The Political System

THE POLITICAL SYSTEMA government by the people

American Government Unit 2

CHAPTER 5: POLITICAL PARTIES

Political Party: a group of persons who control government through elections and holding office Incumbent: already in power Challenger: seeking or challenging for power

Purpose of parties:

Unite (bond) people on issues; make decisions on partisan (party) platforms

Nominate candidates for executive office Majority parties: split majority support- Necessary to avoid an abuse of power or too much

power with one group. Keeps the president in check Minority parties: raise single issues

TWO PARTY SYSTEM IN AMERICA: HISTORY LESSON

Nations first parties: Federalists: supported a federal (central) government Anti-Federalists: Did not support a central government

supported state governments– became the Democrats Democrats and Republicans

Democrats opposed the Federalists and supported a system of democracy– states rights and small power (1800-1820)

Split into groups in 1820 Democrats: Southerners and Western Farmers Whigs: Eastern and Northern Bankers and Business- faded

away in the Civil War Republicans developed in 1850 as a “minority third

party” as an “anti-slave” party. Republican North and Democratic South

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR: POLITICAL SYSTEM PLATFORMS

Republicans: Supported: Northeastern interests: Big

Business, factories, railroads Dominated history from the end of the Civil War

until the Great Depression Democrats:

Supported: Southern and Western interests: farmers, plantations, small business, labor unions (masses of the poor)– game changer!

Won the presidency during the Great Depression and maintained the presidency until Nixon was elected in 1972.

Since 1972, the party in power has changed every couple of presidencies–

WHAT DO THE PARTIES STAND FOR TODAY? Be very careful to assume that we know what the

political parties stand for today. Each party represents various interests and a variety of people.

Most Americans are moderates (in the middle of the two parties and choose affiliation based on family or certain issues such as religion, abortion, gay and lesbian rights etc.)

Generally: Democrats support

large central government Supports higher taxes to fund government expenses small business

Republicans support Small central government, power with the state governors Lower taxes to minimize government involvement Big Business and investment

MINOR PARTIES Why are they important?

Raise awareness to issues in society. Can offer the people another “choice” Allows people to vote their conscience in protest of the major parties. Forces the two majority parties to listen to and address single party issues

Types of Minority Parties: Ideological parties:

Marxism, Communism, Socialism, Libertarianism

Single Party issues: Green party: environmentalism Libertarianism: freedom to choose party– LGTB Alliance, Gun Advocacy,

Economic Protest Parties Occupy Movement: against “Wall Street” and irresponsible government

spending Splinter parties: Party protest break off of the major parties with a

popular candidate Independent party: Ross Perot (split the Republican party) Independent party: Ron Paul’s first attempt (split the Republican party

6 STAGES OF VOTING RIGHTSHISTORY LESSON

1st stage: Protestant white men who own property

2nd stage: All white men

3rd stage: 15th Amendment: all men who could pass the voter registration exam

4th stage: 19th Amendment: all men and women who could pass the voter registration exam with a literacy exam and could pay the poll tax were allowed to vote: ***most people could not pass the exam or afford the tax.

5th stage: 24rd and 26th Amendments (Civil Rights Act): All men and women over the age of 18 could vote

CHAPTER 6: VOTERS IN THE SYSTEM

Vocabulary: Suffrage: right to vote Franchise: right to vote Electorate: voting population

Requirements to vote: Citizen of the United States Resident in the County where you vote Registration that you intend to vote

Cannot be denied the right to vote for: Literacy: Literacy used to be used in the exams Poll tax: payment required was banned

ROCK THE VOTE:

A little over ½ of the American population votes.

Read Chapter 6, Section 4 carefully about voting behavior and why people choose whether to vote

Be informed of who you are and how the politicians manipulate you– how silent are you?

Extra Credit (2 options– yes you can do both): Should you vote or not vote? Why? After reading Chapter 6,

Section 4, define who you are based on demographics included in the book and then explain why you will or will not vote.

Find a copy of the literacy test from the 1960’s online: print it, take it, and turn in your results with a reflection about the experience.

Each response should be typed, with 1” margins, double spaced, 12 pt font and over 1 page in length. Credit points will be awarded based on how thoughtfully the questions are answered.

Due by: December 6th (two weeks)

CHAPTER 7: THE ELECTORAL PROCESS Vocabulary:

Nomination: naming the political candidates. Who is going to run?

General elections: scheduled elections to confirm the political candidates

Make the candidates official

How can a person run for President? Self-announcement: you say it and run Petition: nominees receive signatures from a minimum

number of citizens– Can also be used for recall and passing referendums

Caucus: private, powerful group meets and selects nominee– replaced by convention– sometimes used locally

Convention: representatives are sent to a meeting to choose representatives: became corrupt with political bosses

Direct primary: intra-party election: several representatives compete for votes within the political party.

DIRECT PRIMARY AND THE PRESIDENTClosed Primaries: Only party members can vote for candidates. (24 states)

Open Primary: anyone can vote for a different political party candidate on the ballot if they request; can only cast one ballot. (26 States)

Good Bad Good Bad

Keeps people from sabotaging a “bad candidate”

Does not allow for people to switch parties and vote for a popular candidate

Allows people to change their minds and vote for any candidate they feel strongly for.

Creates an opportunity to sabotage a political party by choosing a “weak candidate”

Helps candidates focus on and address their party issues

Does not include “third party” candidates or allow independent registered voters

Forces candidates to focus on all social issues early in the campaigning.

