Date: February 3, 2016 Topic: Turnout in Federal Elections. Aim: How does turnout fluctuate in elections? Do Now: Handout

IM SAYING THIS NOW JUST IN CASE I FORGET…. RACHEL CARSON STARTED THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTALIST MOVEMENT WITH HER BOOK, SILENT SPRING.

Larger Electorate. Larger Electorate. A.) Population increase. A.) Population increase. B.) Minority enfranchisement. B.) Minority enfranchisement. C.) Drop in Voting Age – 18 years through 26 th Amendment. C.) Drop in Voting Age – 18 years through 26 th Amendment. Less Party Mobilization. Less Party Mobilization. More Mobile Population. More Mobile Population. Dealignment – people disassociate themselves with a political party Dealignment – people disassociate themselves with a political party Less party identification. Less party identification. Rising Cynicism. Rising Cynicism. Apathy. Apathy. Loss of Efficacy. Loss of Efficacy.

Litigation Litigation Protest Protest Contacting officials Contacting officials Campaign work Campaign work Voter Registration Drives Voter Registration Drives Voter Campaign Contributions Campaign Contributions Running for Office Running for Office Membership in an interest group Membership in an interest group VALENCE ISSUE – AN ISSUE THAT EVERYONE SUPPORTS. EX: CLEAN WATER RETROSPECTIVE VOTING – VOTING BASED ON A CANDIDATES PAST PERFORMANCE.

Date: February 9, 2016 Topic: Turnout in Federal Elections. Aim: How does turnout fluctuate in elections? Do Now: Handout.

Media interest greater in Presidential elections. Media interest greater in Presidential elections. Media interest Media interest Greater information available about Presidential candidates. Greater information available about Presidential candidates. National conventions are infomercials. National conventions are infomercials. Mobilization – voting drives. Mobilization – voting drives. Perception of a greater importance in Presidential races. Perception of a greater importance in Presidential races.

Greater media interest – earlier and earlier. Greater media interest – earlier and earlier. Greater information available about the candidates. Greater information available about the candidates. The party conventions – television coverage. The party conventions – television coverage. Visibility of the presidential office. Visibility of the presidential office. MIDTERM ELECTION – ELECTIONS HELD TWO YEARS INTO THE TERM OF THE PRESIDENT – ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ARE ELECTED AND MANY MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

Established to enforce the 14 th and 15 th Amendments. Established to enforce the 14 th and 15 th Amendments. Prohibited literacy tests on a nationwide basis. Prohibited literacy tests on a nationwide basis. Bilingual ballots must be provided in areas where there are language minority issues. Bilingual ballots must be provided in areas where there are language minority issues. Created federal oversight of elections that helped eliminate discriminatory practices (voter intimidation, ballot fraud). Created federal oversight of elections that helped eliminate discriminatory practices (voter intimidation, ballot fraud). intimidation Eliminated the use of English only ballots that decreased minority voting. Eliminated the use of English only ballots that decreased minority voting. Eliminated

Prohibits the poll tax. RECALL LITERACY TESTS AND GRANDFATHER CLAUSES TOO.

VOTER INTIMIDATION – PHILADELPHIA 2008 HIA2008HIA2008

Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

Baker v. Carr (1960) Baker v. Carr (1960) Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over issues of legislative apportionment? Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over issues of legislative apportionment? The court does have jurisdiction over these issues. The Court can hear these cases. The court does have jurisdiction over these issues. The Court can hear these cases. Wesberry v Sanders (1964) Wesberry v Sanders (1964) State of Georgia’s apportionment scheme diluted a persons right to vote. *US Congressional Districts. State of Georgia’s apportionment scheme diluted a persons right to vote. *US Congressional Districts.vote. Reynolds v. Sims (1964) Reynolds v. Sims (1964) Established equal voting districts and “one person one vote” doctrine (one persons vote as equal to another). *State districts. Established equal voting districts and “one person one vote” doctrine (one persons vote as equal to another). *State districts.

Figure 8.1 Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Rational-choice theory: Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the pros & cons.

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