1. ELECTIONS & VOTING Chapters 7, 8, & 9

2. THE ELECTORAL PROCESS Chapter 7

3. The nominating process is a key part of an election because it narrows the field of possible candidates Five Ways to Nominate Candidates : THE NOMINATING PROCESS Self-AnnouncementA person declares him or herself to be a candidate PetitionA candidate gets a certain number of qualified voters to sign a petition CaucusA group of like-minded people meet to select candidates ConventionA political party’s members meet to select candidates Direct PrimaryAn election is held within a party to pick its candidates Candidates in most States are now nominated in direct primaries.

4. The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life. Election Procedures ELECTIONS The Basics of Election Procedure Elections are largely governed by State law Aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law Voting takes place in voting districts called precincts Within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places A ballot is used to register a person’s votes Most States use a form of the Australian ballot – either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot Election procedures are clearly established by State law and, in some regards, federal law as well.

6. The use of money, a needed campaign resource that poses a variety of problems, is regulated in today’s elections. Political Campaign Money MONEY & ELECTIONS Political Campaign Money contributions public subsidies State Treasuries Federal treasury private individuals families Candidates themselves PACs Federal Election Commission Regulates federal elections Does not regulate soft money Does regulate hard money Campaign money comes from both public and private sources and is regulated by the Federal Election Commission

7. MASS MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINION Chapter 8

8. Several factors, including family and education, help to shape a person’s opinions about public affairs Factors That Shape Public Opinion THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION Mass media education occupation Historic events race Opinion leaders Peer groups family PUBLIC OPINION Many factors play a part in shaping public opinion

9. Of the methods for measuring public opinion, polls are the most effective Measuring Public Opinion MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC OPINION Random sample Quota sample Indicators of public Opinion Accurate Measures of Public Opinion Election results Interest Groups Media Personal Contacts Scientific Polling

10. The media are our most important sources of political information The Mass Media THE MASS MEDIA Mass Media television radioOther media Internet videocassettes audiocassettes films books newspapers magazines The many forms of mass media greatly impact American politics.

11. INTEREST GROUPS Chapter 9

12. Interest groups offer Americans an important means of influencing U.S. public policy Are Interest Groups Good or Bad? THE NATURE OF INTEREST GROUPS INTEREST GROUPS PositivesNegatives 1.Help stimulate interest in public affairs 2.Are based on shared views, not shared geography 3.Provide information to government 4.Keep tabs on government 5.Can limit each other’s extremes 1.Can have more influence than they deserve 2.Difficult to figure out how many people they represent 3.Some do not represent the views of all the people for whom they claim to speak 4.Some engage in dishonest behavior The political power of interest groups is viewed both positively and negatively.

13. Interest groups are formed around many issues, such as public interest and economics Types of Interest Groups TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS PURPOSEEXAMPLE To promote businessAmerican Bankers Association To organize laborFraternal Order of Police To protect agricultural interestsNational Farmers Union To promote professionsAmerican Medical Association To promote social programsVeterans of Foreign Wars For religious purposesAmerican Jewish Congress For the public goodLeague of Women Voters Interest groups work for an array of public policies that benefit their members.

14. Interest groups use propaganda, form political action committees, and engage lobbyists in order to influence public policy. Techniques Used by Interest Groups INTEREST GROUPS AT WORK Techniques Used by Interest Groups to Achieve Their Goals Propaganda Persuasive techniques aimed at influencing individual and group behaviors to create certain beliefs PACs Political action committees that work for or against political candidates and may make campaign contributions LOBBYING Bringing pressure to bear on all aspects of the making of pubic policy Interest groups use various techniques to influence public opinion, political parties, and the making of public policy