Political Ideology, voter behavior, civic engagement

What is political culture?

The dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and government

What are the 5 main values that shape US American Political Culture?

Individualism, Free Enterprise, Equality of Opportunity, Limited Government, & Rule Of Law

What is individualism?

The belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make

• Promotes self-reliance but also economic self-sufficiency

• What’s Best ME vs what’s best for WE

What is equality of opportunity?

Everyone should have the chance to succeed based on their own effort

1. Not the same as equality of result or equality of ACCESS

   • Opportunity: does everyone have the ability to apply to college? Yes

   • Access: will everyone get in where they want to go? No

What is Free enterprise/laissez - faire

Free enterprise: an economic system in which government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses

• The government does not set wages, prices, and production

• Economic questions are left to individuals and businesses

• Equality & freedom contradict - Ex. Obamacare

What is rule of law?

The principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law

• Citizens and officials respect & abide by the law equally (social contract)

• Fair trials; impartial juries; decisions based on precedent; transparency of government operations (ex.Freedom of Information Act)

• Checks & Balances are designed to keep one branch from becoming too powerful — power of impeachment too

What is limited government?

We have a written constitution that limits the extent of the government’s power

• Human beings have inherent rights that the government cannot take away

• Checks and balances; written constitution; federalism; Bill of Rights, we have systems in place to prevent power from accumulating in one spot

What is political socialization?

Process by which we are taught & develop our individual and collective political beliefs

• Factors that shape your socialization:

  • Family***

  • Peers

  • Race & ethnic differences

  • Religious differences

  • Gender

  • Social & economic differences (SES)

  • Sectional/regional differences

  • Media influences

  • Age

  • Can be linked to Historical events (e.g., Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, Watergate, September 11 & War On Terror)

What are political parties?

Party supporters put their political ideas to work at all levels of government

Two party system:

• Way for large groups with similar ideas to get things done

• Take positions on public issues and work to pass laws

• Allows individuals to have a stronger voice within a group

• Parties must compromise & work together

How did political parties develop?

• Federalists—believed in strengthening the central government

• Antifederalists (Democratic-Republicans) tried to limit the power of the federal government.

• 1820s—Andrew Jackson led the Democratic Party; determined the government should represent the "common people"

• 1854—Republican Party formed by antislavery groups; nominated Abraham Lincoln for president in 1860

Arguments for/against 1 and 2 party systems

One-party systems—dictatorships or totalitarian governments; one group or person has power; people do not have essential freedoms

Two-party systems—create stable governments; allow for majority rule; voters have a choice

What impact have third parties had on the United States?

At times, third parties have greatly influenced national politics, even though their candidate did not win the election.

Voting Rights

Voting Rights have increased throughout American History

States decide who can vote

Civil Rights Laws guaranteed the vote to more Americans

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

Franchise = Suffrage = Right to Vote

Disenfranchise = To not allow someone to vote

Electorate – Those who are eligible to vote

Constitutional Amendments

The Constitution says very little about the right to vote.

The Constitution allows the states to decide who can vote.

Early in our history, States made rules that stopped many people from voting.

To protect the right to vote, the Federal government became involved.

Political Apathy

It has been true since 18 year olds were given the vote, that young people are less likely to vote than citizens of other age groups.

Often turned off by politics or lacking a sense that their participation really matters, young people tend to stay away from the polls.

Americans Tend Not To Vote

Only 70 to 75 percent of the voting-age population is registered to vote

About 50 percent vote in Presidential elections

About 33 percent vote in midterm elections

Even fewer vote in off-year/mid term, special, and primary elections.

Americans vote less now than they have in the past.

What was the Electoral College created?

Framers questioned whether uninformed citizens would select an adequate leader for the nation if the people chose the “wrong” President, the EC could override the vote.

Wanted to establish a role for the states in the election process = federalism

Candidate with an overwhelming majority of votes in one part of the country couldn’t be elected by a slim overall popular majority

The Number Of Electoral College Votes Each State has is Determined by

Number of representatives + number of senators = total number of electoral college votes

• Changes with census; each state has at least one representative; determimed by population at time of census

• Each state has two senators

Step 1: Popular Vote

On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President

What we’re actually choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like

These electors are then supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given stat

Step 2: Winner Take All

Candidate who wins the popular vote within a state…wins all of the electoral votes for that state

48 States

Nebraska and Maine have proportional system  - each candidate gets some votes

Majority rules

Candidate who wins the majority of votes wins the election

Need 270 Votes to win

Step 3: Electoral Voting

Meeting of Electors - Electors meet in each State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December).

Step 4: Counting Ballots

Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in DC

The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6 before a joint session of Congress

If there is a tie, the President will be decided by the House of Representatives 

Primary elections & Caucuses

• Primary Elections: A state-level election where voters choose a political party's nominee for the general election. Voters cast secret ballots to select their preferred candidate.

• Caucuses: A meeting of party members where voters discuss and vote for their preferred candidate in an open and public way. It’s less common than primaries.

• Purpose: Both primaries and caucuses help determine how many delegates each candidate will have at their party's national convention.

• Difference: Primaries are similar to regular elections, while caucuses are more like community gatherings for discussion and voting.