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Unit IV Political Participation Chapters 5-9

Unit IV Political Participation Chapters 5-9. What is a political party?. A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. What are the two major U.S. parties today?. Democrats : represented by a Donkey Republicans: represented by an Elephant (GOP).

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Unit IV Political Participation Chapters 5-9

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  1. Unit IV Political ParticipationChapters 5-9

  2. What is a political party? • A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office

  3. What are the two major U.S. parties today? • Democrats : represented by a Donkey • Republicans: represented by an Elephant (GOP)

  4. What are the 5 Functions of political parties in the United States? • Nominating Function: naming a person to be the choice of the party to run for an office

  5. Informer-Stimulator Function: campaigning for candidates; getting information to the voters about the candidates and the issues that will inspire them to cast a vote.

  6. Bonding Agent /Seal of Approval Function: the party’s guarantee that their nominee is “the BEST person” for the job.

  7. Governmental or Governing Function: the idea that the government operates on the basis of political party • Example: • Seating in Congress • The Cabinet • Diplomatic Posts

  8. Watchdog Function: the parties engaging in negative campaigning or criticizing the ideas, issues ,and candidates of the other party

  9. What is a two party system? • A political system in which a nation-state has two major parties that regularly put forth candidates for office.

  10. Why does the US have a 2 party system? • History: we have always had 2 parties because we started with 2 parties • Practicality: it’s easier to win a majority if only two candidates for office • Theoretically: the Electoral College System is based on only having 2 candidates • Ideologically: Americans generally fit within the philosophy of one of the 2 parties

  11. What is a One Party System? • Political system in which a nation-state has only one party • Always results in a dictatorship • One party exists because all others are illegal

  12. What is a multi-party system? • A system in which a nation-state has more than 2 major parties that regularly offer candidates to the voters. • Can lead to political instability • No one is in charge

  13. What is the AVERAGE Democrat like? • Lower middle-class • Blue collar • Urban • Member of a minority group (race/religion) • 18-25 or 55-65 years of age • Less educated (some college) • More liberal • From the west coast, north east, or mid-west • Etc…

  14. What is the AVERAGE Republican like? • Upper-class • College grad • Suburban • Protestant (religion) • White • 25-55 years of age • Conservative • Southern or Western • Etc…

  15. What were the first Two Parties in the United States? • Federalists (become the Republicans ) • Democratic –Republicans (become the Democrats) • Why did they begin? Debate over ratification of the Constitution divided people into two groups.

  16. What is a Minor or Third Party? • A small party that nominates candidates for office, but rarely wins. Also called an opposition party. • Examples: • Labor Party • American Nazi Party • The Green Party • The Populist Party (People’s Party) • American Independent Party • Libertarian Party • Natural Law Party • Workers World Party • Pink Triangle Party • Blue Square Party • ETC…

  17. The Four Types of Third Party • Ideological Parties: parties based upon a unique set of political beliefs • Examples: • American Communist Party • American Nazi Party • Socialist Party • Libertarian Party

  18. Single Issue Parties • A party that is concerned with only one political issue • Examples: • Know-nothing Party • Free Soil Party (also known as Americans Only Party) • Prohibition Party • Woman’s Party • Right to Life Party

  19. Economic Protest Parties • Parties that are rooted in times of economic distress and that promote new alternatives to the conditions. • Examples: • Greenback Party • Populist Party • United We Stand America

  20. Splinter Parties • Political parties that have broken away from the Democrats or Republicans • Examples: • Bull-moose Party (Progressive Party) • Dixiecrats

  21. Three Roles of Third Parties • Spoiler: take enough votes away from a major party candidate that you ruin his chances • Critic: criticize the ideas and actions of both major parties • Innovator: bring new ideas to public’s attention. Usually stolen by major parties if popular

  22. Voting Options • Split Ticket Voting: Vote for candidates from both parties on the same ballot • Straight Ticket Voting: voting for only one party on the ballot

