monday november 4, 2013 objective: swbat understand how third parties in america emerged and what...
TRANSCRIPT
Monday November 4, 2013• Objective: SWBAT understand how third
parties in America emerged and what role they play in the political process.
• Drill: What are the functions of political parties?
• Homework: Wilson, 239-249 reading quiz.
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Political Parties
• Functions of Political Parties:1. Select & support candidates2. Inform citizens3. Speak to government on behalf of the
people4. Operate the government5. Act as a “watchdog” over government6. Link the different levels of
government together.
Platforms & Planks
• Platform: A series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.
• Plank: The term for each individual part of a party’s platform.
• What are some Examples?
Types of Parties
DemocraticHistory:
- Supporters of President Andrew Jackson became known as democrats in order to stress their ties to “common” people.
Types of Parties
RepublicanHistory:
- Formed in 1854 as a coalition of other minor parties who advocated the abolition of slavery in the north.
- Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican president.
Types of Parties
• Third Parties-Purpose: To promote ideas that are otherwise unpopular.-Types of Third Parties:1. Single-Issue2. Ideological3. Independent Candidates
Third Party DBQ• You are going to write an essay using
documents.• Using those and your knowledge (or other
sources) discuss the emergence of third parties in America by providing specific examples throughout history
• Explain the third parties’ influence on mainstream politics and democracy in the United States.
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Third Party DBQ• Paper should be at 2-3 pages.• Typed• Double spaced ( do not make a title that
starts half way down the first page, you will not get credit for that)
• Must fill out entire packet, use at least four documents
• Well written, grammar and spelling do not count, but come on people.
• Handed in with rubric• Due Friday November 8, 2013
Tuesday November 5, 2013• OBJ: SWBAT understand
different aspects of elections in America.
• Drill: Who is this? What does it represent? What does it say about this whole process.
• HW: Wilson pages 249-259 SQ3R
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Wednesday November 6, 2013• OBJ: SWBAT understand the primary
process, why its important and if it is fair.• Drill: What is the goal of a primary or a
caucus? What potential barriers to success do they pose?Homework: complete yellow vocabulary sheet, definitions and importance (this is only 1/3 of your unit vocabulary). Only half credit will be given to definitions without explanations.
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Ballot Debate• Watch the news clip and think about the following:
– Language: What if any terms did the video use? Did they define any terms in an unusual way? Did they put two terms together in an unusual way?
– Key Images: What were the most used images in the video? What motivations were the producers trying to encourage the viewers with the use of these images
– Call to Action: What do producers of the video want viewers to do after seeing the video? What action do they want you to take
– Summary: What were the producers’ goals for the video? Where the producers successful at meeting their goals? Why or why not?
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Types of Elections
• Primary:-The first part of a two-part election process.-Purpose: to narrow the field of candidates even further. One candidate per party is chosen during this step.
Types of Elections-Types of Primaries:
All primaries are direct – voters choose candidates to represent a party directly.1. Closed – Only declared members of a party may vote in that party’s primary. 2. Open – Voters do not need to declare their party preference in order to vote.
Types of Elections
• Outcomes of Primaries:1. Plurality: A candidate wins most of the votes and is declared the winner. Most states operate under this rule.2. Majority: A candidate wins more than 50% of the total votes. Only a few states operate under this rule.
Types of Elections
• General:-Always take place the first Tuesday after the first Monday in Novemeber.-General elections include:
*President (every four years)*House of Reps (every even-
numbered year)*Senate (every 6th year depending
upon the candidate)*Various local & state officials (i.e.
governor)
Special Circumstances
• Runoff – When no candidate wins a clear majority of votes, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates.
• Recall – An election called to determine if voters want to remove a sitting official from office before his/her term is up.
• Ex: 2003 California gov. Gray Davis.
Primaries who when and why?• Look over the list of 2012 Republican
Primaries, notice the dates and any notes that are given about them.
• Answer the questions on the back of your yellow vocabulary sheet.
• Stop when you are asked to access information about your own state.
• Be prepared to discuss after 10 minutes.
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Setting Ground Rules Parties and Elections
• Groups of 4-5• Each party in a state gets to set the ground
rules for their nomination process.• You will represent the Democratic party in
MD.• Read over the different types of primary
elections. • Select which type of primary and ballot
you would choose and why• Rate your choices and explain on the back19
Wrap Up• Write a response:
– It is obvious that the primary process while important has some flaws. What are these, and as a member of your state party, how would you fix them?
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Creating your own Political Party• In groups of 3 or 4 you will create various
aspects of a political party– You will create a platform– Run for election– And finally vote…
– By the end of today, you should have gotten in your group and began to brainstorm ideas on platform and name.
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Wrap Up
• What is your most important plank in your platform? Why?
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Election Campaigning
For a campaign, a candidate will need/use…
• Endorsement• Canvassing• Propaganda• Fundraising• Political Ads
Propaganda
• Types:1. Bandwagon – using language that makes voters feel they should support an issue because “everybody else is doing it”2. Glittering generality – An appeal to emotions by using vague words which carry conviction.3. Just Plain Folks – Telling voters that a candidate is “just like them”4. Name-calling – Attaching negative labels to a cnadidate’s opponent. 5. Stack Cards – Using only facts that support a candidates argument and excluding other important facts.
Fundraising
• Because of the high cost of campaigning (tv ads, transportation, salaries, etc.) candidates must spend a lot of time raising money.
• The Federal government has put several regulations on how they may do this.
Fundraising (cont.)
• FECA-Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.-Hard money-Creation of FEC: Federal Elections Commission-Buckley v. Valeo (and you thought we were done with the Supreme Court…)
Voting
• Qualifications to Vote:-18 years old-Citizen of the U.S-Registered at least 25 days prior to the elections
Voting (cont.)
• Initiative: A way for citizens to propose new laws or amendments.
• Proposition: When citizens have gained enough signatures on a petition for a new law/amendment, it becomes a proposition.
• Referendum: A law that is put on the ballot in order for citizens to approve or reject it.
Voting
• Hours: 7am – 8pm • Location:
-Polling Place: The actual location where you vote (schools, town halls, public buildings).
-Precinct: The voting district where you reside.
• Types of Ballots (p. 314)
Voting (cont.)
• Types of Ballots:1. Absentee – Citizens who cannot get to their poll on election day due to health, travel, or military service may vote absentee. 2. Early – Citizens who fall under the absentee category may also visit their local elections office prior to election day in order to cast their ballot.