shea chapter 13

The Policy Process and Economic Policy 1

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13.1Expansion of the Electorate and Other Legal Issues Constitutional Amendments

Voting and Legislative Acts

The Controversy Over Voter ID Laws

Effect of the Amendments Fourteenth Amendment Fifteenth Amendment Nineteenth Amendment Twenty-fourth Amendment Twenty-sixth Amendment

13.1Constitutional Amendments

13.1Woman’s Suffrage Headquarters

13.1Voting and Legislative Acts

Challenging Discriminatory Practices

Civil Rights and the Voting Rights Act Voting Rights Act of 1965

13.1Voting and Legislative Acts

Residency and Registration Laws Motor Voter Law

Help America Vote Act

13.1The Controversy over Voter ID Laws

Supporters ID Law protects integrity of voting process

Opponents ID law disenfranchises voters who lack state-issued

identification

13.113.1 This is the common name for the law passed to encourage voter registration:

a. Help America Vote Act

b. Motor Voter Act

c. Voting Rights Act of 1965

d. None of the above

13.2Individual Participation in Elections

Voter Turnout

Explaining Modest Turnout

Voting and Demographic Characteristics

Young Voters

13.2FIGURE 13.1: Forms of Electoral Participation

13.2Voter Turnout

Turnout Easily quantifiable number based on number of

citizens who vote divided by total number of citizens

Low early in nation’s history, then climbed steadily before dropping off New immigrants didn’t vote right away

Voter turnout surged in 2008 Greatest increases among lower income, young,

African Americans and Hispanic Americans

13.2FIGURE 13.2: Participation in Presidential Elections

13.2Explaining Modest Turnout

Attitudes Greater cynicism, distrust and alienation

Lifestyles Busier than at previous times in history

Local party strength Higher turnout in communities with strong local party

Nature of campaigns and news media Longer, more negative campaigns and media “feeding

frenzies”

13.2FIGURE 13.3: Why People Don’t Vote

13.2Voting and Demographic Characteristics

Mobile populations Must register to vote every time they move Less likely to own a home

Education Length of education reliable predictor of voting rate for

individuals Sense of civic duty increases with education

13.2FIGURE 13.4: Self-Reported Voter Turnout in Presidential Election by Education

13.2Young Voters

Less completed education Less affluent Less likely to own a home

More mobile Can get stuck in residency requirements for registration

Recent initiatives and issues have boosted young voter turnout – but will it last? MTV’s Rock the Vote MoveOn.org

13.2Young Voters

13.2TABLE 13.1: Percentage of Turnout by Age Groups in 2000, 2004 and 2008 Elections

13.2FIGURE 13.5: Volunteerism by Age Group

13.213.2 Which of the following could account for low voter turnout?

a. increased cynicism and alienation

b. busier lifestyles

c. nature and length of today’s campaigns

d. all of the above

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

13.2

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13.3Political Parties in America

Party Functions

Party Elements

The Debate over Party Polarization

Rational Party versus Responsible Party

Functions Organize the election process Facilitate voter choice Recruit candidates Aid Candidates Organize a complex government Educate citizens and promote involvement Ensure accountability

13.3Party Functions

Party-in-Government Officials who were elected under a party banner

Party-in-the-Electorate Citizens who attach themselves to a political party

Party-as-Organization Formal organization of the party: headquarters, offices and

leaders

13.3Party Elements

13.3FIGURE 13.6: The Three Interrelated Elements of American Political Parties

13.3FIGURE 13.7: Party Unity in Congressional Voting

13.3FIGURE 13.8: Trends in Party Identification 1989-2010

Party polarization Defining characteristic of American politics in early

twenty-first century

Geography Distinct partisan regions of the country

13.3The Debate over Party Polarization

13.3FIGURE 13.9: Partisan Leanings of the Nation, Based on County-Level Election Returns

13.3FIGURE 13.10: Party Leaders and a Willingness to Compromise

13.313.3 Party headquarters, offices and leaders belong to:

a. party-in-government

b. party-in-the-electorate

c. party-as-organization

d. none of the above

Explore the Simulation: You Are a Campaign Strategist

13.3

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13.4Party Eras in American History

The Emergence of Parties in America (1790s-1828)

The Heyday of Parties (1828-1900)

Party Decline (1900-1970s)

Organizational Resurgence (1970s-Present)

Video: In Context 13.4

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13.4The Emergence of Parties in America (1790s-1828)

James Madison’s “factions” Democratic-Republicans

Federalist Party

13.4The Heyday of Parties (1828-1900)

Corrupt Bargain of 1824

National Republicans

Whig Party

Democratic Party

Curbing the corruption of party machines Civil service system created Secret ballot adopted Direct primary

13.4Party Decline (1900-1970s)

13.4Boss Tweed

The Great Depression Destroyed the jobs “safety net” parties provided Replaced by New Deal programs

Television and Direct Mail Party not needed to deliver message

Candidate-Centered Era Role of parties lessened

13.4Party Decline (1900-1970s)

Parties expanded services to candidates Service oriented Developed direct-mail operations Sophisticated polling operations

Expanded services cost money Added to campaign finance complexity

13.4Organizational Resurgence (1970s-Present)

13.413.4 This Framer warned Americans against political parties, calling them “factions”:

a. James Madison

b. George Washington

c. Alexander Hamilton

d. Thomas Jefferson

13.5Minor Parties in American Politics

History of Minor Parties

Role of Minor Parties in Our Democracy

13.5History of Minor Parties

Fledgling parties versus true third parties

Presidential candidate H. Ross Perot – netted 18.9 percent of popular vote in 1992

Tea Party?

