1. Evaluating Candidates & Electoral Process Road to 2012

2. Political Parties Republican Democrat Independent Test http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client =Heath_Political http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client =Heath_Political

3. What’s the best way to determine who you support? Advertisements Speeches Interviews Debates Political Rallies Campaign Contributions Fundraisers Background http://blog.constitutionc enter.org/10-best- political- advertisements-of-all- time-presidents-edition/ http://blog.constitutionc enter.org/10-best- political- advertisements-of-all- time-presidents-edition/ http://www.2012president ialelectionnews.com/201 1/09/video-highlights- from-the-reagan- library-gop-debate/ http://www.2012president ialelectionnews.com/201 1/09/video-highlights- from-the-reagan- library-gop-debate/

4. Primary Election A Primary Election is a nominating election. Winning the party’s nomination is the first step in the election process. It narrows the field in a political party to one individual for a specific office. Party members select candidates for the general election Closed primary: only party members are allowed to vote Open primary: all voters can take part

5. General Election A General Election is the election in which all voters make the final choice from among the party nominees and the independent candidates for a specific office. 1 st Tuesday in November

6. Electoral College The point system, based on population, for who wins the Presidency general election

7. Campaigning organized effort to influence voters’ decision making

8. Lobbyists attempting to influence decisions made by govt. officials (usually legislative) serve their own interest National Right to Life American Medical Association U.S. Chamber of Commerce LGBT immigration American Association of Retirement Persons NRA environmental

9. Democrat Incumbent President Obama born in Hawaii 1961, childhood in Indonesia with single mother, moved back to Hawaii in 1971 (lived with grandparents), degree in Political Science, moved to Chicago after graduating college, married Michelle, has 2 children, baptized at Trinity United Church of Christ, taught Constitutional Law, won Illinois Senator 1996 - 2002, won U.S. Senator 2004, won Presidency 2008 believes federal government should regulate economy, tax wealthy to get out of debt, invest in clean energy, diplomatic talks with enemies, against same sex marriage, pro-choice, amnesty for illegals, universal health care, race to the top

10. Republican Candidates Mitt Romney born in Michigan 1947, Mormon, business degree at Harvard, CEO, married Anne, has 5 kids, Governor Massachussets 2003-2007 believes in pro-life, dollar diplomacy as well as some force, free enterprise, against same sex marriage, modified universal health care, part of the NRA, No Child Left Behind supporter, focus on the middle class tax payer/lower taxes, alien employment cards

11. Republican Candidates Newt Gingrich born in Pennsylvania 1943, House of Rep Georgia 1979- 1999, degree in political science/history, married 3 times, current wife Callista, 2 children, Speaker of the House 1995-1999 believes in pro-choice but also public should not pay for abortions, review illegals and the local community should judge who stays and who goes & e-verify, discontinue affirmative action, grants given to parents for them to decide which school, cut middle class taxes, repeal federal care with free market, use force when necessary

12. Republican Candidates Ron Paul born in Pennsylvania 1935, Physician, Flight Surgeon U.S. Air Force, married to Carol and have 5 children, Libertarian principles, House of Rep Texas 1976-today (on and off) believes in the original Constitution, anti-abortion, leave all wars, don’t make incentives (welfare programs) for illegals, no amnesty, anti- federalist, tax less on federal level, more focused on local level, community should decide about same-sex marriage, against Federal Education, no social health care

13. Independents Why don’t they have a chance?

14. What other Executive positions do you vote for? Governor Sheriff Mayor

15. What Legislative positions do you vote for? U.S. Congress House of Representatives Senators State Congress House of Representatives Senators City Council