1. Unit 3
Political
Behavior

2. I. Political Parties (Ch. 5)
political party – control government through winning elections
faction – a group of persons forming a cohesive, usually contentious
minority within a larger group.
A. Development of major American Political Parties
1. After George Washington
a. Federalists
b. Democratic-Republicans
2. Before the Civil War
a. Democratic-Republicans
b. Whigs (nat'l Republicans)
c. Democrats (N. & S.)
d. Republicans
John Adams
Thomas
Jefferson
William
Harrison
Andrew
Jackson
Abraham
Lincoln

3. I. Political Parties (cont.)
5. Minor Parties
a. 3rd parties
b. types
1. single-issue
2. ideological
3. splinter
c. impact
1. influence elections
2. promote ideas major parties adopt
d. obstacles
1. difficult to get on ballot
2. $$
3. regional

4. I. Political Parties (cont.) Political IdeologyB.
Political Ideology
1. Political Ideology – a comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution of government.
Left
Right

5. I. Political Parties (cont.) Political IdeologyB.
Political Ideology
1. Political Ideology – a comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution of government.
Left
Right
Yellow Dog
Democrats
Supports a strong military and social issues (anti-abortion, same-sex marriage); oppose taxes, redistribution of income
Advocates government action on social programs (welfare, redistribute wealth to reduce poverty); support for tolerance of social change
Republicans
Blue Dog
conservative on social issues

6. gov. should promote economic equality and traditional values.B.
(cont.)
Forward, progressive; gov. promotes new ideas & policies to improve citizens’ lives, tolerance on cultural issues. Dem
skepticism & opposition toward almost all gov. activities. Most likely GOP maybe Dem
gov. should promote economic equality and traditional values.
May be GOP or
Blue Dog Dem.
pro-private sector, limit gov. econ. programs; promotes, strong sense of patriotism traditional values. GOP

7. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
1. Interest Groups (Ch. 9) –
a. do NOT nominate candidates
b. put pressure on all levels of government
c. purpose – bridge gap between gov. & people
d. political power - “strength in numbers!!”

8. I. C. Interest Groups (cont.)
2. Public Policy –
a. lobbying –
b. Political Action Committees (PACs) –
“Super PACs” -Citizens United v. FEC
c. Politics – effort to influence policies and conduct of government
d. Grass roots – voluntary actions at local level

9. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections (cont.)
3. Mass Media (Ch. 8)
The Formation of Public Opinion
a. Family
b. School
c. Mass Media
d. Peer Groups
e. Opinion Leaders
f. Historic events

10. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
4. Elections (ch. 7)
e. Campaigns
1. direct primary – an intra party election caucus – like minded people meet to select candidates
3. national convention – delegates from across the country meet to nominate candidates
4. petition – thousands of signatures are collected to get on the ballot
5. general – The election for the office
C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections

11. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
e. Campaigns (Ch. 7)
6. organization
7. $$$$$
8. candidates
a. incumbent – current office holder
b. challenger – runs against incumbent
c. open seat – no incumbent

12. 9. strategy C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
e. Campaigns (Ch. 7)
9. strategy b:
slogan
AND/OR
theme/issues
symbols a:
low key/image/+ OR
aggressive/attack/ -
6.2 understand how groups can effect change at the local, state national and world levels.
6.6 understand the role of individual leaders who have affected policies, case laws, and
legislation.

13. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
f. House of Representatives
1. 435
2. Terms - every 2 years (Entire House).
3. Diane Black, R – 6th Congressional District of Tenn.
4. census – a population count.
a. Congressional district –an area a Congressman represents; about 711,000 people.
b. constituents – people an elected official represents

14. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
5. reapportionment – movement of Congressional representation from one state to another
f. House of Representatives
6. Every 10 years State Legislatures redraw districts; sizes of the districts could change (redistricting).
7. gerrymandering – odd shaped boundaries, for the political advantage of majority party in state legislature.

15. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
f. House of Representatives

16. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
f. House of Representatives
You are here!

17. 270 C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
g. The Electoral College (TSS 3.1, 3.3, 4.3, 4.4, 6.6)
1. electors = each state’s # of members in Congress.
electoral votes – 435 from House, 100 from Senate and 3 Washington D.C.
(23rd Amendment).
3. Need a majority of electoral votes to win:
270

18. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
g. The Electoral College
4. Winner takes all except for Maine and Nebraska
5. Candidates must address concerns of the states.

19. C. Interest Groups/Mass Media/Elections
f. influence
1. personal background
a. Family
b. Socioeconomic status
c. Age
1. least likely: yr olds
2. most likely: 60+
2. issues
3. candidate's image
4. propaganda
5. regular voters
6. non-voters – idiotes