1. Electoral College, Interest Groups, and PAC’s

2. The Electoral College What is it? Why was it created?
The electoral system in which voters choose electors who pledge to cast their ballots for a particular party’s candidate.
Why was it created?
The founding fathers were not sure that an “uneducated electorate” would be capable of selecting an able leader.

3. The Electoral College What does it do? How does it work?
Formally elects the President of the United States
How does it work?
Each state gets a certain # of electoral votes based on population.
A candidate has to win a majority (270) to win the election.
If there is no majority, the vote goes to the House of Representatives

5. Pros and Cons of the Electoral College
contributes to the cohesiveness of the country by requiring a distribution of popular support to be elected president
the possibility of electing a minority president (discourages success of 3rd parties)
maintains a federal system of government and representation
the risk of so-called "faithless" Electors
contributes to the political stability of the nation by encouraging a two-party system
the possible role of the Electoral College in depressing voter turnout
10 parties
The person who wins the Popular vote doesn’t always become the President!

6. What do you think?

7. Interest Groups What is an Interest Group???
An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy.
How is an interest group different from a political party?

8. What are some of the different types of Interest Groups?
Economic Interest Groups
Labor unions
Single-Issue Interest Groups
National Rifle Association, Right to Choose
Public Interest Groups
American Heart Association
Foreign Policy Interest Groups
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

9. How do Interest Groups attempt to influence Public Policy?
Mass Mailing
Publicity and Mass Media
Lobbying

11. Lobbying
Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact!
Lobbyist
Person who works for a lobbying group

12. Money and Politics Political Action Committees Super PACs
Hard money v Soft Money
McCain- Feingold Act
Campaign Finance Reform
Citizens United v FEC- 2011

13. Campaign Finance Reform
What is Campaign Finance Reform?
political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns.

14. Campaign Finance Reform
F.E.C.(Federal Election Commission)
independent regulatory agency that was founded in by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States.