-a group of people with similar beliefs and ideas about government Political Parties -political party -a group of people with similar beliefs and ideas about government -what are their beliefs???

Kinds of Party Systems -One Party system – oppressive systems with one group control. -usually, they’re communist (former Soviet Union, China, Cuba, etc -Two Party system – system with two major choices America today is a two party system (Democrats and Republicans -Multi-Party System – three or more major parties Most Western European countries are multi party

RECOMMENDED! DRAW A GIANT T- CHART ON YOUR NOTES FOR THIS SECTION! Two Party System RECOMMENDED! DRAW A GIANT T- CHART ON YOUR NOTES FOR THIS SECTION! -Democrats – more government regulation More likely to support various firearm restrictions More likely to support environmental law or laws to limit wall street more individual freedom Support of gay marriage More likely to support legalizing marijuana Pro-Choice Feel school prayer violates Establishment clause Feel freedom of speech cannot be limited (flag burning) Prefer a “loose interpretation” of the Constitution Meaning – they use the necessary and proper clause more (i.e., Obamacare)

Party Differences -Democrats: Favor taxation of wealthy more “Make the rich pay their fair share” Democrats believe that economic growth stems from middle class spending, this encourages business growth to serve this need and thus leads to hiring of more poor people. Favor better public education and social programs Democrats feel the best way to stop crime is prevent unemployment and get a better education Democrats often support lower tuition or even free college tuition. Support free trade deals like NAFTA and TPP, and being a member of the UN -Republicans: freedom for business, less gun control, private education more restrictions on individual liberties, let others help the poor, etc.

The Two Party System -Republicans – less regulation of business Republicans often believe in “Trickle Down Economics”, which means wealth stems from the upper class expanding business, spending more, and hiring more. Republicans want to cut regulations (like minimum wage) because they feel they lead to jobs going to countries that won’t have them less individual freedom Pro-life Want to defend marriage (i.e., between a man and a woman) Oppose legalization of recreational drugs

Party Differences -Republicans Prefer a “strict interpretation” of the US Constitution Republicans favor the 10th amendment and leaving things like education and health care to the states Favor “School choice” and being tough on crime Republicans favor getting criminals off the street as the best way to fight crime and support the death penalty Republicans feel charter schools, competing with public schools, will make all schools better. Oppose free college Prefer “national sovereignty” to free trade Oppose reducing tariffs on other nations, oppose acting in conjunction with other nations like in NATO or UN -Republicans: freedom for business, less gun control, private education more restrictions on individual liberties, let others help the poor, etc.

-demographics of Republicans White Male Protestant/Christians Middle Class, Business owners Older Rural areas

-demographic features of Democrats Young Minoriites Female Less religious College educated Lower class and higher class Urban populations

-lack of political choices Fears of Our System -lack of political choices -fear that parties would divide the nation -”dangers of factions”, George Washington’s warning -more and more voters identify as “independent” and don’t like being grouped into one side or another. “false dichotomy” -minority may be ignored by majority

Advantages / Disadvantages stability in government while maintaining choices experienced leaders -Disadvantages political minorities ignored little change in government

-single party majorities rare Multi-Party System -3 or more parties -lots of choices -single party majorities rare -coalitions coalitions control most multi-party systems -can be unstable

-little political freedom One Party System -only one political party -usually a dictatorship or communist system -competition from other parties usually not allowed -little political freedom

History of Our Parties -the first parties: Federalist & Democratic-Republicans (DR’s preferred less government, and dominated for 20 years -Democrats / Whigs -Democrats / Republicans (since 1860)– main parties today -Political Machines – one party takes control of government through good organization… usually, they are corrupt and use bribes and extortion

Formation of Third Parties -3rd parties form to bring out specific issues ignored by the major parties -3rd Parties are formed in one of the following ways -issues based party – similar to Dems and Reps, but much smaller (Libertarians, Constitution, Communists) -single idea – have one cause (Environment, remind me to show you the one from New York) -single person – a group that forms to support one person, usually for President (Ross Perot)

Today’s Parties Democrats/Republicans (already gone into so we’re not going to worry about them now) -Green Party – dedicated to protecting the environment -American Socialist Party – , a third party with about 40,000 national members -Libertarian Party – a party that believes in drastically reducing the role of the government. It is the most common third party today

Membership -anyone who can vote can be a member of a party -usually, you join a party when you register to vote -What Party Members Do? -nominate members for positions -campaign -vote!!

