Format for election day...-- canvassing (bribes are encouraged :)), 10 minutes-- candidate speeches and commercials (random order)-- ballots (you cannot vote for your own candidate), superlatives for best button/campaign materials, commercial, speech--each party will hand in all party materials at the end of the period.

THURSDAY!!!!

Election Processand political influences

EQ: How does the election process operate in the U.S.?What are the major influences on American politics?

____L : Put the election steps below in order

____ Inaugural Address

____ Declaration of candidacy

____ National Nominating Convention

____ Primary Election

____ General Election

____ Electoral College Vote

Election Process: Getting Reading to Run ____R

1. Candidates declare intent to run for their party---typically these are people who are prominent party members

2. Candidates campaign and participate in debates with others from their party

3. Primaries...

--Primary v. Caucus

--Candidates need a plurality (the most votes) to taketheir state nomination

--Closed, Open and Semi-closed Primaries (NC)

--Iowa, New Hampshire, Super Tuesday

--delegates, Superdelegates

--National Convention and party nomination...

Gearing up for the National Election

4. National Nominating Convention: Party nominates their candidate for POTUS, party platform created--the winner of the primary

5. General Election: qualified voters vote on candidates from both parties

Public may also vote on Referendums: laws citizens have a direct say in

6. Winner Declared based on electoral college votes (270) NOT the popular vote

Finally...the national (general) election!

Can you

list the steps

involved

from your vote

on Election Day to

the Inauguration?

7. And then the Inaugural Address!

____L: Who won the election and why?

Presidential Candidate

Political Party Popular Vote Electoral Vote Percentage of Votes Cast

Candidate X Republican 50,456,002 271 45.87%

Candidate Y Democrat 51,999,897 267 50.38%

So...why haven’t we ever had a POTUS from a 3rd Party?

LISTEN: The Third-Party Factor

Currently, our two major third parties are the Libertarians and the Greens. Why can’t they win a national election??

plurality v. majority

State and Local Level

1. Works much like the federal level2. Local parties focus on electing local members

a. Example the North Carolina Republican Party helped elect Governor McCrory

3. If no candidate wins a majority at the state or local level the state or town may hold a runoff election.

Influencing an Election

____L : What are some mediums used to influence elections and candidates?

Lobbying

___ R: As you watch the video complete the following

1. Define Lobbying.2. Describe one benefit of

lobbying.3. Why is lobbying not always

beneficial? Why does it have such a negative reputation?

Public Opinion and How it is Shaped

During election season candidates pay special attention to public opinion (sum of the public's beliefs on an idea).

Public Opinion shapes democracy in three ways:

1. Guides leaders as they make decisions on public policy2. Guards against politicians making hasty or poor decisions3. Acts as glue that holds society together

What influences public opinion?

● Typically media is the largest source of influence on public opinion

● Media:○ serves as a “watchdog” over the

government--alerts citizens to wrongdoing

○ sets public opinion--typically done through biased or opinion journalism

○ should support the free exchange of ideas and opinions--an outlet for the public

All things considered….

How democratic is the election process, really?

Citizen Involvement

Looking back on the election process, how can the average citizen get involved?

STUDYGUIDE!

--Glue ½ sheet → _____L

--Your test on __________________ will cover nb pp. _______ --- _________.

STUDY the GUIDE! :)

Party Time...excellent. :)