  23. Chapter 6 Notes Voters and Voter Behavior

  24. Terms that mean right to vote • Suffrage • Franchise

  25. The Electorate • The potential voting population • NOT those who do vote, but those who COULD • Age • Registration • Residency • Felony Record • Etc…

  26. Universal Suffrage • All adult citizens can vote • Is it possible? • What restrictions do we have that prevent it?

  27. Five stages of suffrage in US History • Removing religious requirements (1840-60’s) • 15th Amendment ( remove racial limitations) • 19th Amendment (remove gender restrictions) • Civil Rights Acts (punish discrimination) • 26th Amendment (remove age restrictions)

  28. Federal Standards for Voting • If you can vote in State elections, can vote in federal • No State may discriminate on basis of race • No State may discriminate on basis of gender • No State may require payment of taxes as a qualification to vote • No State may deprive a citizen over the age of 18 the right to vote if otherwise qualified

  29. Universal Voting Requirements • Citizenship • Residence • Age • Registration

  30. Residency Requirements • Require that a person maintain a legal residence in a city, county, or State for a period of time to be eligible to vote • Legal because: • People should familiarize themselves w/ issue and candidates • States have an interest in preventing voter fraud *In Texas, you must be a resident for 30 days prior to the election to be eligible to vote.

  31. Motor Voter Law • Allows people to register to vote when they renew their driver’s license.

  32. Oregon v. Mitchell • Outlawed the use of literacy tests as a qualification for voting . • Tests were used to discriminate against minorities and poor whites.

  33. Who is ineligible to vote in Texas? • Mentally Ill • Mentally Incompetent • Felons • Non-citizens • Homeless • Dishonorably Discharged from military • Called “cannot voters” because they cannot legally vote.

  34. Voter requirements in Texas • Be at least 18 years of age on election day • Be a US citizen • Register 30 days prior to the election • Be a resident 30 days prior to the election

  35. Methods used by Southern States to prevent minority voting • White Primaries • Grandfather Clauses • Poll tax • Literacy Tests • Property Tax Payments • Gerrymandering • Intimidation • Lynching • Etc…

  36. Gerrymandering • The illegal practice of drawing lines for congressional districts to the advantage of the majority

  37. Gerrymandering

  38. Methods of Gerrymandering • Concentrate the minorities voters in one District so they can only win one seat • Disburse the minorities voters in all districts so they can never get a majority and win no seats

  39. What is an idiot? • It is a Greek word for one who does not vote or participate in politics

  40. How many Americans voted in last presidential election (2012)? • 122,394,724 voters • 56.8% of those who could have voted did so • 10% of those between the ages of 18-29 voted • 67% of those between the ages of 55-69 voted • 65 million voted for Obama/Biden • 57 million voted for Romney/Ryan

  41. Major reasons people give for not voting: • Apathy (don’t care) • Voting is too difficult • Don’t have the time • Didn’t register • Don’t know where to go • Don’t have transportation • Ill • Etc…

  42. What is a non-voter? • One who is eligible to vote, but chooses not to do so. (also called an idiot!)

  43. What is a cannot voter? • One who is not eligible to vote

  44. What is a non-voting voter? • One who does not vote on all the choices on the ballot. • Example: you vote only for President, not Senate, House, etc…

  45. Political Socialization • The process by which one gains one’s political attitudes and beliefs. • #1 Source: MOM and DAD!

  46. Sociological Factors that Impact Voting • Family #1 • Age • Race • Income • Occupation • Religion • Party membership/affiliation • Friends (peer pressure) • Opinion Leaders • Location of residence • Type of residence • Etc…

  47. Psychological Factors that Impact Voting • Party Identification • Your feelings about the candidates • How the issues impact you personally

  48. Most likely voter in 2012 • Professional • Upper income ($250,000+) • Married w/ kids • Owns home in suburbs • Very well-educated (2 college degrees or more) • Between the ages of 42-65 • White (62% of voters) • Protestant • Member of a political party • FEMALE (54% of voters this time)

  49. Chapter 7 Notes The Election Process

  50. Nomination • The process of naming a person to be a candidate for political office

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