voting in the u.s.a

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.

-Mr. P’s Class-Mr. P’s Class-Mr. P’s Class-Mr. P’s Class

Many voters feel that the Electoral College Many voters feel that the Electoral College is a relic from the old days, and should be is a relic from the old days, and should be eliminated. eliminated. Others argue that it is still a useful tool for Others argue that it is still a useful tool for preserving states' rights.preserving states' rights. Do you believe that the Electoral College Do you believe that the Electoral College should be abandoned?should be abandoned? Explain your answer with a description of Explain your answer with a description of how the Electoral College works.how the Electoral College works.

KEY QUESTIONKEY QUESTION


VOTING •one of the main responsibilities of U.S. citizens.

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.CANDIDATE (person who runs for office)

POLICY (a plan of action to fix a problem).

INCUMBENT (person who has the job).


Political parties can Political parties can be found in:be found in:

1)1) FederalFederal2)2) StateState3)3) CountyCounty4)4) Local politics.Local politics.

POLITICAL PARTY - (an organization made up of citizens who usually agree on public policy).

People do not have to belong to any party


DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATIC PARTYPARTY

REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN PARTYPARTY

•dozens of political parties in the United States.•DEMOCRATIC & REPUBLICAN parties are largest.


INDEPENDENT PARTY - neither Democrats or Republicans.

American government primarily relies on the TWO-PARTY SYSTEM (two large parties control the political process).


Other parties are sometimes called “Other parties are sometimes called “third partiesthird parties””

American

Conservative Union


1) a candidate must

1) a candidate must

get party members

get party members

to sign a

to sign a Petition

Petition (a (a

document with the

document with the

candidates name,

candidates name,

followed by

followed by

signatures of

signatures of

registered voters)

registered voters). .

To run for office:

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.2) candidates are selected by their party to be the one candidate in any of the following 3 ways: a) At a Convention, (where the delegates of the party meet to vote for the candidates).

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.a) At a a) At a ConventionConvention, , (where the delegates of (where the delegates of the party meet to vote for the candidates).the party meet to vote for the candidates).


B) In a B) In a Primary

Primary, , (an (an

election where

election where

members of the

members of the

party choose a

party choose a

candidate by secret

candidate by secret

ballot).ballot).

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.C) In a C) In a CaucusCaucus, , (where party members meet (where party members meet in small neighborhood groups to cast their in small neighborhood groups to cast their votes).votes).

VOTING IN THE U.S.A.3) THE GENERAL 3) THE GENERAL ELECTIONELECTION

Each party

’s ca

ndidate now ru

ns against

the

Each party

’s ca

ndidate now ru

ns against

the

other p

arty’s

candidate

.

other p

arty’s

candidate

.

Voting In The U.S.A.

WHO CAN VOTE?


American American CITIZENSCITIZENS are are* * people born herepeople born here* immigrants who have lived here for at * immigrants who have lived here for at least 7 years, and passed the citizenship least 7 years, and passed the citizenship testtest..


*You must *You must REGISTERREGISTER (sign up)(sign up) in the town in the town that you live in.that you live in. There areThere are other restrictions, depending other restrictions, depending upon the state that you live inupon the state that you live in, , as the states as the states set up the rules for who is eligible.set up the rules for who is eligible.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm

Voting In The U.S.A.Voters choose candidates from a BALLOT – Voters choose candidates from a BALLOT – (a menu of choices).(a menu of choices).


Federal elections Federal elections (President & Congress) are (President & Congress) are held on the Tuesday after held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of the first Monday of November.November. PresidentialPresidential elections are elections are held every FOUR years.held every FOUR years.

Elections for STATE and LOCAL offices Elections for STATE and LOCAL offices VARYVARY (are (are different)different) from state-to-state. This includes Mayor, from state-to-state. This includes Mayor, School Board, Governor, etc.School Board, Governor, etc.

Members of the Members of the SenateSenate are elected every are elected every SIX years.SIX years.

Members of the Members of the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives are elected every TWO years.are elected every TWO years.

WHEN DO WE VOTE?