13.5TABLE 13.2: Third Parties in American History

13.5Role of Minor Parties in Our Democracy

Draw attention to particular issues

Threaten to draw support from major parties

Bring more citizens into the political process

13.513.5 Which of these is a barrier to the success of minor parties?

a. ballot access limitations

b. single-member districts

c. Electoral College

d. all of the above

13.6Parties and the Nomination Process

Different Primary Systems

Presidential Nominations

A Better Process?

Different Primary Systems Closed primary systems Open primary systems “Top two” nominations

Strategic voting Backing the other party’s weaker candidate in an open

primary

13.6Different Primary Systems

13.6FIGURE 13.11: Primary Systems in the United States

National nominating convention Result of the Corrupt Bargain of 1824 Delegates sent from all over every 4 years Opportunity to create national platform

Binding primaries Delegates pledge support

Nomination Caucus Neighborhood meeting used to nominate delegates

13.6Presidential Nominations

Nomination reforms of the 1970s Few people participate in primaries Cost and bitterness of primaries has increased Whoever can raise the most money, first, tends to win –

“invisible primary” States with early primaries carry disproportional amount

of influence

13.6A Better Process?

National Primary Day

Delaware Plan blocks of states based on population determine primaries

Rotating primary plan

13.6Reforming the Process

13.613.6 Caucuses and primaries are similar except for what key difference?

a. Primaries are binding and caucuses are not.

b. Caucuses are held in the open and primaries are closed-door.

c. Primaries resemble traditional elections and caucuses resemble town hall meetings.

d. Caucuses are held only in Iowa.

13.7The Electoral College

The Electoral College

What Were the Framers Thinking?

When Things Have Gone Wrong

How the Electoral College Shapes Campaign Activities

Dump the Electoral College?

Election outcome versus process Campaign strategy differs wildly state by state Undemocratic, or necessary but cumbersome?

13.7The Electoral College

13.7FIGURE 13.12: How to Get to the White House

Explore Political Parties: Is the Electoral College Democratic?

13.7

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Federalist No. 69 Worried about politicians with “talents for low intrigue,

and the little arts of popularity” Sought men of highest caliber and intellect

Large states versus small states Electoral College improves a small state’s chances of

sending a president to the White House

13.7What Were the Framers Thinking?

Political Parties Not around during the creation of the Electoral College Parties soon drove the process, not “enlightened men” Winner-take-all, or “unit rule”

Twelfth Amendment Electors must specify president and vice president

Popular vote versus Electoral College Four times in history different candidates took the

popular vote and the Electoral vote

13.7When Things Have Gone Wrong

Right combination of states Most states – 35 to 40 – are solidly Democratic or solidly

Republican Only 10-15 states are really “in play”

Swing states Get most of the campaign ads and commercials Leaves voters in non swing states feeling that their vote

doesn’t matter

13.7How the Electoral College Shapes Campaign Activities

13.7FIGURE 13.13: Electoral Votes for 2008 and 2012

Constitutional Amendment Considered unlikely

State Efforts Maryland passed law that would award its Electoral College

votes to popular vote winner if other states agree “National Popular Vote Interstate Compact”

13.7Dump the Electoral College?

13.713.7 Framers did not foresee this development when they crafted the Electoral College:

a. winner-takes-all

b. political party influence

c. difference in popular vote versus Electoral College vote

d. none of the above

13.8The Role of Money in Elections

The Rage for Reform

Political Action Committees

The Incumbent Fundraising Advantage

Term Limits

Reforming the Reforms: BCRA

The Citizens United Bombshell

Super PACs, too!

13.8Figure 13.14: Campaign Expenditures

Reform Symbolic efforts in the Progressive Era Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

13.8The Rage for Reform

Political Action Committees (PACs) Proliferated following Buckley ruling Designed to get around direct donation limits imposed

upon unions and corporations Increased from 600 in 1964 to 4,600 in 2008

13.8Political Action Committees

Incumbents already hold a seat PACs tend to support incumbents Greater incumbent advantage

Legislative activity geared towards securing re-election Credit claiming – praise for accomplishments Position taking – being on popular side of issues Advertising – reaching constituents

13.8The Incumbent Fundraising Advantage

Term limits Guarantee turnover Supporters claim new blood is needed Opponents say it denies a voter’s true choice

13.8Term Limits

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) Passed in 2002 Outlawed unlimited contributions to national political

organizations Barred group-sponsored ads prior to election Raised contribution limits for individuals Allowed wealthy donors to contribute soft money to state

and local party organizations

13.8Reforming the Reforms: BCRA

Citizens United Conservative non-profit organization barred by BCRA from

distributing documentary within 30 and 60 days of elections Sued, claiming BCRA violated First Amendment

Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010) Ruled that unions and corporations can spend money directly

on federal elections. Supporters claim victory for free speech; Opponents claim it

returns us to robber-baron era Elections spending rose - $3.2 billion in 2010

13.8The Citizens United Bombshell

“Independent expenditure-only committees” Increased significantly in 2010 Can raise unlimited sums from unlimited sources Differ from traditional PACs in how they raise and spend

contributions Cannot coordinate with candidates’ campaigns

13.8Super PACs, too!

13.8FIGURE 13.15: The Dramatic Growth of Outside Spending

Video: In the Real World 13.8

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13.813.8 How do Super PACs differ from traditional PACs?

a. Super PACs can’t coordinate with campaigns.

b. Traditional PACs face contribution limits.

c. Traditional PACs face expenditure limits.

d. All of the above.

Why does the United States have a two-party system when most democratic countries have multiple parties? What role do parties serve in a democracy?

Discussion Question13

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