1. How American Elections Work
Three types of elections:
Select party nominees (primary elections)
Select officeholders (general elections)
Select options on specific policies .

2. Direct Democracy Initiative: process permitted by some states
Where voter may place proposed changes to state low on the ballot if they have sufficient signatures obtained on a petition.
Referendum: State level. Direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislator or constitutional amendment proposed by state legislature.

3. Direct Democracy
Recall: a procedure that allows voters to call a special election for a specific official in an attempt to throw him or her out of office before the end of their term.
Only 18 states allow recall. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

5. History of Sufferage 1800 15th Amendment 19th Amendment
Brown v Board of Education
24th Amendment
26th Amendment

6. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Deciding Whether to Vote
U.S. typically has low voter turnouts.
Some argue it is a rational choice to not vote.
Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation really matters.
Civic Duty: The belief the in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.

7. Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Significantly lower turnout than European democracies
Registration requirements
Historically a means to limit suffrage
Motor voter law

10. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Registering To Vote
Voter Registration: A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election day.
Registration procedures differ from state to state.
Motor Voter Act: Requires states to permit people to register to vote when the apply for their driver’s license.

11. Legislation Civil Rights Act 1964 Voting Rights Act 1965
Section 5 of Voting Rights Act
The Shelby County decision
June

12. Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Registration requirements
Voter ID cards serve to depress voter turnout
Georgia photo ID/voter identification card law
Federal judge struck down monetary requirement
Supreme Court upheld Indiana voter ID card requirement

13. Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Frequency of elections
Elections at many levels of government, frequent and staggered
Primary elections
Americans asked to vote two or three times as often as Europeans

14. Voter Participation Why some Americans vote and others do not
Education and income
Age
Civic attitudes
Apathy
Alienation
Civic duty
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15. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes?
Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor.
Age: Older = more likely to vote.
Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education.
Gender: Female = more likely to vote.

16. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes? (continued)
Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote.
Union Membership: Union member = more likely to vote.
Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

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19. Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting
Campaign and lobbying activities
Virtual participation
Political campaigns and citizen mobilization
Democratizing effects, but also lend themselves to political polarization
Community activities
Decline in social capital?

21. Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics
The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protest movements
Each social (political) movement started with anger at established interests and seek change
Tea Party:
Initial target: Republican lawmakers for the 2008 bank bailout
Played a key role in Republican takeover of House in 2010
Resulting House turmoil has weakened popular support

22. Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics
The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protest movements
Occupy Wall Street:
Began as protest against bailout of the financial industry and government’s failure to hold bankers accountable
Has seen popular support decline because of public’s unease with protesters confronting police
OWS’s target was private wealth and aimed to curb the political influence of large political donors

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24. Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics
The public’s response to protest activity
Political protests have a long history in America
Americans less likely to protest than citizens in other democracies
Public support for protest activity relatively low
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26. Participation and Potential for Influence
Individualism diminishes political participation
Lower-income Americans least likely to vote or participate politically; lack resources and education levels
Participation reflects socioeconomic level

27. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions
Mandate Theory of Elections
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics.
Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.

28. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Party Identification
People generally vote for a party they agree with.
Rise of candidate-centered politics has changed this view.
Now many voters are individualistic.
Characteristics of each candidate have become more important than party.

29. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Candidate Evaluations: How Americans See the Candidates
Candidates want a good visual image.
Most important dimensions are integrity, reliability, and competence.
Personality still plays a role.

30. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Policy Voting
Basing your vote choice on issue preferences.
Must know where they and the candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidates.
Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.
The press tends to focus on the “horse race” not the issues.
Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries.

31. The Last Battle: The Electoral College
Electoral College actually elects the President - founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the country
States choose the electors
Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states

32. The Last Battle: The Electoral College
How it works today:
Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators.
Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes.
Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January.
If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.

33. Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior
Democracy and Elections
Voters can steer government only when there are noticeable policy differences between the candidates.
Candidates who vow to continue popular policies are more likely to win elections.
Policies affect voting behavior through retrospective voting.
Bad economies make politicians nervous.

34. Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior
Elections and the Scope of Government
Elections generally support government policies and power.
Voters feel they are sending a message to government to accomplish something.
Thus, the government expands to fill the needs of the voters.