Ch. 7 - The Electoral Process Sect. 1 - The Nominating Process Nomination - The selection of those who will seek office - Five ways candidates have been nominated Self Announcement - Candidate declares that they are running for office.

2 Caucuses - Private meeting of party members to choose candidates Criticized for being un-democratic - the people had no say Conventions - Party selects delegates to go to a convention to nominate candidates - now only used for Presidential candidates

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8 Caucuses - Private meeting of party members to choose candidates Criticized for being un-democratic - the people had no say Conventions - Party selects delegates to go to a convention to nominate candidates - now only used for Presidential candidates

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10 Primary Elections - The people elect candidates to run in the general election - used for most national and state elections Closed Primary - Only Democrats vote in Democratic Primary, Republicans in Republican Primary Open Primary - All voters may participate - they choose which party’s ballot they want Runoff Primary - If no candidate receives a majority they have a second “runoff” primary with the top two vote getters

11 Presidential Primary - Each state holds primary - based on results candidates earn a number of delegates to party’s nominating convention

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15 Petition - Candidate files petition with signatures to get on ballot - used mostly at local level * In all methods the states set the rules (Reserved Power)

Section 2 - Elections More than 500,000 people hold elected office in the U.S. Federal Control - Constitution, amendments and federal law ensure fair election practices America Vote Act of Replace punch card and lever voting devices 2. Train poll workers 3. Computerize voter registration system 4. Provide for provisional ballots

Election Day - Congress set election day as the first Tues. after the first Mon. in November Coattail Effect - A strong candidate can help other candidates of the same party win office on election day Precinct - A voting district - small geographic area of voters Voting - All states require a secret ballot Online Voting - A few elections have used online voting - security concerns

18 Voting

19 Sect. 3 - Money and Elections Sources of Funding - - Small contributors - average citizen that gives $5 to $10 - Wealthy individuals and families - The candidates themselves - hold fundraisers - Political Action Committees (PACs) Support a particular issue and contribute to candidates Regulating Campaign Finance - Federal law made it illegal for corporations, non-profit organizations, banks, labor unions to contribute to campaigns * In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled this was a violation of the 1 st Amendment right of Free Speech

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22 Sect. 3 - Money and Elections Sources of Funding - - Small contributors - average citizen that gives $5 to $10 - Wealthy individuals and families - The candidates themselves - hold fundraisers - Political Action Committees (PACs) Support a particular issue and contribute to candidates Regulating Campaign Finance - Federal law made it illegal for corporations, non-profit organizations, banks, labor unions to contribute to campaigns * In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled this was a violation of the 1 st Amendment right of Free Speech

23 Federal Election Commission Federal agency to enforce campaign finance laws - Today no person can contribute more than $2400 to a campaign or $5000 to a PAC - PACs can contribute no more than $5000 to a campaign or $15,000 to a political party

24 Ch. 8 - Mass Media & Public Opinion Sect. 1 - Public Opinion Public Opinion is not a single view on an issue - it is the sum of the views of many different people

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26 Ch. 8 - Mass Media & Public Opinion Sect. 1 - Public Opinion Public Opinion is not a single view on an issue - it is the sum of the views of many different people Our opinions are formed over our lifetimes - most significant influences are: Home/Family - Just like with political views, is the most significant influence Mass Media - TV, radio, newspapers, internet greatly effect public opinion Peer Group - Create a support group to reinforce our beliefs

27 Opinion Leaders - People you admire or respect and influence your opinion Historic events - Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, Watergate, 9/11 - events change our opinion of the role of government Sect. 2 - Measuring Public Opinion Public Opinion Polls - Gathering information on public opinion by asking people questions Straw Votes - Early method that was unscientific - quantity over quality - simply ask a large number of people the same questions

28 Scientific Polling - Today’s scientific polls are highly sophisticated - Gallup Poll, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NY Times - 5 basic steps to a good scientific poll: 1) Define the universe - The whole population that the poll wants to measure 2) Construct a sample - A random sample is a subset of the total population that each have an equal chance of being selected - 1,500 people for an accurate sample of the U.S. 3) Ask well-structured questions - - must be un-biased and not be emotionally leading

29 4) Interviewing - Most today are by phone - Interviewers are carefully trained to ask questions 5) Analyzing results - Compile all the data, interpret data, draw conclusions, and publish their findings Sect. 3 - Mass Media Means of communication that can reach a large audience Mass Media

30 4) Interviewing - Most today are by phone - Interviewers are carefully trained to ask questions 5) Analyzing results - Compile all the data, interpret data, draw conclusions, and publish their findings Sect. 3 - Mass Media Means of communication that can reach a large audience Newspaper - The oldest source of mass media - have declined with the rise of electronic media Magazines - By 1900 magazines became 1 st national media - Today there is a magazine for almost every topic

31 Radio s & 30s became popular for news & entertainment - FDRs Fireside Chats - talk radio is very popular today Television - By 1960s became primary medium in the U.S. (Nixon / Kennedy debate)

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33 Radio s & 30s became popular for news & entertainment - FDRs Fireside Chats - talk radio is very popular today Television - By 1960s became primary medium in the U.S. (Nixon / Kennedy debate) Internet - Quickly becoming major source of news & information Sound Bites - News and political campaigns use short focused, pieces of information for maximum impact

34 Ch. 9 - Interest Groups Sect. 1 - Nature of Interest Groups Interest Group - A group of people with a common view on an issue that try to shape public policy - they are private organizations (association, union, committee) Function of Interest Groups - - Help stimulate public awareness of an issue - Compile and provide information to govt. officials - Act as watchdogs to ensure govt. acts responsibly

35 Criticism of Interest Groups - - Their cause is not always best for all of society - Can use money to gain too much power in government

36 Criticism of Interest Groups - - Their cause is not always best for all of society - Can use money to gain too much power in government Sect. 2 - Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest - Most common - labor unions (AFL-CIO), Chamber of Commerce, Professional Associations Issue oriented groups - National Wildlife Federation, Right to Life Committee, National Rifle Association, AARP, Religious groups

37 Sect. 3 - Interest Groups at Work Lobbying - Attempt to persuade public officials to take actions in favor of the interest group - contribute billions to campaigns / party - professional lobbyists are hired by interest groups - Laws regulate how lobbyists can operate

38 Shaping Public Opinion - Interest groups attempt to shape public opinion - use mass media and propaganda Electioneering - Helping candidates get elected - Hold fundraisers, distribute literature, make phone calls

39 The End