StarterStarter

List 3 ways the Democratic and List 3 ways the Democratic and Republican Party differ.Republican Party differ.

Elections and Public Elections and Public OpinionOpinion

Paying for electionsPaying for elections

Takes a great deal of money ($3 Takes a great deal of money ($3 Billion every 4 years) to run a Billion every 4 years) to run a successful campaign. Campaigns successful campaign. Campaigns convince the public to vote for a convince the public to vote for a particular candidate. Campaign particular candidate. Campaign workers use several techniques to workers use several techniques to accomplish their goals.accomplish their goals.

CampaigningCampaigning

Canvassing- door-to-door to solicit voters Canvassing- door-to-door to solicit voters or neighborhoods.or neighborhoods.

Endorsements- Famous and popular Endorsements- Famous and popular person supports candidateperson supports candidate

Advertising- Create an image to present Advertising- Create an image to present to public on TV, posters, adsto public on TV, posters, ads

Propaganda-use of emotions to convince Propaganda-use of emotions to convince citizens to vote a certain waycitizens to vote a certain way

Financing CampaignFinancing Campaign Public Funding: Presidential Campaign Public Funding: Presidential Campaign

Election FundElection Fund Private Funding: Individual citizens, party Private Funding: Individual citizens, party

organizations, corporations, interest organizations, corporations, interest groups (Like NRA), soft money donations groups (Like NRA), soft money donations and PAC’sand PAC’s

Soft Money- Money given to political Soft Money- Money given to political party and no designed for a particular party and no designed for a particular candidate. Used for National TV ads.candidate. Used for National TV ads.

PAC’s (Political Action Committee)- Way PAC’s (Political Action Committee)- Way for labor unions, special-interest groups for labor unions, special-interest groups and corporations to donate money and corporations to donate money legally.legally.

Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Ideas and attitudes that most people Ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, hold about elected officials, candidates, gov’t and political issuescandidates, gov’t and political issues

Helps shape decisions of presidentsHelps shape decisions of presidents Not uniform-everyone does not hold Not uniform-everyone does not hold

the same opinionthe same opinion

Influences on Public OpinionInfluences on Public Opinion

1. Personal Background-religion, age, 1. Personal Background-religion, age, race, socio-economicrace, socio-economic

2. Mass Media-newspapers, TV, radio, 2. Mass Media-newspapers, TV, radio, InternetInternet

3. Public Officials- president, 3. Public Officials- president, senators, mayorsenators, mayor

4. Interest Groups4. Interest Groups