Post on 23-Dec-2015
Political Parties and Political Parties and ElectionsElections
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections
Political PartiesPolitical PartiesDevelopment of Political PartiesDevelopment of Political Parties In America, there are 2 major parties- In America, there are 2 major parties- two party systemtwo party system US Constitution says nothing about political partiesUS Constitution says nothing about political parties
Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson: strong states’ rights, weak central gov’t: strong states’ rights, weak central gov’t Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton: strong central gov’t , weak states’ rights: strong central gov’t , weak states’ rights
Democrat RepublicansDemocrat RepublicansDemocratsDemocrats FederalistsFederalistsWhigsWhigs Republicans (Lincoln first Rep. Republicans (Lincoln first Rep.
Pres.)Pres.) Third Parties believe neither of the major parties offer Third Parties believe neither of the major parties offer
positive platformspositive platforms No 3rd party has ever won an election, but they do effect No 3rd party has ever won an election, but they do effect
outcomeoutcome Some are invented just to stress an issue- alcoholSome are invented just to stress an issue- alcohol Communist Party USA, Socialist PartyCommunist Party USA, Socialist Party Ideological Parties Ideological Parties
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
Most nations have Most nations have multi party systemsmulti party systems (more than 2)(more than 2) Canada (3); Israel (20) Canada (3); Israel (20)
Some have a Some have a 1 party system1 party system- Communist - Communist Party in ChinaParty in China
Major parties today differ in their beliefs on Major parties today differ in their beliefs on the role of gov’t in people’s livesthe role of gov’t in people’s lives
Each party, every 4 years, develops a Each party, every 4 years, develops a platformplatform and its’ and its’ planksplanks
Political PartiesPolitical PartiesOrganization of Political PartiesOrganization of Political Parties Parties operate on local, state and national levelParties operate on local, state and national level The nat’l comm. for each party helps its’ candidate get The nat’l comm. for each party helps its’ candidate get
electedelected Every 4 years, the nat’l comm. will hold a convention Every 4 years, the nat’l comm. will hold a convention
where party delegates write a platform, nominate a P where party delegates write a platform, nominate a P and VPand VP
State comm. focus on electing local officials to officeState comm. focus on electing local officials to office Each county or city is divided into Each county or city is divided into precinctsprecincts and will and will
elect officials from their precinctelect officials from their precinct Some local parties become very powerfulSome local parties become very powerfulpolitical political
machinesmachines Tammany Hall and Boss TweedTammany Hall and Boss Tweed Corrupt ring bribing people for votesCorrupt ring bribing people for votes
Political PartiesPolitical PartiesNominating CandidatesNominating Candidates Political parties are the only organization that can Political parties are the only organization that can
nominatenominate a person for office a person for office Parties nominate candidates using Parties nominate candidates using direct direct
primariesprimarieselections where voters choose candidates to elections where voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general electionrepresent each party in a general election
2 forms of direct primary2 forms of direct primary closed primaryclosed primary- only declared party members are allowed to - only declared party members are allowed to
votevote open primaryopen primary- voters do not declare party preference- voters do not declare party preference
Candidates need Candidates need pluralityplurality (most votes among those (most votes among those running) to win nominationrunning) to win nomination
If there is someone interested in running not from the If there is someone interested in running not from the two major parties, a two major parties, a petitionpetition can be used to get their can be used to get their name on the ballotname on the ballot
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
Other Party RolesOther Party Roles Political parties do more than just nominate a Political parties do more than just nominate a
candidate for officecandidate for office Campaign for candidatesCampaign for candidates- raise money, make sure - raise money, make sure
ppl. are registered to voteppl. are registered to vote Informing citizensInforming citizens- get across ideas about policy - get across ideas about policy
(TV, radio, speeches)(TV, radio, speeches) Helping Manage GovernmentHelping Manage Government- hand out government - hand out government
jobsjobs Linking Different Levels of GovernmentLinking Different Levels of Government- mayors - mayors
and governorsand governors WatchdogWatchdog- the losing party will “watch” the party in - the losing party will “watch” the party in
power to check for any mistakes and wrongdoingpower to check for any mistakes and wrongdoing
Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections
Who can Vote?Who can Vote? Voting is a responsibilityVoting is a responsibility During early years, most voters were white and there During early years, most voters were white and there
were restrictions on AA, NA, women, must own propertywere restrictions on AA, NA, women, must own property 15th A15th A- AA males have right to vote; - AA males have right to vote; 19th A19th A- Women - Women
