Download - Warmup 10/11
In the past what types of people were denied the right to vote? Women Native Americans African Americans Non-property holders
Today what are the requirements to vote in most
states? 18 years old US Citizen Registered (except N. Dakota) Convicted felons must have
served time
How did each of the following expand suffrage (right to
vote)? 15th Amendment – all males can vote 19th Amendment – all women can vote 23rd Amendment – residents of
Washington D.C. get 3 electoral votes 24th Amendment – no poll tax, poor can
vote Voting Rights Act of 1965 – literacy tests
prohibited 26th Amendment – 18 years and older
can vote Voting Rights Language Assistance Act –
use of bilingual ballots
What are the steps to voting?
1. Register: National Voter Registration Act “Motor Votor Bill” allows people to register when getting drivers license
To register for the first time you need proof of citizenship, address and age
Steps to Voting2. Go to you polling place – location
where voting is carried out – in your precinct – your voting district
3. Get a ballot – list of candidates4. Step up to voting booth or machine
and vote
How can citizens who cannot get to their polling place vote?
Absentee Ballot – must be asked for in advance, marked and returned to election board before Election Day
How is a winner determined in an election?
Election workers count votes and take ballots and results, called returns to the election board for verification.
Exit Polls Media try and predict winners by
asking (polling) voters on how they voted
Criticisms – may influence outcome by influencing those who have not voted yet
Why do some people not vote?
Do not meet state requirements Feel no candidate represents
their feelings Feel their vote will not make a
difference Apathy – lack of interest
What are the different techniques used in
campaigning for office? Canvassing – party members go
door to door asking for votes Advertising – allow party to
present only its candidate’s position and attack an opponent without response
Propaganda – an attempt to promote a particular person or idea
Propaganda Techniques The Bandwagon Glittering Generality Stacked Cards Transfer Just Plain Folks Name Calling Endorsement
Paying for campaigns “There are four parts to any
campaign. The candidate, the issues….., the campaign organization, and the money. Without the money you can forget the other three.”– Former House Speaker Tip O’Neill
How much do campaigns cost?
Every four years American spend more than
$3 BILLION a year on national, state, and local elections.
How do the candidates raise the money?
Money comes from: Private Citizens The Government Corporations and Interest
Groups Political Action Committees –
(PACs) Organizations set up by Interest Groups and Corp. to raise money for candidates
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
Established to place control on how much individuals and groups could give to candidates.
WHY?
FECA CharacteristicsPages 308-309
Created the FEC (Federal Election Commission)
Independent agency of the executive branch to administer campaign laws and watch spending
Limited Contributions In order to keep corruption out of
elections Cannot limit candidates own money
(1st Amendment)
Presidential Election Campaign Fund
allows taxpayers to designated $3 of taxes to set up public fund for Presidential candidates
What is the difference between soft money and hard
money? Hard Money – money given
directly to candidate for campaign; limited
Soft Money – money given to political parties for general purposes; was unlimited
Why would incumbents be reluctant to pass campaign
reform laws? Because most PACs give their
money to incumbents
What did the McCain-Feingold Act do to restrict campaign
financing? Prohibits raising soft money in
national campaigns Puts time restrictions on
broadcasting political adds Raised the limits on hard money
for campaigns