THE ELECTORAL PROCESS: PARTIES, POLITICS, THE

MEDIA, AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Chapter 10/11

FOCUS:

Agenda:1. Compare/Contrast the two party system with the multi-party system2. Discuss political ideologies across the political spectrum3. Outline how political parties are set up and their importance4. Compare/contrast the primary election with the general election5. Explain the role the electoral college plays in electing presidents

Elections and the Voting Process Two Party System

POLITICAL PARTY – a group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work to put their ideas into effective political action.

Role of a political party• NOMINATE or select the candidates to

run for political office.• Convince VOTERS to elect a candidate

that supports the party’s ideas.• Raise $• Give SPEECHES• Hold RALLIES and FUNDRAISERS

Conservative or LiberalPolitical parties are often given a label that indicates their overall stance on issues.

Republicans = CONSERVATIVE

Democrats = LIBERAL.

Don’t forget Libertarians (no government involvement) and Socialists (gov’t controls all aspects) Range of views are measured on a POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

       

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SOCIALIST

MODERATE

Conservative: Strong military, tax cuts for business, pro-help others and help yourself, pro-life, small government is better, pro-death penalty, global warming is natural not man made, pro 2nd AmendmentLiberal: Limited military, pro-social welfare programs (education, welfare, etc.), tax the wealthy, pro-abortion, large government involvement, anti-death penalty, pro-environment/regulation to protect, pro-gun control

  **** You can be conservative on some issues and liberal on others – Ex. __Social_ liberal but a FISCAL/ECONOMIC conservative

Who has the power?The US today has a TWO PARTY SYSTEM or two main political parties. Another example is SINGLE party system (Nazi Germany, or China). This is bad because citizens almost always lose rights. MULTI-PARTY system found in Europe and often has coalitions - no clear majority.The two main political parties are REPUBLICAN or GOP (more Conservative) and DEMOCRATIC (more Liberal)

Third Parties• Parties such as the Green Party,

Libertarian Party, Reform Party, etc. serve an important purpose.

• HistoryProbably the most powerful third party was the PROGRESSIVE PARTY of 1912. Teddy Roosevelt ran and took votes away from Taft (the reason Teddy was running), leading W. Wilson to victoryIn 1992 H. Ross Perot of the Reform Party ran winning 19 percent of vote (Probably losing Bush #1. the presidency) In 2000 Ralph Nader of Green Party took votes away for Al Gore.

ImportanceAllows voters to show their anger/displeasure with main partyBring new ideas the other two parties may be UNWILLING TO DISCUSS.

Populist Party of late 1800’s brought the issue of WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE to the state. TEA Party today = GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Political Party OrganizationParty members have established procedures for carrying out activities. On each level there is a Committee. Their special meetings are called CAUCUSES

National Committee – elected by a State Convention, voters in a statewide election or chosen by the state central committeeChairperson is chosen by the party’s Presidential Candidate or committee membersChooses the TIME, DATE, and LOCATION for the NATIONAL CONVENTION - Where/when the party’s president/vice president are chosen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmD45CUcRfs

State CommitteeHelps the National Committee by raising money, and organizes Campaigns to help candidates win elections. State Committee Chairperson is often a member of the National Committee too.

Local Organization Responsible for conducting all local campaignsDuring an election all counties, cities, wards, etc. are divided into VOTING PRECINCTS. Each one has its own POLLING PLACE_ or where voting takes place.**** Examples FIREHALLS, SCHOOLS, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, CHURCHES, COURTHOUSES, etc.(iii) Precinct leaders are in charge of getting volunteers out to distribute pamphlets/reading material

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQbr2Y4YUAc

Financing CampaignIt’s very EXPENSIVE - it is projected that in

2012 Presidential election over 1 BILLION dollars will be spent on election

• Voters, business groups, labor unions, and organizations may contribute to the political party/candidate = PRIVATE $$$ HARD MONEY

Restrictions* BCRA of 2002 requires every political candidate to

report any donation and name of person donating over $100.. Also limited the amount of money given in

primary to $2400 and another $2400 for the general election. (YOU CAN GIVE over 30,000 to the party

though.) FEC – Federal Election Commission oversees these. FECA – Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972 was created to limit big money

• Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund – on tax forms you can check box to give $3 of taxed income to campaign. Two catches – Must get > 5000 from over 20 states to qualify and once you win PRIMARY ELECTION you must agree to accept no more private $. This is PUBLIC $$$ or hard money

• SOFT MONEY or money used on advertisements, etc. by groups is not part of the federal candidates’ campaign. These groups are called 527’s. They can take an ad out but cannot state directly who you should or should not vote for.

• PACS and 527 Ads – the Supreme Court has ruled that the government can not limit the amount of money these POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE’S spend on the election as long as they are not coordinated by the candidate or the party itself. ADS CAN NOT SAY VOTE FOR THIS PERSON OR DON’T VOTE FOR THIS PERSON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Zk9YmED48

The right to voteBecoming a voter

The Constitution decides who can vote – Any 18 year old or older. Doesn’t matter – GENDER, RELIGION, or ETHNICITY and no poll tax – CITIZEN, REGISTERED, AGEStates require you to register (name, SOCIAL SECURITY #, date of BIRTH, ADDRESS.) Why – So you can’t VOTE TWICE OR VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE

ElectionsPrimary – usually held in late spring or early summer and is held to choose the “best” or favored candidate

Two types – CLOSED PRIMARY (only those registered with the candidates political party can vote) and Open primary (Vote for candidates in either major party)People don’t actually vote for a candidate in a primary, rather they vote for DELEGATES (those people at the national convention in video) who in turn pledge to vote for a certain candidate.

Once a Democrat candidate wins 2025 delegates they win the nomination. Republican candidates need 1191.Once the primaries are over there is a National Convention held during the summer of the election year. Delegates from each state go and nominate one candidate to run for office.

While there they establish the PLATFORM or party’s views and policies on important issuesA PLANK is an individual issue that is part of the platform

 

General Election- Takes place the TUESDAY after the first Monday in November

Presidential election takes place EVERY FOUR YEARSCongressional takes place every TWO years.Independent candidates can have their name on the ballot in each state as long as COMPLETE THE PROPER PAPERWORK (PAY FEE AND GET % OF PRIOR YEARS ELECTION VOTES IN SIGNATURES)

VotingThe Secret Ballot was adopted in 1888 to protect the privacy of people. Today’s voting machines can be as simple as punch cards to DRE or Direct Recording Electronic systems (like ordering at Sheetz)Most polling places are open from early morning to 7 or 8:00 at night.Straight ticket vs. Split ticket – Straight is voting All one party (you don’t even look at offices up for election)- usually the first question on ballot. Split is voting for candidates of more than one party

IV. Nominating and electing leadersThe electoral college

You and I voting for a president is part of the POPULAR vote.Our vote does not directly elect the president – GEORGE W. BUSH lost his first election in the popular vote but won the ELECTORAL COLLEGE. He therefore became president. An elector is one of the people chosen from each state and D.C. to pick the president. All of them together make the ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Number of electors for each state is = EQUAL TO # OF REPRESENTATIVESBefore presidential election in each state the political party chooses electors who promise to vote for candidate. If their candidate wins the popular vote then those electors get to vote (Maine and Nebraska work differently)The person who wins 270 or the majority of electoral votes wins the election.If no candidate wins majority the HOUSE OF RESENTATIVES picks the president.