1. 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.

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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

14. 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

15. Laptops!