Voting In The U.S.A.ISSUES (situation, or

problem that government must deal with)See handout


1)1) ECONOMIC ISSUESECONOMIC ISSUES Money SupplyMoney Supply

Interest Rates for loansInterest Rates for loans

Labor and Workplace problemsLabor and Workplace problems

Stock marketStock market

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL TRADETRADE (business outside the (business outside the United States).United States).

DOMESTICDOMESTIC TRADETRADE (business inside the United (business inside the United States)States)..

EnergyEnergy

Voting In The U.S.A.2) 2) SOCIAL ISSUESSOCIAL ISSUESLaw Enforcement / Law Enforcement / PunishmentPunishmentHealth and WelfareHealth and WelfareTransportation / HighwaysTransportation / HighwaysEnvironmental ConcernsEnvironmental ConcernsImmigrationImmigrationEducationEducation

Voting In The U.S.A.3) 3) DEFENSEDEFENSE Staffing and Equipping the MilitaryStaffing and Equipping the Military Intelligence OperationsIntelligence Operations Domestic SecurityDomestic Security

Voting In The U.S.A.4) FOREIGN POLICY – (Dealing with other nations).

Three basic PHILOSOPHIES - (ways of thinking).CONSERVATIVE – Opposed to large changes.LIBERAL – In favor of large changes.MODERATE – Sometimes Conservative, sometimes Liberal.


Voting In The U.S.A.REPUBLICANS usually CONSERVATIVEDEMOCRATS usually LIBERALINDEPENDENTS usually MODERATE


JOHN BREAUX– Louisiana Democrat

JOHN JOHN KERRYKERRY- - Mass. Mass. DemocrDemocratat

BILL FRIST – Tennessee Republican

OLYMPIA SNOWE – Maine Republican

andandKerryKerry & & Snowe Snowe agree agree Breaux Breaux & & FristFrist agree agree

On most issues, On most issues,

Voting In The U.S.A.Many ELIGIBLE - (allowed to take part) American voters don’t vote. Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.A.?

Voting In The U.S.A.DISENFRANCHISEDDISENFRANCHISED VOTERSVOTERS - - (people do (people do not believe their votes matter)not believe their votes matter). . PARTISANPARTISAN POLITICSPOLITICS - - (only able to see one (only able to see one side of an issue)side of an issue).. People hate the constant People hate the constant name-calling and bickering.name-calling and bickering.

Voting In The U.S.A.NO ONENO ONE can vote directly for the Presidential can vote directly for the Presidential candidate of their choice.candidate of their choice.


ELECTORS (members of the Electoral College). These are These are

Electors Electors from from Minnesota Minnesota in 2004.in 2004.

The creators of the Constitution did not The creators of the Constitution did not trust the people to make wise choices on trust the people to make wise choices on Election Day.Election Day.ELECTORAL COLLEGE (Group of people from each state chosen to elect the President) meet to choose the President.

Voting In The U.S.A.The number of Electoral Votes for each The number of Electoral Votes for each state is easy to figure out.state is easy to figure out. Add up the members of Congress (House & Add up the members of Congress (House & Senate) in a state. Senate) in a state. That number is the total number of electoral That number is the total number of electoral votes for a state.votes for a state.

Massachusetts has:10 members of the House of Representatives+2 Senators= 12 electoral votes. Larger states (more people, not size) have more Larger states (more people, not size) have more electoral votes.electoral votes.

Electoral Votes - determined by the U.S. CENSUS – (an official government count of the population). A census happens every ten years.


2012 ELECTORAL VOTES2012 ELECTORAL VOTES

Voting In The U.S.A.If Obama got 2,000,000 votes in If Obama got 2,000,000 votes in Massachusetts, and Romney got 1,999,999 Massachusetts, and Romney got 1,999,999 votes, Obama gets ALL 12 ELECTORS from votes, Obama gets ALL 12 ELECTORS from Massachusetts.Massachusetts.Who is chosen as an elector, how they have Who is chosen as an elector, how they have to vote, and how to divide a states total to vote, and how to divide a states total electoral vote is left up to the states.electoral vote is left up to the states.

Baritt Rombama

Voting In The U.S.A.The numbers on this map are slightly off The numbers on this map are slightly off because this is from the 2000 election. because this is from the 2000 election. However, this map is useful for seeing how However, this map is useful for seeing how the rules work in each state.the rules work in each state.

