1. Goal 4/10: Elections & Citizenship .  Power-Up! What were the requirements for voting right after the Constitution was created?

2. Power-Up Answers! What were the requirements for voting after the Constitution was created? White, male, land-owning White, male, land-owning

3. Steps in Voting  If you are 18 and a citizen, you still must register to vote. All of the people who are eligible to vote are called the electorate. Prisoners are not allowed to vote in most states. In some states, if you commit a felon (serious crime) you cannot vote for the rest of your life. Prisoners are not allowed to vote in most states. In some states, if you commit a felon (serious crime) you cannot vote for the rest of your life. Is this fair? Is this fair? How could giving How could giving prisoners the right to vote change the outcome of elections?

4.  On Election day, eligible voters must visit the polling place (location where you vote) in their precinct (district where you live).  You must present a form of ID or verify where you live. Then, you will be handed a ballot (list of candidates).  Finally, you enter the voting booth (secure place where no one can see your vote) and fill out the ballot to cast your vote. Steps in Voting

5. Before you vote…  You should pay attention to the election campaigns, watch the debates between candidates, and read about the candidates’ positions on various issues.  The best place to read about the issues are the candidates’ websites. The national and local media can be good also, but be careful to separate facts from opinions.

6. Vocab & A Case  Absentee ballot: voting ballot that you can cast if you cannot go to the polls on election day (ex: soldiers in other countries, people in hospitals, etc)  Voter apathy: lack of interest & believing that your vote does not really count

7. Voter Apathy About 62% of people who could vote in 2008 actually voted. This was the highest voter turnout since 1968. Some people do not vote because they are apathetic or do not think their votes will change anything.

8. Political Parties  A political party is an organization of people with similar interests who organize to win elections and operate the government.  Because candidates need a majority of votes (over 50%) to win an election in the United States, we have a two-party system. 2 main political parties (Democrats & Republicans) dominate our politics, but there are other parties called third parties.

9.  Third parties are often formed to promote a specific economic, social, or moral issue. Third parties have a difficult time winning a majority of votes. Third parties have a difficult time winning a majority of votes.  People or candidates consider themselves Independent when they do not belong to one of the 2 major parties. Political Parties

10.  Parties disagree on many issues, but the most basic disagreement is over how government should interact in people’s lives.  Each party publishes a platform (statements expressing beliefs and positions… individual beliefs are called planks) every four years

11. Other Party Systems  Some democracies have a multiparty system. In these systems, three or more parties compete for control over government.  In a multiparty system, one party rarely wins enough support to control the government, so people of different groups must work together after the election to govern. Laws still require more than 50% votes to pass. Laws still require more than 50% votes to pass.  In a two-party system like the United States, people of different groups must work together before the election to form a party strong enough to capture a majority of the votes (at least 50% + 1 vote).

12. Other Party Systems  One-party systems: the party and the government are the same thing because only 1 party exists. Example: China. Example: China.  In a one-party system, only candidates from that party are allowed to run for office.  The main job of party members is to recruit new members, maintain party discipline, and carry out the party’s orders

13. Brainstorm  Why are one party systems not democratic systems? Because the voters have no real choices about who is in the government. The political party controls the government rather than competing for control of the government. The party does not have to worry about being reelected, so they do not have to listen to the people.

14. Job of Political Parties  Select and support candidates for office  Inform citizens about issues & the way government works  Carry the people’s views to the government  Operate the government  Connect the different levels of government (local, state, & national)  Compete with the rival party for votes

15. Republican Party  Less government regulation of businesses and the economy  The federal government should only defend the country and direct foreign affairs. The state and local governments should handle the rest.  More government oversight of social issues such as abortion and gay marriage Democratic Party  More government oversight of businesses and the economy  The federal government should defend the country, direct foreign affairs, & can also help provide people opportunities for health care, education, & jobs  Less government intervention over social issues such as abortion and gay marriage

16.  Red  Right  Conservative  Grand Old Party (GOP) Republican Party Democratic Party  Blue  Left  Liberal Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, used these animals to depict the parties in the 1780s.

17. Daily Assessment  Answer on your own sheet of paper:  Which political party do you think you might be a part of? Please explain why you chose this party.

18.  Some people do not vote because they don’t know the steps. Your task is to make an attention- grabbing flyer with some basic voting info to inform the public.  You must include the following: Who is eligible to vote? p237 Who is eligible to vote? p237 How to register to vote? p237 How to register to vote? p237 What are the steps in voting (include vocab words precinct, polling place, ballot, and absentee ballot) p237-28 What are the steps in voting (include vocab words precinct, polling place, ballot, and absentee ballot) p237-28 What happens after you vote (include vocab words returns and exit polls)? p238-239 What happens after you vote (include vocab words returns and exit polls)? p238-239 Why you should vote? (be convincing!) p239-240 Why you should vote? (be convincing!) p239-240 Some picture/illustration! Some picture/illustration! Voting Flyer