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

Goal 4/10: Goal 4/10: Elections & CitizenshipElections & Citizenship

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Power-Up! What were the requirements for Power-Up! What were the requirements for voting right after the Constitution was voting right after the Constitution was created?created?

Power-Up Answers!Power-Up Answers!What were the requirements for voting What were the requirements for voting

after the Constitution was created? after the Constitution was created? White, male, land-owningWhite, male, land-owning

Steps in VotingSteps in Voting If you are 18 and a citizen, you still must If you are 18 and a citizen, you still must

register to voteregister to vote. All of the people who are . All of the people who are eligible to vote are called the eligible to vote are called the electorateelectorate.. Prisoners are not allowed to vote in most states. In some Prisoners are not allowed to vote in most states. In some

states, if you commit a felon (serious crime) you cannot states, if you commit a felon (serious crime) you cannot vote for the rest of your life. vote for the rest of your life.

Is this fair?Is this fair? How could giving How could giving

prisoners the rightprisoners the rightto vote change theto vote change theoutcome of elections? outcome of elections?

On Election day, eligible voters must visit On Election day, eligible voters must visit the polling place (the polling place (location where you location where you votevote) in their precinct () in their precinct (district where you district where you livelive).).

You must present a form of ID or verify You must present a form of ID or verify where you live. Then, you will be handed a where you live. Then, you will be handed a ballot (ballot (list of candidateslist of candidates).).

Finally, you enter the voting booth (secure Finally, you enter the voting booth (secure place where no one can see your vote) and place where no one can see your vote) and fill out the ballot to cast your vote.fill out the ballot to cast your vote.

Steps in VotingSteps in Voting

Before you vote…Before you vote… You should pay attention You should pay attention

to the to the election election campaignscampaigns, watch the , watch the debates between debates between candidatescandidates, and read , and read about the candidates’ about the candidates’ positions on various positions on various issues. issues.

The best place to read The best place to read about the issues are about the issues are the the candidates’ websitescandidates’ websites. . The national and local The national and local media can be good also, media can be good also, but be careful to separate but be careful to separate facts from opinions. facts from opinions.

Vocab & A CaseVocab & A Case

Absentee ballot: voting ballot that you Absentee ballot: voting ballot that you can cast if you cannot go to the polls on can cast if you cannot go to the polls on election day (ex: soldiers in other election day (ex: soldiers in other countries, people in hospitals, etc)countries, people in hospitals, etc)

Voter apathy: Voter apathy: lack of interest & lack of interest & believing that your vote does not believing that your vote does not really countreally count

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

Political PartiesPolitical Parties A A political partypolitical party is an organization of is an organization of

people with similar interests who organize people with similar interests who organize to to win electionswin elections and operate the and operate the government.government.

Because candidates need Because candidates need a majority of a majority of votes (over 50%)votes (over 50%) to win an election in to win an election in the United States, we have a two-party the United States, we have a two-party system. 2 main political parties system. 2 main political parties ((DemocratsDemocrats & & RepublicansRepublicans) dominate ) dominate our politics, but there are other parties our politics, but there are other parties called third parties.called third parties.

Third parties are often formed to promote a Third parties are often formed to promote a specific specific economic, social, or moral issueeconomic, social, or moral issue.. Third parties have a difficult time winning a Third parties have a difficult time winning a

majority of votes.majority of votes. People or candidates People or candidates

consider themselves consider themselves IndependentIndependent when when they do not belong to they do not belong to one of the 2 major one of the 2 major parties.parties.

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Parties disagree on many Parties disagree on many

issues, but the most basic issues, but the most basic disagreement is over disagreement is over how how government should government should interact in people’s interact in people’s liveslives. .

Each party publishes a Each party publishes a platform (statements platform (statements expressing beliefs and expressing beliefs and positions… individual positions… individual beliefs are called planks) beliefs are called planks) every four yearsevery four years

Other Party SystemsOther Party Systems Some democracies have Some democracies have a multiparty a multiparty systemsystem. In these systems, . In these systems, three or more three or more parties compete for control over parties compete for control over governmentgovernment. .

In a multiparty system, one party rarely In a multiparty system, one party rarely wins enough support to control the wins enough support to control the government, so people of different groups government, so people of different groups must work together must work together after the electionafter the election to to govern. 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, In a two-party system like the United States, people of different groups must work people of different groups must work together before the election to form a party together before the election to form a party strong enough to capture a majority of the strong enough to capture a majority of the votes (at least 50% + 1 vote).votes (at least 50% + 1 vote).

Other Party SystemsOther Party Systems

One-party systemsOne-party systems: : the party and the party and the government are the same the government are the same thingthing because only 1 party exists. because only 1 party exists. Example: China. Example: China.

In a one-party system, only candidates In a one-party system, only candidates from that party are allowed to run for from that party are allowed to run for office. office.

The main job of party members is to The main job of party members is to recruit recruit new membersnew members, maintain , maintain party disciplineparty discipline, and carry out the , and carry out the party’s party’s ordersorders

BrainstormBrainstorm

Why are one party systems not Why are one party systems not democratic systems?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.

Job of Political PartiesJob of Political Parties Select and support candidates for Select and support candidates for

officeoffice Inform citizens about issues & the way Inform citizens about issues & the way

government worksgovernment works Carry the people’s views to the Carry the people’s views to the

governmentgovernment Operate the governmentOperate the government Connect the different levels of Connect the different levels of

government (local, state, & national)government (local, state, & national) Compete with the rival party for votesCompete with the rival party for votes

Republican Republican PartyParty

Less government Less government regulationregulation of of businesses and the businesses and the economy economy

The federal government The federal government should only should only defend the defend the country and direct country and direct foreign affairsforeign affairs. The . The state and local state and local governments should governments should handle the rest.handle the rest.

More government More government oversight of oversight of social issuessocial issues such as abortion and such as abortion and gay marriagegay marriage

Democratic Democratic PartyParty

More government More government oversightoversight of businesses of businesses and the economy and the economy

The federal government The federal government should defend the should defend the country, direct foreign country, direct foreign affairs, & can also help affairs, & can also help provide people provide people opportunities for health opportunities for health care, education, & jobscare, education, & jobs

Less government Less government intervention over social intervention over social issues such as abortion issues such as abortion and and gay marriagegay marriage

RedRed RightRight ConservativeConservative Grand Old Party Grand Old Party

(GOP)(GOP)

Republican Republican PartyParty

Democratic Democratic PartyParty

BlueBlue LeftLeft LiberalLiberal

Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, used these animals to depict the parties in the 1780s.

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.

Some people do not vote because they don’t know Some people do not vote because they don’t know the steps. Your task is to the steps. Your task is to make an attention-make an attention-grabbing flyergrabbing flyer with some basic voting info to with some basic voting info to inform the public.inform the public.

You must include the following:You must include the following: Who is eligible to vote? p237Who is eligible to vote? p237 How to register to vote? p237How to register to vote? p237 What are the steps in voting (include vocab words What are the steps in voting (include vocab words

precinct, polling place, ballot, and absentee precinct, polling place, ballot, and absentee ballot) p237-28ballot) p237-28

What happens after you vote (include vocab What happens after you vote (include vocab words returns and exit polls)? p238-239words returns and exit polls)? p238-239

Why you should vote? (be convincing!) p239-240Why you should vote? (be convincing!) p239-240 Some picture/illustration!Some picture/illustration!

Voting FlyerVoting Flyer