2008 final 2008 final resultsresults

Voting In The U.S.A.Here is how this Here is how this works:works: In the future, the 2012 Presidential election, here In the future, the 2012 Presidential election, here is how Massachusetts voted:is how Massachusetts voted:

CANDIDATECANDIDATE POPULAR POPULAR VOTESVOTES

E.V.E.V.

Ms. Chase & Ms. ColbertMs. Chase & Ms. Colbert 3,000,0003,000,000 1212

Señora Martinez & Mr. Señora Martinez & Mr. FrancisFrancis

2,000,0002,000,000 00

Ms. Berthiaume & Mr. Ms. Berthiaume & Mr. DowdDowd

1,000,0001,000,000 00

Chase/Colbert get ALL 12 Massachusetts Electoral Chase/Colbert get ALL 12 Massachusetts Electoral votes.votes.


CANDIDATECANDIDATE POPULAR POPULAR VOTESVOTES

E.V.E.V.

Ms. Chase & Ms. ColbertMs. Chase & Ms. Colbert 3,000,0003,000,000 1212

Señora Martinez & Mr. Señora Martinez & Mr. FrancisFrancis

2,000,0002,000,000 00

Ms. Berthiaume & Mr. Ms. Berthiaume & Mr. DowdDowd

1,000,0001,000,000 00

Whoever gets the most ELECTORAL VOTES WINS!Whoever gets the most ELECTORAL VOTES WINS!

Anti-Electoral College:Anti-Electoral College:•unnecessaryunnecessary due to today’s technology. due to today’s technology.


Pro-Electoral College:Pro-Electoral College:•A close election would be even more A close election would be even more difficult to figure out.difficult to figure out.•It preserves States’ Rights.It preserves States’ Rights.

Voting In The U.S.A.It is possible for the It is possible for the candidates with the candidates with the most votesmost votes from the from the people, called people, called POPULAR POPULAR VOTESVOTES ( (votes cast by votes cast by the people)the people) to to loselose the the election. election. It has happened 3 It has happened 3 times in our history.times in our history.This is what happened to This is what happened to Al Gore / Joe Lieberman in Al Gore / Joe Lieberman in 2000.2000.


LET’S TRY THIS OUT…LET’S TRY THIS OUT…

KAILYN PLANTEKAILYN PLANTE

&&

DAN BLAISDAN BLAIS

Democratic Party

DERIQ MATOSDERIQ MATOS

& KIARA NOFAL& KIARA NOFALRepublican Party

LAUREN FOLEY LAUREN FOLEY

& &

JOEL MADRUJOEL MADRU

Independent Party


PLANTE & BLAISPLANTE & BLAIS 12,000,000 34

MATOS & NOFALMATOS & NOFAL 10,000,000 0

FOLEY & MADRUFOLEY & MADRU 1,000,000 0

34 Electoral Votes34 Electoral Votes

THE ELECTION OF THE ELECTION OF 20242024





55 Electoral 55 Electoral VotesVotes

WHO IS WHO IS REALLYREALLY WINNING? WINNING?









WHO IS WHO IS REALLY REALLY WINNING?WINNING?




PLANTE & BLAIS win the Presidency even though MATOS & NOFAL have 19 million more votes!

TAKE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE QUIZ

According to some

According to some

state rules, electors

state rules, electors

may vote for

may vote for

whomever they want

whomever they want

(see the map on page 22).

(see the map on page 22).

http://www.270towin.com/quiz.php




Electors have voted for Mickey Mouse, Bart Electors have voted for Mickey Mouse, Bart Simpson, and Mickey Mantle.Simpson, and Mickey Mantle. The House of Representatives must approve any election, so if Bart Simpson did receive the most electoral votes, the House could stop him from becoming President.


Many voters feel that the Electoral College is a Many voters feel that the Electoral College is a relic from the old days, and should be eliminated. relic from the old days, and should be eliminated. Others argue that it is still a useful tool for Others argue that it is still a useful tool for preserving states' rights. How do you feel? preserving states' rights. How do you feel? Explain your answer with a description of how the Explain your answer with a description of how the Electoral College works.Electoral College works.

KEY QUESTIONKEY QUESTION

END OF VOTING IN AMERICA

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