pod A chapter 4

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

1. Support/recruit candidates 

2. Organize elections and inform voters

3. Organize the government 

4. Unite diverse interests

5. 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?

first Tuesday after the first Monday in november

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