have right to votehave right to vote Criminals in prison do not have the right to voteCriminals in prison do not have the right to vote To vote you must: be 18, a resident of the state, CitizenTo vote you must: be 18, a resident of the state, Citizen If you want to vote, you must registerIf you want to vote, you must register
Democrat, Republican, unaffiliatedDemocrat, Republican, unaffiliated Show proof of citizenship, address, ageShow proof of citizenship, address, age Assigned an election district (Assigned an election district (precinct)precinct)
Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections
Steps in VotingSteps in Voting Election Day- Voters go to location where voting is carried Election Day- Voters go to location where voting is carried
outoutpolling placepolling place At the polls- study ballot and fill out form to be cross referencedAt the polls- study ballot and fill out form to be cross referenced Casting a Vote- hand your card to a “judge” and voteCasting a Vote- hand your card to a “judge” and vote
• Punch card machinePunch card machine• Lever machineLever machine
Absentee Voting- citizens who can’t get to the polls to voteAbsentee Voting- citizens who can’t get to the polls to vote Counting the Vote- Take returns to election board to be countedCounting the Vote- Take returns to election board to be counted
• Media likes to exit poll- ask voters who they voted for when Media likes to exit poll- ask voters who they voted for when they leavethey leave
Everyone eligible to vote is an Everyone eligible to vote is an electorateelectoratemany are many are apathetic apathetic (do not care)(do not care)
Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsElection CampaignsElection Campaigns Types of ElectionsTypes of Elections
General ElectionsGeneral Elections: Voters choose candidates for : Voters choose candidates for office (pres, House, governor)office (pres, House, governor)
• Majority wins; loser can demand recountMajority wins; loser can demand recount
Voting on IssuesVoting on Issues• InitiativeInitiative: citizens propose new laws to be voted on by : citizens propose new laws to be voted on by
signing a petitionsigning a petition• PropositionProposition: a proposed law: a proposed law• ReferendumReferendum: Sign a petition to have the law voted on again: Sign a petition to have the law voted on again
• Special ElectionsSpecial Elections: Runoff elections; : Runoff elections; RecallRecall vote to vote to remove a public official from officeremove a public official from office
Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsPresidential ElectionsPresidential Elections 3 major steps3 major steps
Nomination Nomination • Conventions are held to Conventions are held to
nominate 1 candidate from each nominate 1 candidate from each partyparty
• Delegates attend to represent Delegates attend to represent the opinions from each statethe opinions from each state
CampaignCampaign• In full swing by September- In full swing by September-
debate, make speechesdebate, make speeches The Vote and Electoral CollegeThe Vote and Electoral College
• Each state’s electors is pledged Each state’s electors is pledged to a candidate, who ever wins to a candidate, who ever wins the popular vote usually wins all the popular vote usually wins all of the state’s electoral votesof the state’s electoral votes
• Winner Take All SystemWinner Take All System• Whoever wins a majority of the Whoever wins a majority of the
538 electoral votes, wins538 electoral votes, wins
Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsPaying for Election CampaignsPaying for Election Campaigns
It takes a lot of money to run a campaignIt takes a lot of money to run a campaign Purpose: convince public to vote for a particular candidatePurpose: convince public to vote for a particular candidate Campaign workers use techniques to sway opinionCampaign workers use techniques to sway opinion
• Canvassing:Canvassing: Door-to-door Door-to-door• EndorsementsEndorsements: Famous or popular person supports a campaign : Famous or popular person supports a campaign
(propaganda)(propaganda)• Advertising and Image MoldingAdvertising and Image Molding
Financing a CampaignFinancing a Campaign Until the 70s, much money came from large businesses Until the 70s, much money came from large businesses
and wealthy ppland wealthy ppl Gov’t tries to limit this kind of financing- Gov’t tries to limit this kind of financing- Finance reformFinance reform
You must tell what you are spending money onYou must tell what you are spending money on Accept federal funds for campaignsAccept federal funds for campaigns Limit how much individuals and companies can donateLimit how much individuals and companies can donate
Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections
Public VS Private FundingPublic VS Private Funding Public: 1971 law says you can donate money Public: 1971 law says you can donate money
when doing tax returnswhen doing tax returns Private: Where most campaign money comes Private: Where most campaign money comes
fromfrom Business, labor unions, NRA, AMABusiness, labor unions, NRA, AMA Politicians must sneak to earn more Politicians must sneak to earn more
• Soft MoneySoft Money: Money given to political party, not candidate: Money given to political party, not candidate• Political Action Committees (PACSPolitical Action Committees (PACS): Organizations ): Organizations
designed to support candidates created by companies and designed to support candidates created by companies and unionsunions
Many say wealthy donators “buy” a candidateMany say wealthy donators “buy” a candidate