Voting And Elections

Chapter 13March 25-26, 2009

AP Government

Chapter 13March 25-26, 2009

AP Government

Purposes Served By ElectionsPurposes Served By Elections

Tina: Define primary elections, then name the four different types and explain which one is healthier for the party system and why? Please touch upon the negative and positive aspects of each primary.

Maddie: What are different kinds of elections and what purpose to they serve?

Bethany: Explain the different types of primary elections and the different risks that come with them.

Tina: Define primary elections, then name the four different types and explain which one is healthier for the party system and why? Please touch upon the negative and positive aspects of each primary.

Maddie: What are different kinds of elections and what purpose to they serve?

Bethany: Explain the different types of primary elections and the different risks that come with them.

Purposes Served By ElectionsPurposes Served By Elections

Electorate: citizens eligible to vote who judge those in power by voting

Mandate: a command, indicated by votes, for elected officials to carry out platforms Retrospective judgment: evaluation of a candidate in

office Prospective judgment: evaluation of a candidate based

on what they pledge to do Three requirements to make a judgment:

Must have own opinion Must have an idea of what the government should

do Must see a difference between the parties

Electorate: citizens eligible to vote who judge those in power by voting

Mandate: a command, indicated by votes, for elected officials to carry out platforms Retrospective judgment: evaluation of a candidate in

office Prospective judgment: evaluation of a candidate based

on what they pledge to do Three requirements to make a judgment:

Must have own opinion Must have an idea of what the government should

do Must see a difference between the parties

Kinds of ElectionsKinds of Elections

Primary Elections: closed vs. open, blanket, runoff Closed prevents tampering

General Elections: voters decide which candidates will actually fill public offices

Initiative, Referendum, Recall Controversy: too much influence by interest groups

that creates an “initiative industry,” too many on the ballot (CA in 1990), wording of the question, not enough people vote, expensive

Primary Elections: closed vs. open, blanket, runoff Closed prevents tampering

General Elections: voters decide which candidates will actually fill public offices

Initiative, Referendum, Recall Controversy: too much influence by interest groups

that creates an “initiative industry,” too many on the ballot (CA in 1990), wording of the question, not enough people vote, expensive

Primaries vs. CaucusesPrimaries vs. Caucuses

Methods of delegate selection: winner-take-all (GOP), proportional representation (Democrats), proportional representation with bonus delegates or “beauty contest,” and caucus

More states use primaries now … why? Caucuses are elitist and undemocratic, primaries open to

all Primaries provide an idea of how candidate will do

campaigning On the other hand … high quality of caucus participants,

more time to deliberate, scheduling of primaries is off (front-loading), caucuses limit media coverage

Solution? Regional Primary: break up over time, focus on regional issues, BUT favor wealthy, and creates rifts

Methods of delegate selection: winner-take-all (GOP), proportional representation (Democrats), proportional representation with bonus delegates or “beauty contest,” and caucus

More states use primaries now … why? Caucuses are elitist and undemocratic, primaries open to

all Primaries provide an idea of how candidate will do

campaigning On the other hand … high quality of caucus participants,

more time to deliberate, scheduling of primaries is off (front-loading), caucuses limit media coverage

Solution? Regional Primary: break up over time, focus on regional issues, BUT favor wealthy, and creates rifts

Party ConventionsParty Conventions

Most selected well in advance due to: Delegate selection

Unit Rule (abolished) Superdelegates are all governors and 80% of

Congressional Dems National candidates and issues The News Media

Pros: opened elections, boosts candidates Cons: apathy, expose party rifts

Delegates are wealthy, highly educated, and “ideologically pure”

Most selected well in advance due to: Delegate selection

Unit Rule (abolished) Superdelegates are all governors and 80% of

Congressional Dems National candidates and issues The News Media

Pros: opened elections, boosts candidates Cons: apathy, expose party rifts

Delegates are wealthy, highly educated, and “ideologically pure”

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Bethany: Why did Americans want to reform the Electoral College and how?

Bethany: Why did Americans want to reform the Electoral College and how?

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Original rationale: Work without parties Cover both nominating and electing Produce a nonpartisan president

1800 Election: Jefferson and Burr 12th Amendment (1804) created separate elections

for each office and gave one vote for each; House decides ties

Problems: winner-take-all, minor parties, popular vote

Reform ideas: abolition, congressional district plan (1 for each district, 2 more for winner), keep college but abolish electors

Original rationale: Work without parties Cover both nominating and electing Produce a nonpartisan president

1800 Election: Jefferson and Burr 12th Amendment (1804) created separate elections

for each office and gave one vote for each; House decides ties

Problems: winner-take-all, minor parties, popular vote

Reform ideas: abolition, congressional district plan (1 for each district, 2 more for winner), keep college but abolish electors

Patterns: RealignmentPatterns: Realignment Movements tend to be gradual, but not always … why?

