Bias When one allows their values to affect opinion (personal bias) Good news is boring – Bad news bias tends to make politicians appear more crooked than they really are Storytelling requires drama, controversy creates drama. Journalists will seek out conflict on issues to show controversy.

Propaganda Spread of information with the intention of persuading the audience Guilt/Virtue by Association Celebrity Testimonials Scare Tactics

Media Means of communication: radio, television, newspapers, magazines, Internet Influences politics by shaping public opinion. Voters rely on the media to develop an opinion when determining how to vote. Media Institution Crash Course

Special Interest Groups Group or organization seeking/receiving special advantages, typically through political lobbying. Influencing public policy. Lobbyist Someone hired by a business or cause to persuade legislators to support that business or cause.

Political Action Committees Organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation (the financial arms of interest groups) Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $2.6 million; 97% Democrat Machinist/Aerospace Workers Union: $2.3 million; 91% Democrat Operating Engineers Union: $2.1 million; 73% Democrat National Autodealers Assn: $2.5 million; 73% Republican American Banker Assn: $2.4 million; 77% Republican Majority Cmte PAC: $2.1 million; 100% Republican (leadership PAC)

Super PACs PAC that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals and unlimited sums to overtly advocate for/against political candidates. Unlike PACs, they are prohibited from donating directly to political candidates and spending cannot be coordinated with candidates they benefit. Priorities USA Action (Clinton): $117 million spent Rebuilding America Now (Trump): $16 million spent Our Principles PAC (opposes Trump): $18 million spent Restoration PAC (opposes Clinton): $1.8 million spent Senate Leadership Fund (Conservative): $60 million spent Senate Majority PAC (Liberal): $60 million spent

Federal Election Commission (FEC) Independent regulatory agency responsible with administering and enforcing federal campaign finance law (regulates the use of money in elections) Public disclosure of funds raised and spent to influence federal elections Restrictions on contributions and expenditures made to influence federal elections Public financing of Presidential campaigns Prohibited from making contributions or expenditures to influence federal elections: Corporations Labor organizations Federal government contractors Foreign nationals, National Banks, Federally Chartered Corporations

Primaries & Caucuses Elections/meetings in each state to choose party candidates Primary: Party members vote for the candidate to represent them in the general election More democratic More Representative A rigorous test for the candidate Caucus: Party members select a candidate through a series of discussions and votes Participants more informed; more interactive and informative Frontloading (being first) gives some primary states an advantage Frontloading: tendency to choose an early date on the primary schedule

Suffrage Voting Amendments The right to vote in political elections 15th: Gave African-American men the right to vote (1870) 19th: Gave American women the right to vote (1920) 23rd: Extended right to vote in the presidential election to citizens residing in the District of Columbia, by electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state. (1961) 24th: Eliminated poll taxes, which primarily affected African Americans (1964) 26th: Lowered the voting age to 18 (1971)

Voting Rights Act of 1965 This law prohibits voting practices and procedures that discriminate based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group. It also requires certain jurisdictions to provide election materials in languages other than English.

Voter Requirements (Idaho) Be a U.S. citizen Live at an Idaho address by October 9 Be 18 years old by Election Day (Nov. 8) Not be in jail for a criminal conviction and not have been imprisoned for a felony Voter ID on Election Day Idaho drivers license or Idaho photo ID card US passport or federal photo ID Tribal photo ID Current student photo ID issued by Idaho high school or college Election Day registration Valid ID with current address Student photo ID & Statement (bill) showing current Idaho address

National Convention Held every 4 years by political parties fielding nominees in the presidential election. Purpose: Select the party’s nominee for President State party “platform” Adopt rules for the party’s activities for the next election cycle How does it all work?

Elections Election Day: First Tuesday following the first Monday in November Polling Place: A building where voting takes place, typically one that normally has another function, such as a school or church On Election Day polls are open 8 am – 8 pm Precinct: One of several districts into which a city or town is divided for voting; each contains one polling place Reapportionment: Periodic reallotment of US congressional seats according to changes in census figures as required by the Constitution Redistricting: Process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries. Gerrymandering: Manipulating boundaries of an electoral district to favor one party over another

Who are we voting for? Incumbent: Current office holder Challenger: Person challenging the Incumbent for their office Electoral College: The body of people representing the US States, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. Electors chosen in a “winner-take-all” method in all states save Maine & Nebraska No elector is required by federal law to honor a pledge Candidate who receives an absolute majority of electoral votes (270) for the office of president or vice president is elected to that office

Laptops! http://www.redistrictinggame.org/