-Moderates –believe in a “middle of the road’ approach, Political Philosophy -Conservatives – believe in less government, but also tend to believe that law and order is more important, similar to Republicans -Liberals – believe in more freedom, choices, assistance and regulations, similar to Democrats -Moderates –believe in a “middle of the road’ approach, -hence, there are “conservative Democarts” and “moderate Republicans”

-state –organizations of precincts and wards make up the state party -local -local is divided up into precincts and wards -state –organizations of precincts and wards make up the state party -national the states together make up the national level of the party

-all voting takes place here Local Level -most important level -all voting takes place here -most volunteers work at this level -elections here affect people the most

-party goals developed at this level State, National Level -Focuses on several elections -Lots of funds spent at this level -party goals developed at this level

-statement of a party’s beliefs and goals Party Platform -statement of a party’s beliefs and goals -made up of “planks” -developed at National Party Conventions not representative of all party members

Select and Support -Selecting Candidates – parties chose their members to run for offices -Supporting Candidates – parties support nominees for office -Patronage – loyal supporters are often the ones to get the nomination

-idea that people have the right to rule themselves People’s Beliefs -Grassroots Movement -term applied to a political idea or movement that starts with citizen organization -Popular Sovereignty -idea that people have the right to rule themselves -more involved citizens

-Political Parties keep watch over each other Watch Dogs -Political Parties keep watch over each other -why??? -insures good government -alerts citizens to corruption

-Parties help connect the different levels of government Linking Government -Parties help connect the different levels of government -President -Congress -Governors -National, State Legislatures, Local Governments

-Parties are weaker today than in the past Party Roles Today -Parties are weaker today than in the past -less party loyalty, more moderates -less people vote “Straight ticket” than in years past, and more people register as independent (this year, the straight ticket option was not on the ballot in NC) -more media influences -non-partisan elections are becoming more common

Public Opinion -Public Opinion – derived from studies, and reflects what people want. Often, political parties and other groups focus on this. -Often misleading – questions can be asked in a tricky manner or numbers can be skewed.

-Many Factors Influence Opinions Forming Opinions -Many Factors Influence Opinions -Mass Media – TV news, major web sites -Public Officials – President, governor, for example -Special Interest Groups – such as the NRA and others

-Public Opinion Polls -Random Samples Measuring Opinion -Public Opinion Polls -Random Samples -poll methods where attempts are made to include a wide segment of the population in the poll -Effects of Polls – sometimes, officials may make policies based on what polling data shows.

Interest Groups -Interest Groups -a group of people who have similar beliefs on an issue -Bias -term that refers to a one-sided opinion on an issue -Impartial -having no opinion on an issue

Types of Groups -Economic Groups Business Organizations Professional Associations Labor Unions -Particular Groups of People Ethnic Age Sex -Particular Causes (NRA)

-the act of trying to influence people on behalf of an interest group Lobbying -Lobbying -the act of trying to influence people on behalf of an interest group -Lobbyist’s have some influence on elections, (generally), but the main thing is they try to control who you elect when they’re in office -Functions of Interest Groups Information Represent their members support certain candidates -Lobbyists work at all levels of government

Regulation of Lobbying -Past activities of lobbyists have been questionable -government regulation has been proposed to stop bribery -special interest groups -reporting lobbying activities

-Elections have two important parts Winning Office -Elections have two important parts -Nomination Process (you campaign to get the parties nomination) -Campaigning (you campaign for the office you seek against the other parties candidate)

