Elections, Voting, and Political Parties

• Influences on Voters (Chapter 17, Section 3)

• Nominating Candidates (Chapter 16, Section 3)

• Election Campaigns (Chapter 17, Section 1)

REVIEWWhat did we find out on Wednesday?

Our political identification – a citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the otherRepublican, Democrat, or Independent

PERSONAL BACKGROUND OF VOTERSWHAT INFLUENCES A PERSON TO VOTE THE WAYTHAT THEY DO?Age

What things would a 68 year old be interested in?What things would a 23 year old be interested in?

EducationReligionRace / Ethnicity DO VOTERS’ BACKGROUNDS ALWAYS FORECASTHOW THEY WILL VOTE?Cross-pressured voter – a voter who is caught

between conflicting elements in his or her own life

PARTY COALITIONS

LOYALTY TO POLITICAL PARTIESSTRONG PARTY LOYALTY Straight-party ticket – people

who vote for the candidate from their party only.

WEAK PARTY LOYALTYSplit-party ticket – Voting with

one party on some issues and with another party on other issues.Independent voters (people

who think of themselves as neither Republicans nor Democrats) usually vote a split ticket

Either this

or this

Both

Straight-party ticket: You vote for...

Split-party ticket: You vote for...

SPLIT TICKET VOTING

ISSUES IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS HOW INFORMED ARE

TODAY’S VOTERS?Poorly informed, but better

than in earlier years because:TelevisionBetter educatedIssues that effect our lives

(Social Security, health care, taxes, education, affirmative action, abortion, gun rights, and the environment) Political Issues

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN ALEADER?Trustworthy Smart, but not too smartGood looking, but not too good

lookingImage

Peacemaker or war hawk?Competent Presidential, Mayoral,

Senatorial, etc. (the X factor)

THE CANDIDATE’S IMAGE

President Sarah Palin?

DUKAKIS AND THE TANK

VOTERS AND NONVOTERSWHO VOTES?The three most important factors predicting

the likelihood of citizens to vote are:1. Education2. Age3. Income

Voters are typically:Well educatedMiddle-agedFinancially well off

WHY DON’T PEOPLE VOTE?They don’t meet the requirements :

Age Must be 18 or older

Citizenship Must be a citizen

Residency Must be a resident of the state they live

inRegistration

Must register to voteThey are lazyThey are apathetic / uninterestedThey move around a lotThey feel disenfranchised

VOTERS AND NONVOTERS

Vote or Die! Love, P. Diddy

VOTER APATHY

NOMINATING CANDIDATESChapter 16, Section 3

REVIEWWHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN A CANDIDATE?

HOW CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED4 WAYS TO SEEK NOMINATION FOR PUBLICOFFICE1. Caucuses2. Nominating Conventions3. Primary Elections4. Petition

THESE ARE NOT REPUBLICAN AGAINST DEMOCRAT

OR DEMOCRAT AGAINST REPUBLICAN During this time, politicians are trying to figure out

who will represent their party, so it is really Democrat vs. Democrat and Republican vs. Republican.

DEMOCRAT VS. DEMOCRAT

HOW PRESIDENTS ARE SELECTEDHOW CAN PRESIDENTS SEEK

NOMINATION?The same 4 ways other candidates doTypically through primaries and caucuses These (primaries,

caucuses, nominating conventions, and petitions) are things that happen BEFORE a general election

1. The process extends over too long a period.

2. The primaries focus on the image of a candidate more than on the issues.

3. Relatively few people vote in primaries, thus the winner may not be as popular as the victory would indicate.

4. Primaries often result in one-sided conventions that become rubber stamp operations.

CRITICISMS OF PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS AND PRIMARIES

YOUR TASK!The class will be split into groups of fourEach person in the group will be responsible for:

Creating 1 illustration and 1 description for one of the four ways to seek nomination for public office (caucus, nominating conventions, primary elections, or petition, pg. 464 - 466).

Creating 1 illustration and 1 description for one of the four criticisms of presidential primaries (pg. 467 – 468).

These descriptions should include definitions, examples, and additional vocabulary words.

After the illustration and descriptions are done, each person in the group will be responsible for teaching both of their illustrations and descriptions to their group.

You should add information to your notes as your group members are presenting.

Do a good job! Your classmates are counting on you!

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN GAMEChapter 17, Section 1

ELECTING THE PRESIDENT

The Idea: “I want to run!”

The Primary Election and Caucuses

The National Convention

The Race

FROM BEGINNING TO END: 4 STEPS TO THE PRESIDENCY

STEP 1: THE IDEA, “I WANT TO RUN”If you are a serious candidate, you will begin

organizing OVER ONE YEAR before the election.

This is so you can compete in the PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

You will announce an EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE to see how much support you might get if you decide to run.

Right: Headline from Huffington Post: “Ron Paul 2010 Exploratory

Committee Launches”

CONGRATULATIONS!YOU HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS ENOUGH

SUPPORT TO RUN! MOVE ON TO STEP 2:THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND

CAUCUSES

STEP 2: THE PRIMARY ELECTIONHere, you will be competing against members from your own

party for the nomination during the months of spring.Democrat vs. Democrat, Republican vs. Republican

The goal: Get more votes/support than your competition!

2 ways this can be done:People vote for you in primaries.Political party members award you their support after caucusing.

The difference between a primary and a caucus:Primary: an election, ran by state governments, publicCaucus: a meeting of party leaders, ran by party leaders, private

The similarities between a primary and a caucus:They both have the same purposeCitizens can participate in both!

CONGRATULATIONS!YOU HAVE WON THE PRIMARY ELECTION! NEXT

STOP:THE NATIONAL PARTY

CONVENTION

STEP 3: THE NATIONAL PARTY CONVENTIONThere are two, both take place in the summer:

One for the Republicans (Republican National Convention)

One for the Democrats (Democratic National Convention)

Here, the purpose is to select a ticket (a president and vice president) and to create a platform (the party’s statement of principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues) and planks (individual parts of the platform).

Earlier in America’s history, the national party convention was actually used to select presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates.

In modern times, the ticket is usually already decided upon before the convention. Today, it is basically just a big party with few

meetings to decide on the platform.

Above: The Republicans ask, “Will you come to my party?”

CONGRATULATIONS!THE CONVENTION WENT WELL! THE FINAL

STEP:THE RACE!

STEP 4: THE RACEThere is one every four years. The

election takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Expensive ordeal:The FEC (Federal Election

Commission) regulates campaign contributions

The majority of funding for campaigns comes from private sources individual citizens, corporations,

special-interest groupsPACS (Political Action Committees)

are established by interest groups, limited in their spending.

Above: The “Motorcycle PAC of Minnesota” would lend itssupport, and dollars, to Motorcycle friendly candidates.

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU GOT LOADS OF MONEY AND WON THE ELECTION!

YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT!