent on presidential campaigns in the United States. –Money buys elections. –Growth in election spending has altered the democratic nature of campaigns. –Restricting the amount of money organizations can contribute to elections limits free speech.

Obama raised $750 million in 2008

1. What kinds of things would a presidential candidate need money for in order to field a campaign?

2. Where do candidates get the money for their campaigns?

FINANCING

Private: Individuals can donate up to $2500 to each

candidate

Public: For presidential campaigns Matching payments if candidates agree to

limit spending

PACS

What if you want to give $5000?

What is a political action committee (PAC)?

What is the goal of a PAC? Why were PACs created?

“SUPER” PACS

What if you wanted to give unlimited money?

Citizens United v. F.E.C. (2010) Campaign finance reform unconstitutional

Clips: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june12/superpac_01-05.html

Should there be reforms to restrict PACs?

ARTICLE SHARING

In your groups: Share your article Brainstorm the strength of the candidate’s

campaign currently Make a list of campaign strategies/ideas

for the candidate Be prepared to present