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