-a meeting of party leaders to name candidates Nominating Process -Caucus -a meeting of party leaders to name candidates -Convention -meeting of party representatives (delegates) to name candidates -Primary Elections -special election held by party members to determine candidates

-primary where any voter can help chose candidates Primary Elections -Open Primary -primary where any voter can help chose candidates -Closed Primary -primary where only party members are allowed to vote -Closed are most often used to protect the party’s nominees

Presidential Candidates -selected by a combination of three nominating processes -caucuses -primaries -National convention

-private funding is limited in most cases -candidate can spend any amount of their own money -anyone (corporation, individual) can spend all the money they want as long as they aren’t actually giving the money to the campaign (Citizens United case) -individuals can donate $1,000 -PAC-$5,000 -campaign finance reform?

-using the media to campaign Advertising -using the media to campaign -primary method of campaigning -positive and negative advertising

Canvassing -person to person campaigning, usually door to door -”campaign trail”

Endorsements -using a famous person to support a candidate (this is almost always positive) -Mud slinging – when you publish negative images, statistics, and facts about your opponent. Often called “attack ads” and always negative. Other methods are usually in the same ad. Name Calling – when a candidate accuses another and calls them a name. It doesn’t have to necessarily be one word, it could be a phrase or statement about the person. Almost always negative! Card stacking – positive or negative, but is when only one side of an issue is presented. It has to omit important information

Other Methods -symbolism/transfer – using American flags or other things to symbolize a Candidates patriotism. It’s generally positive, although you can use it negatively – “gliterring generality” general things like “Hope”, “Change”, “Make America Great Again.” (always positive, and to be good, it has to be a statement ANYONE would agree with!) -bandwagon – “Everyone else is doing it, you should to” -“plain folks” – attempt to show a candidate as a more “real person”

Who can Vote? -3 Requirements (write them down if you need to) -be 18 years old -U.S. Citizen -Resident of the community where you vote

Preparing to Vote -Must be registered to vote -be informed about the election -know who is running, know what the issues are, and know what you believe before you go vote

Who Votes? -Electorate -all the people who are eligible to vote -Elderly are most likely -Youngest are least likely to vote

Why People Don’t Vote? -Some people have lost voting privileges -Some didn’t register -some moved recently -apathy - a lack of interest

Obstacles to Voting -apathy – some people don’t care about politics or voting -registering process – some people don’t have time or don’t want the hassle of registering to vote - at one time, the voter registration was used for jury selection -voting times – some people can’t vote due to jobs or timing -early voting attempts to fix this problem

-participate in government Why Should You Vote? -opportunity to choose our leaders -participate in government -voice opinions about certain issues

-Usually in schools, town halls, public places Polling Places -Polling Places -precinct based -Usually in schools, town halls, public places -open early and close late

General Elections -Elections are controlled by the local Board of Elections -General Election held November--1st Tuesday after 1st Monday -Plurality---winning the most votes -majority---getting more than half of the votes -most popular votes (plurality) wins most elections -majority of electoral votes determine the winner of the Presidency

Voting on Issues -Initiatives -method where citizens propose a bill through a petition and place it on the ballot for a general election vote (We don’t have this in NC) -Referendums -method of public approval for a proposed bill where the legislature temporarily passes a bill until the public is given a chance to approve or disapprove the bill (we have this in NC)

-Name is checked against list of registered voters Casting Your Vote -you must go to the polling place -Name is checked against list of registered voters -cast your vote paper ballots lever machines punch cards computer -you may encounter an exit poll

-voting for candidates from either party Types of Votes -Straight Ticket -voting only for one political party (not an option on the ballot in NC anymore -Split Ticket -voting for candidates from either party -Absentee Ballot – mail in a ballot if you can’t be there on election day -Early voting – same as regular voting, but done at an earlier time at any location in your county -Write-In Votes (not counted in NC)

Special Kinds of Elections --Recounts – re count the ballots to make sure it’s right -Run-Offs – an election to determine a winner if it’s close -Recalls – some states allow voters to kick out an official and elect a new one (not in NC)