Political Parties, Voting, and Elections

Political Parties *organized groups of people who hold similar views about how government should operate Function: attempt to influence the government by electing candidates who share their core beliefs to governments offices recruit candidates promote voter registration inform the public about important policy issues help to reach agreements between different persons on new policy initiatives

Major Political Parties Democrats: more liberal views Republicans: more conservative values Third Parties: usually organize around social and economic interests that are not given a voice by the other parties

Types of Party Systems refers to the number of parties competing for power, the balance of power between and within parties, their structure and organization, and the different issues and policies embraced by the parties One-party: one political party has the ability to win elections and no other parties are permitted to have candidates in elections Totalitarianism (China and Nazi Germany) Two-party: two political parties have real ability to win elections with one usually holding a majority in the legislature and the other is in the minority Democracy (United States) Multi-party: three or more political parties have the real ability to win elections Democracy (Italy)

Political Ideology a person’s set of underlying ideas and beliefs through which he or she understands politics includes beliefs about the role of government, public policy, and what groups in society should have power Radical------Liberal------Moderate-----Conservative-----Reactionary (Far Left) (middle) (Far Right)

Political Ideology Cont’d Radical: ideology embraces rapid changes in the structure of society use extreme methods like violence or revolution to bring about changes Terrorists Liberal: ideology that supports political and social reform, expansion of federal social services, extensive government intervention in the economy, and active efforts on behalf of poor, minorities, women, and the environment Core value is equality Moderate: ideology that share viewpoints of both liberals and conservatives Core value is tolerance of other’s views Do not hold extreme views of their own

Political Ideology Cont’d Conservative: ideology that supports the social and economic status quo and minimizing power and control of the government and are opposed to government regulations on businesses and value social positions like school prayer, traditional family arrangements, and oppose school bussing Core value is liberty Reactionary: ideology embraces ideas that focus on the past Are often willing to use extreme methods to reach their goals Terrorists

Organization of American Political Parties National Party Organization National Committee Made up of representatives from every state Raises funds for presidential elections organizes the party’s national convention − held every four years − nominate candidates for president and vice president − write the party’s platforms and planks platform: philosophy, principles, and positions on issues for a particular political party plank: individual topics within the platform

Organization Cont’d State Party Organization State Committees − Focus on electing party candidates to state offices − Work to elect their state’s party candidates to national office Local Party Organization County − Largest political units in the state − County Chairperson – Runs the committee – Often has a great deal of political power in the county Precinct − A geographic area that consists of a specific number of voters − All voters in a precinct cast their ballots at the same voting place

Election Process 1.Announcement of Candidacy *a politician announces that they would like to run for a political office 2. Primary Elections Direct Primary: an election where voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election − Winner of the primary is most often nominated by his or her party − Two types of Direct Primaries – Closed Primary: only declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees – Held by most states – Open Primary: voters do not need to declare their party preference in order to vote for the party’s nominees

Election Process Cont’d 3. Nomination for a presidential election, this occurs at the National Convention held in the summer of the election year kicks of the campaign by “officially” naming the party’s candidate 4. Campaign candidates travel across the country, their state, or district giving speeches, appearing on TV, having debate, shaking hands, etc.

Election Process Cont’d 5.The Vote voters go to their polling place and cast their ballot ballots are counted Winner-Take-All System: candidate who wins the popular vote in a state

Voting in America Qualifications (General): *at least 18 years old *resident of the state for a specified period of time *citizen of the United States *registered to vote

Voting Cont’d Voter Registration * most states require that you register a minimum of 25 to 30 days before an election * Registration requirements vary from state to state * applications can usually be obtained from county offices * National Voter Registration Act of 1995 * a.k.a. Motor Voter Act * requires states to allow people to register to vote when they renew their drivers’ licenses

Voting Cont’d Registration Process 1. Fill out forms with your name, address, age, and party affiliation * registered party affiliation allows you to vote in primaries 2. Show proof of citizenship, physical address, and age by showing a drivers’ license or birth certificate 3. Assigned an election district (precinct) that you will vote at on Election Day

Voting Cont’d Voting Process 1. Go to the polling place in your precinct 2. Study a sample ballot 3. Sign in at the clerk’s desk 4. Pass challenger’s signature comparison 5. Proceed to voting booth 6. Cast your ballot in secrecy 7. May participate in an exit poll when leaving the polling place