Studied by 19 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
SPIN
Sometimes candidates say things they regret. There are also times when something happens that makes them look bad. That’s where spin comes in. Campaign aides and supporters go on TV or online to interpret, or “spin,” the event in a positive light. The real pros are known as spin doctors.
SWING VOTERS
Voters not loyal to the Democratic or Republican party. They might support either party depending on the candidates and issues.
SUPER PACS
Political action committees (PACs) are private groups that may donate up to $5,000 to support a political candidate. However a super PAC may gather unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, and unions to advocate for a candidate as long as it doesn’t coordinate with the candidate’s campaign staff.
ELECTORAL VOTE
Technically, the presidency isn’t decided by the popular vote (total votes nationwide). It’s decided by the electoral vote. The Constitution established the Electoral College system. In it, each state has the same number of electoral votes as it has representatives in the two houses of Congress. The total number of electoral votes is 538 (535 for the states plus 3 for Washington, D.C.). To become president,
POPULAR VOTE
Votes are cast by the general voting population. (The word popular comes from the Latin term populus, meaning “the people.”) In U.S. presidential elections, the term popular vote refers to the total number of votes cast for each candidate on Election Day. The presidency is decided, however, by the electoral vote.
Dred Scott decision; why did it matter?
Supreme Court decided that African Americans are not citizens; stated the slaves were not people and started a up roar about it
14th Amendment; why was it important ?
Overturned Dred Scott decision and clarified who was a citizen under the Constitution; Extending citizen's rights to African Americans.
Jim Crow laws; why was it important?
A collection of state/local laws that legalized racial segregation; was meant to deny blacks' rights.
Plessy v. Ferguson; why was it important?
“Separate but equal¨; Further cemented the Jim Crow laws
Brown v. Board of Education; why was it important
The Supreme Court overturned segregation in public schools; separate but equal didn't seem so equal after this case.
Civil Rights Act of 1964; why was it important
Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion sex or national origin;
Migration
Education
Income
Poverty decreased
Higher political representation
Lawful permanent residents |
Legally authorized to live in the U.S. permanently, but not as a US citizen.
Undocumented immigrants
A person who has come to the U.S. to live and work without the required papers.
rights granted to US Citizens
Vote
Hold public office
Pay taxes
Obey law
Register for the military
civic responsibilities
Be informed!
Participants!
Volunteers for the public good
Be engaged
Jury duty
naturalization
a legal process through which a person is not granted citizenship by birth can become a citizen of that country
resident aliens
an immigrant who has legal status in the United States; a lawful permanent resident.
steps to citizenship
Immigrants arrive in the United States with a legal visa.
1.Immigrants apply for permit resident
2.Legal residents who have been in the country for at least five years and may apply for citizenship.
3.Applicants are interviewed by the United States Citizenship and immigration service.
4.Applicants take an English and civils test.
5.Applicants receive citizenship in formal ceremony.
Liberalism
Favor active role for government in solving society’s problem; Support gov’t effort to regulate buss and the economy.
Conservatism |
Calls for a limited role of government in economic affairs; likely to support gov’t action on moral issues
Socialism
Main goal is to limit economic inequality by ensuring fair distribution of wealth; gov’t owns control means of production .
Libertarianism |
Strong belief in personal freedom tends to be conservative on economic issues and liberal on social issues
Environmentalism
Advocate police designs to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources; deeply concerned about conser
Political parties
groups of people who seek to control the government through the winnings of elections and holding public office.
What are the two main political parties?
Democrats and republicans
Functions of Political Parties
Support/recruit candidates
Organize elections and inform voters
Organize the government
Unite diverse interests
Seve as loyal opposition to the political party in power
Democratic
Size of national government |
Social issues |
Regulation of businesses |
Republican
Taxes
Environments
Education
Importance of Third Parties:
Help shape politics in America by…
Influence outcomes.
Raise important issues.
Get candidates elected to office.
What factors tend to influence party choice?
Family traditions.
Significant political and social issues.
Economic states.
Age.
Place of residents.
Explain the Electoral College.
A group of people from each state who formally appoint a president and a vice president, how many electoral votes are there? 538
What is the breakdown of the number of electoral votes? In other words, where does that number come from?
There are 435 House of representatives, 100 senators, and 3 electors from D.C
What is the minimum number of electoral votes a candidate strives to earn?
270
How many electoral votes does MN have?
10
15th Amendment:
extend the right for African American males to vote.
Suffrage
The right to vote
19th Amendment
extends women's right to vote.
24th Amendment:
bans poll taxes, which discourages people.
26th Amendment
lowered the voting age to 18
What are the four things that ALL states require to vote in the US?
1. A U.S citizen.
2. Have to be 18.
3. A resident of the state.
4. A legally registered voter.
Primary Elections
Voters determine their political party nominee
General Elections
Voters choose among candidates from different parties to fill an elective
Open Primary
Allow all voters to vote in primary election
Closed Primary
Limit voting to registered party members. Independents are not allowed to participate
Primaries
An election in which voters elect candidates to represent their political party in the general election.
Caucuses
A meeting of political party members to select candidates to represent their party in the general election
Minnesota Primary Elections:
What is the purpose?
To narrow down a number of candidates
Minnesota Primary Elections:
When is it held?
Election years (even years)
Minnesota Primary Elections:
Where is it held?
The same polling places as general election
Minnesota Primary Elections:
Who can vote in a MN primary?
All eligible voters
How many political parties can a voter vote for in a primary election in Minnesota?
1
What happens to their ballot if they don't follow the rules?
Doesn't count
When do elections in the US take place?
Presidential Election
Occurs every 4___ year in even-numbered years;
President and vice president
One third of the senators
Some states and local officials
All members of the house
Midterm Election
Occurs in even-numbered years between presidential electionsOn third of the senate
All members of the house
Most state governors
Some state and local officials
Off-Year Election
Occurs is odd-numbered years
County supervisors
City mayors
City councils
Most boards of special districts
Note 
Flashcard (20)