Does not include “third party” candidates or allow independent registered voters

ELECTIONS:

Free, honest and accurate: no coercion or forced voting.

Secret ballot your choice is private

Election Day: Set on specific days with polling places 1st Tuesday following the first Monday in November,

during election years = Election day Primary voting is set by the States from March to

June. Absentee Voting: vote by mail: used for people

who are disabled or out of town (business travelers, college students, military)

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Elections cost billions of dollars each year. Presidential election years are obviously the most expensive years:

Each presidential candidate (Obama, Romney) spent nearly $1 Billion each in their campaign.

We must also consider money spent by “third party candidates”

We have to include “anti-money” money spent to defeat a candidate that wasn’t spent by the opponent.

We must also include monies spent by other politician in other elections (local, state, federal).

We must also calculate money spent on initiatives, laws, props, etc.

WHERE DOES ALL THAT MONEY COME FROM?Small Contributors (me and you). Only 10% of the population actually contribute money. Mostly volunteer time.

Wealthy individuals and families: “Fat cats” can make large donations to (per each voting member regardless of family). By the way… they rarely volunteer their time, unless it is at “rally appearances”… think celebrities…

Individual Candidates: the actual candidates spend very little of their own money in an election (after the initial costs). However, Ross Perot spent $65 million in his Presidential bid in 1992. He almost won too…

PAC’s: Political Action Committees (pay attention): These are non-party groups who represent special groups fighting for candidates and passage of “special interest” laws. You can determine a lot about whether you want to vote for something or someone based on which PAC’s support or oppose.1. Political arm of groups: labor unions, business associations AFL-CIO, Teachers Union, Teamsters, 2. Special interest groups: LGTB groups, pro-choice or pro-rights

Fundraising through campaign dinners and events (plates cost $100-$100,000)… you technically aren’t donating… you are eating dinner.

Subsidies… public funds controlled by the FEC… tax dollars… yep! Whether you vote, your money still supports candidates if they meet certain criteria….

FECA: FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT: No business or bank can contribute or donate money in a

political election – why would this be important? Why can’t Walmart contribute to a political campaign?

Regulated by FEC (Federal Election Commission) Underfunded, understaffed, ineffective in catching

loopholes ($100,000 dinners, etc…)

Large contributors must be disclosed. Why would this be important? Why would it be important to know the owner and CEO of a

major energy company donated to the Obama campaign? Why would it be important to know the owner of Chick Filet

donated to the Romney campaign?

If a candidate accepts FEC monies, then they can be subject to FEC inspections and limited campaigns- most candidates decline the money so they can’t be limited.

CHAPTER 8: MASS MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINION:WITH ALL OF THIS MONEY… DO YOU EVER HAVE AN IMPACT?

Public affairs: matters, issues that affect the public.

Public opinion: how do the majority of the people feel about or a view public affairs.

Where do our opinions come from? Family Friends (peer groups… people you work with) School (teachers… yes we impact you) Media (MTV, movie stars, commercials, etc) Internet Historic events (9/11, Hurricane Sandy, a

scandal)

HOW DO WE KNOW HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS?

Elections: If we are happy, we re-elect the incumbents If we are unhappy, we elect new representatives,

including the President.

Public opinion polls: People can agree to take a poll (usually on the

phone) Polls are supposed to be a “random sample” of

the universal population.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH POLLS?

People lie

People refuse to take the poll (usually only people who are bored or believe strongly about an issue takes the poll)

Polls can’t determine “feelings” Really like, kinda like, don’t like, etc. Answer choices doing always “fit” how a person

feels

Polls ask “trick questions” and “lead you”

WHAT IS “MASS MEDIA” Mass media is the

“medium” or go between for politicians and people. Television

commercials Debates Talk shows Newspaper Internet Twitter Radio Magazines Websites

The Greatest Impact with media is to use “sound bytes”

Slogans and Mottos

Brief statements (30 seconds or less)

Public appearances

CHAPTER 9 INTEREST GROUPS: REAL POWER: PRESSURE GROUPS FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL ISSUES TO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

How do you feel about gun control?

How do you feel about prayer in school?

How do you feel about having to recite the pledge?

How do you feel about abortion rights?

How do you feel about gay marriage rights?

ROLE OF INTEREST GROUPS Educate the public about issues important to society:

Gun laws Abortion laws Educational Reform Drug laws LGTB Rights

Unite people on political platforms and give voice to otherwise ignored issues.

Interest Groups try to affect the way we vote for props, initiatives, and candidates

Help Congress write and pass laws.

Interest groups include:MADD and SADD

Chamber of CommerceInvisible Children

American Cancer Society

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS: Business , Labor, Agricultural organizations that protect the majority

of workers and laborers: such as Trade Unions Labor Unions Farm Bureau American Medical Association Hundreds of others!!!

Cause groups that represent the interests of “issues” ACLU NAACP NAWSA Sierra Club Right to Life Committee AARP Wounded Warriors and Veteran’s Affairs Religious groups

INTEREST GROUPS AT WORK:

Influence Public Opinion To supply the public with information that

support and promote the groups goals and agenda

To build a positive image for support PAC support and lobbying to pass laws

Propaganda: a technique to persuade and manipulate public opinion Fear is a number one propaganda tactic Nationalism and pride Compassion