A political party is a group of people who seek to control
government by winning elections and holding office Platform: Formal
statement of basic beliefs, opinions, and objectives.
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Nominate Candidates President, Congress, Governor, City
Council, etc. Combine people who support similar ideas Oppose ideas
together Raise money to fund elections TV & radio ads, signs,
etc.
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America has always had a two party system They have changed
through history Federalists & Anti-Federalists Whigs and
Democrats Democrats & Republicans (for the last 150 years)
Minor parties have always existed as well
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Conservative Party Red GOP Elephant Right Winged Do NOT have
control of Presidency DO have majority in the HOUSE
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Republicans Issues: Pro-Life (oppose abortion) Limited/Small
government (less involvement in everyday affairs) Stronger support
for staying the course in Iraq, Afghanistan Leaders: John Boehner
John McCain Mitch McConnell Sarah Palin***
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Liberal Blue Donkey
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Democrats Liberal Blue Donkey Left Winged Have a majority in
the Senate and control the Presidency
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Democrats Issues: Pro-Choice (support abortion) Big government
(more involvement in everyday affairs) Cut taxes for poor &
raise taxes for businesses and upper class End involvement in Iraq
& Afghanistan ASAP Leaders: Barack Obama Joe Biden Harry Reid
Hillary Clinton
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Minor Parties Why are Minor Parties important? Spoiler, Critic,
Innovator Often have big influence on elections
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Ideological Parties: Libertarians reducing government
Socialists Karl Marx ideas Single Issue Parties: Free-Soil Party
abolition of slavery Right to Life opposes abortion
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Minor Parties Economic Protest Parties Disgust for .. Splinter
Parties Break off a larger party 1912 Progressive (Bull Moose) Ross
Perot won almost 20 million votes in 1992 Presidential
election
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Each party has a headquarters in every state. Downtown
Nashville Delegates are chosen in each state to represent the
states interests Conventions Used to rally supporters and choose
candidates
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Senators for TN Lamar Alexander (R) Bob Corker (R) House of
Representatives 9 Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R) represents
most of Williamson County & Friends Jim Cooper (D) Davidson,
Wilson, etc.
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Gerrymandering Drawing electoral district lines in order to
limit the voting strength of a particular group or party Used to
guarantee a party will win / lose.
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Suffrage right to vote (Franchise) 1776: Male White Over age 21
Land Owning Literate Passed Religious test Paid Tax 2010:
Male/Female All Races Over age 18 No ownership qualifications No
tests, etc.
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1810: most religious tests, property requirements had been
eliminated After Civil War 13 th Amendment outlawed slavery 14 th
gave citizenship rights to former slaves 15 th outlawed denying
right to vote based on race or color NOT enforced
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History of Suffrage Voting discrimination Poll Taxes Voting
fee, administered by poll workers after 15 th Amendment Fee to
African Americans to prevent from voting Literacy tests Required
before allowing to vote Grandfather Clause If a persons ancestor
voted before 1870, they could vote without paying a poll or taking
literacy test.
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History of Suffrage 1920 19 th Prohibited denying right to vote
based on gender 1960s Civil Rights Acts & Voting Rights Act 23
rd Amendment DC 24 th outlawed poll taxes 1970s 26 th Voting age
lowered to 18
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Suffrage Timeline Include 14 items: Amendments: 15 th, 19 th,
23 rd, 24 th, 26 th Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964 Voting
Rights Acts of 1965, 1982 Motor Voter Law Supreme Court Cases:
Harper v. Virginia Oregon v. Mitchell Hill v. Stone Explain ALL
items very briefly
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Who can vote? Citizens of the United States Legal residents of
the state they will vote in At least 18 years old States can
legally restrict the voting rights of: Mentally incompetent
Convicted of serious crimes Dishonorably discharged from
Military
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In November 08, only 56.8% of eligible people voted in the
Presidential election Participation is even lower for off-year
elections Off year Congressional elections held between
Presidential elections Straight Ticket voting Voting for candidates
of only one party Split Ticket voting Voting for candidates of
multiple parties Aka: a candidates party affiliation is less
important
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Idiotes non-voter in Ancient Greece Why do people not vote?
Inconvenience Dont believe their vote will make a difference
Distrust of politics or candidates Bad weather on voting day
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Picking a Candidate is complicated Candidates are chosen either
by being chosen through a primary or making an announcement that
they are running. Primaries are a way for the public to voice their
opinion. They help pick the candidate. But states do it many
different ways