1. Parties, Voting and Elections Chapters 5-8

2.  GOVERNMENT

3.  The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

4.  DEMOCRACY

5.  A form of government in which supreme authority rests with the people.

6. Political Parties  Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.  2 major political parties:  Republican  Democrat  Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.  2 major political parties:  Republican  Democrat

9. What Do Political Parties Do?  Nominating Candidates  Informing and Activating Supporters  Bonding Agent  Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders  Governing  Acting as a Watchdog  Watches the conduct of the party’s business  Nominating Candidates  Informing and Activating Supporters  Bonding Agent  Ensure the good performance of it’s candidates and officeholders  Governing  Acting as a Watchdog  Watches the conduct of the party’s business

10. Party Platforms  A political party’s formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues and objectives.

11. Different Types of Systems  Two Party:  Type of system found in the U.S  Tradition  Established with Thomas Jefferson and the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.  Multi-Party:  Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.  One-Party:  Found in nearly all dictatorships  Can also be called a “no party” system  Two Party:  Type of system found in the U.S  Tradition  Established with Thomas Jefferson and the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.  Multi-Party:  Several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.  One-Party:  Found in nearly all dictatorships  Can also be called a “no party” system

12. First Political Parties  Federalists:  Founded by Alexander Hamilton  Supported the Constitution  Most were rich  Anti-Federalists:  Founded by Thomas Jefferson  Limited role for the government  Sympathetic to the “common man”  Federalists:  Founded by Alexander Hamilton  Supported the Constitution  Most were rich  Anti-Federalists:  Founded by Thomas Jefferson  Limited role for the government  Sympathetic to the “common man”

13. Minor Parties  Different Types of Political Parties:  Ideological Parties-  Based on a set of beliefs  Single-Issue Parties-  Focus only on one public-policy matter  Economic Protest Parties-  Rooted in periods of economic trouble  Splinter Parties-  Have split away from one of the major parties  Different Types of Political Parties:  Ideological Parties-  Based on a set of beliefs  Single-Issue Parties-  Focus only on one public-policy matter  Economic Protest Parties-  Rooted in periods of economic trouble  Splinter Parties-  Have split away from one of the major parties

14. Minor Parties Cont…  America First  America 3rd Position Party  Boston Tea Party  Citizen’s Party of the U.S.  Constitution Party  Green Party of the U.S.  Independence Party of America  Labor Party  National Atheist Party  Objectivist Party  Populist Party of America  Reform Party of the U.S.A  Socialist Alternative  United States Pirates Party  Unity Party of America  Workers Party  Working Families Party  America First  America 3rd Position Party  Boston Tea Party  Citizen’s Party of the U.S.  Constitution Party  Green Party of the U.S.  Independence Party of America  Labor Party  National Atheist Party  Objectivist Party  Populist Party of America  Reform Party of the U.S.A  Socialist Alternative  United States Pirates Party  Unity Party of America  Workers Party  Working Families Party

15. A Little Vocabulary  Ward:  Unit into which cities are divided for the election of city council members  Precinct:  Voters in each report to one polling place  Split-Ticket Voting:  Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election  Ward:  Unit into which cities are divided for the election of city council members  Precinct:  Voters in each report to one polling place  Split-Ticket Voting:  Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

16. The Electorate  The size of the potential voting population  About 220 million people  Various groups of people have struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.  The size of the potential voting population  About 220 million people  Various groups of people have struggled to achieve voting equality since 1789.

17. Extending the Right to Vote  Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:  15th: gave African American males the right to vote after the Civil War  19th: gave women the right to vote  24th: eliminated the poll tax as a condition for voting  26th: lowered the voting age to 18  Amendments that gave more people the right to vote:  15th: gave African American males the right to vote after the Civil War  19th: gave women the right to vote  24th: eliminated the poll tax as a condition for voting  26th: lowered the voting age to 18

18. Requirements for Voting  Citizenship  If not born here, must take the citizenship test  Residence  You must live in the state for a certain period of time  Age  Over 18  Registration  All states except North Dakota require voters to be registered to vote prior or at the election  Citizenship  If not born here, must take the citizenship test  Residence  You must live in the state for a certain period of time  Age  Over 18  Registration  All states except North Dakota require voters to be registered to vote prior or at the election

19. Limiting Voters Rights  Literacy Test  Your right to vote was based on the person’s ability to read and write  Poll Tax  Pay a tax in order to be able to vote  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the tests and taxes illegal  Today those convicted of serious crimes and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.  Literacy Test  Your right to vote was based on the person’s ability to read and write  Poll Tax  Pay a tax in order to be able to vote  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made the tests and taxes illegal  Today those convicted of serious crimes and in mental institutions are not allowed to vote.

20.  EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES  Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.  Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction  Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.  Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction  EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES  Part 1. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death. resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.  Part 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction  Part 3. In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.  Part 4. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction

21.  INSTRUCTION "C"  (After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)  1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________  2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________  3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________  4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.  INSTRUCTION "C"  (After applicant has read, not aloud, the foregoing excerpts from the Constitution, he will answer the following questions in writing and without assistance:)  1. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?______________________  2. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. (True or False)___________  3. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in_________________  4. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the United States Supreme Court has____________________________ jurisdiction.

22. Why Don’t People Vote?  80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.  Non-voters are:  Under 35  Unmarried  Unskilled  Live in the South and in rural areas  Women are more likely to vote than men  80 million people who were eligible in the last election did not vote.  Non-voters are:  Under 35  Unmarried  Unskilled  Live in the South and in rural areas  Women are more likely to vote than men

23. Voting Behavior  Income, Occupation  Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats  Education  College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high school graduates  Gender, Age  Women tend to favor Democrats  Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats  Religious, Ethnic Background  Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats  Geography  The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for Democrats  Family and Other Groups  Family members vote in very similar ways  Income, Occupation  Voters in lower income brackets are more likely to be Democrats  Education  College graduates vote for Republicans in higher percentages than high school graduates  Gender, Age  Women tend to favor Democrats  Younger voters tend to vote for Democrats  Religious, Ethnic Background  Protestants typically vote Republican, Catholics Democrats  Geography  The South typically votes for Republicans, North and East for Democrats  Family and Other Groups  Family members vote in very similar ways

24. Nominating Process  Nomination: naming of those who seek office  General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.  Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.  Primary:a political party’s nominating election  Nomination: naming of those who seek office  General Elections: regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders.  Caucus: a group of like minded people who select candidates for the upcoming election.  Primary:a political party’s nominating election

25. Elections  Congress set the date as the “Tuesday- after-the-first-Monday”.  Absentee Voting: vote without actually going to their polling places on election day.  Polling Place: place where voters who live in a precinct actually vote.  Ballot: device by which a voter registers a choice in an election.  Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are grouped together under the title of that office.  Votes are counted electronically  Congress set the date as the “Tuesday- after-the-first-Monday”.  Absentee Voting: vote without actually going to their polling places on election day.  Polling Place: place where voters who live in a precinct actually vote.  Ballot: device by which a voter registers a choice in an election.  Office Group Ballot: candidates for an office are grouped together under the title of that office.  Votes are counted electronically

26. Campaign Financing  People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system  Campaign donations are limited to  $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal election or $25,000 to a party committee.  Campaign spending limits  Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.  Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.  People give because it’s a way to participate in the political system  Campaign donations are limited to  $2,000 in a primary, $2,000 in a federal election or $25,000 to a party committee.  Campaign spending limits  Candidates can spend no more than $37.3 million prior to the nominating convention.  Candidates can spend no more than $74.6 million on the general election.