Major event such as a war or depression

Party realignments: a shifting of party coalition groupings in the electoral that remains in place for several elections Voter conversion due to issues and candidates New voters mobilize into action

Critical elections: an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues -> necessary to adapt to change

6 in U.S., 3 biggest: 1860, 1896, 1932 Every 76 years … we are way overdue: ticket splitting,

partisan independence, voter volatility Secular realignment: gradual change based on shifts

Movements tend to be gradual, but not always … why? Major event such as a war or depression

Party realignments: a shifting of party coalition groupings in the electoral that remains in place for several elections Voter conversion due to issues and candidates New voters mobilize into action

Critical elections: an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues -> necessary to adapt to change

6 in U.S., 3 biggest: 1860, 1896, 1932 Every 76 years … we are way overdue: ticket splitting,

partisan independence, voter volatility Secular realignment: gradual change based on shifts

Patterns: RealignmentPatterns: Realignment

We are way overdue for realignment. What factors are preventing it from happening?

Will dealignment continue or will we have a major realignment soon?

We are way overdue for realignment. What factors are preventing it from happening?

Will dealignment continue or will we have a major realignment soon?

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Maddie: What are the advantages of incumbency?

Maddie: What are the advantages of incumbency?

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Incumbency: condition of already holding office 92% since WWII, 95% in some recent elections Money and visibility “Scare” b/c of name recognition, money, staff, experience

Redistricting: redrawing of congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to states, as well as population shifts; reapportion House seats

Gerrymandering: redrawing district lines to favor one’s own political party (cracking, packing, rural)

Off-year election: election that takes place in middle of a presidential term … esp bad at 6 years

Incumbency: condition of already holding office 92% since WWII, 95% in some recent elections Money and visibility “Scare” b/c of name recognition, money, staff, experience

Redistricting: redrawing of congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to states, as well as population shifts; reapportion House seats

Gerrymandering: redrawing district lines to favor one’s own political party (cracking, packing, rural)

Off-year election: election that takes place in middle of a presidential term … esp bad at 6 years

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior

Maddie: What factors influence voter behavior?

Bethany: Explain the study of voter behavior and how it has affected campaigns.

Tina: What factors contribute to voter turnout and what factors contribute to the issue of whether or not to vote?

Maddie: What factors influence voter behavior?

Bethany: Explain the study of voter behavior and how it has affected campaigns.

Tina: What factors contribute to voter turnout and what factors contribute to the issue of whether or not to vote?

Voting BehaviorVoting Behavior

Purpose: to explain voter turnout and voter choice Turnout: proportion of voting-age public that votes

40% of Americans vote regularly, 25% vote occasionally, 35% rarely or never vote

Factors: income, age, gender, race, interest in politics Wealthy, 30+, female, white, high interest more likely to

vote Why is voter turnout low?

Difficulty of registration and absentee voting Number of elections Voter attitudes (I’m too busy) Weak political parties

Purpose: to explain voter turnout and voter choice Turnout: proportion of voting-age public that votes

40% of Americans vote regularly, 25% vote occasionally, 35% rarely or never vote

Factors: income, age, gender, race, interest in politics Wealthy, 30+, female, white, high interest more likely to

vote Why is voter turnout low?

Difficulty of registration and absentee voting Number of elections Voter attitudes (I’m too busy) Weak political parties

Improve Turnout?Improve Turnout?

Raising awareness -> government class Shorten window to a week or 10 days, allow

voters to register that day, OR register all at 18 Make Election Day a holiday or a weekend day Strengthen parties Fewer elections (impractical) Proportional representation Mandatory voting Does it matter?

Raising awareness -> government class Shorten window to a week or 10 days, allow

voters to register that day, OR register all at 18 Make Election Day a holiday or a weekend day Strengthen parties Fewer elections (impractical) Proportional representation Mandatory voting Does it matter?

Voter TurnoutVoter Turnout

How valuable is a government class in improving voter turnout?

Should we institute mandatory voting?

How valuable is a government class in improving voter turnout?

Should we institute mandatory voting?

Ticket-SplittingTicket-Splitting

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

Determining factors: Intensity of party affiliation Distrust in both parties Party is less relevant as a voting cue Issue-oriented politics Single-interest groups Candidate-centered personality politics Broader-based education Value of incumbency

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

Determining factors: Intensity of party affiliation Distrust in both parties Party is less relevant as a voting cue Issue-oriented politics Single-interest groups Candidate-centered personality politics Broader-based education Value of incumbency

Reforming ProcessReforming Process

Electoral College Regional primaries Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

(McCain-Feingold Act) Limit “soft money” Decrease political ads Increase political contribution limits for individuals

Improve voter turnout

Which option do you favor? Why?

Electoral College Regional primaries Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

(McCain-Feingold Act) Limit “soft money” Decrease political ads Increase political contribution limits for individuals

Improve voter turnout

Which option do you favor? Why?

Big IdeaBig Idea

How should we look at individuals in a democratic society?

How should we look at individuals in a democratic society?

Berelson ReadingBerelson Reading

What are the requirements for an individual in a democratic society?

What problems exist in the U.S.? Why does Berelson say it is ultimately

okay?

What are the requirements for an individual in a democratic society?

What problems exist in the U.S.? Why does Berelson say it is ultimately

okay?

Key ReadingKey Reading

Why shouldn’t we assume that a candidate enjoys the support of the majority if they won?

How should candidates look at elections?

How should we understand voters?

Why shouldn’t we assume that a candidate enjoys the support of the majority if they won?

How should candidates look at elections?

How should we understand voters?