Voting and Political Parties

What are some groups in the U.S. that cannot vote?

•People under age 18

•Convicted felons

•Non-citizens

•People who are mentally ill

•People who are not registered

If voting is such an important responsibility of citizenship, why don’t more people vote?

People say they don’t vote because:

•…my one vote won’t count.•…I don’t like any of the candidates.•…I don’t have the time.•…I don’t know how to vote or where to go.•…I’m not up-to-date on all the issues.•…I don’t know who to vote for.

If voting is so important, how do we get more people to vote?•Make it a law! (fines or jail time for people who don’t vote, like they do in other countries)

•Extend voting times (vote for a week instead of just one day)

•Make election day a holiday (..so everyone will have more time to vote)

•Take the voting to the people (mobile voting trucks could cruise the neighborhoods)

•Let people vote in different places (vote at the mall, in church, or at work)

How do you vote? Any citizen 18 years or older, who has lived in a state for enough time may vote in that state. All voters must register before they can vote. By registering, a citizen tells the government that they want to vote in the next election.

People must register to vote to:

Prove that they are eligible (they are old enough, they are citizens, etc.)

Prevent people from voting more than once

Ways to vote in the U.S. Many places still use ballot boxes, but many states now use voting machines or punch cards. Punch cards came under fire when they were used in Florida during the 2000 Presidential Election.

Political Parties and How they WorkIn the United States we have a two-party system. That means that two major political parties compete for votes and importance in government. Having two parties provides stability and balance in our government.Political parties in the United

States:• Help to recruit and nominate

candidates for public office• Educate people about campaign issues• Help candidates win elections• Monitor the actions of people in office

The two main political parties in the U.S. are the

Democrats (Generally believe in helping

as many as possible, but may raise taxes to do it)

and the

Republicans (Generally believe in smaller government and people

taking care of themselves, but lowering taxes as well)

Sometimes a third party emerges in politics, especially in presidential elections. Third parties can be formed

•Around a specific idea or issue ~ ex. The Prohibition Party was formed solely around the idea of prohibiting alcohol

•Around a strong person ~ ex. The Progressive Party centered around Teddy Roosevelt and ran him for president in 1912

Third party candidates are called Independents because they run independently from the two major parties.

LEFTRIGHT

The Political Spectrum

Politicians can sometimes be labeled depending on how they approach different issues.

Conservatives

LEFTRIGHT

Conservatives generally believe that the role of government should be limited and that people should basically take care of themselves. They favor traditional values. They often seek to reinstate prayer in school and ban abortions. Conservatives tend to be Republicans.

LEFTRIGHT

LiberalsConservatives

Liberals believe that government should help meet people’s needs, and protect and extend their rights. They often support public housing, wildlife conservation, and programs for the poor. Most liberals are independents or Democrats.

LEFTRIGHT

Radicals LiberalsReactionaries

Conservatives

Reactionaries favor a return to more traditional politics.

Radicals seek sweeping changes in governmental policies.

LEFTRIGHT

ModeratesRadicals LiberalsReactionaries

Conservatives

Moderates follow a course between liberalism and conservatism. They may support government action in some areas and reject it in others. Many politicians like to appear moderate to the voters because it makes them look open-minded and flexible.