Unit Three: Political Parties / Voting / Elections

Political Party

a group of citizens with broad common interests who agree on major issues facing the nation. These groups work to influence government and create public policies that reflect their views

Functions of political parties

Nominate people they want to elect to public office; Educate the public and inspire voters; Operate on partisan lines in Congress and State legislatures; Serve watchdog role as “loyal opposition.”; Dispense patronage

Watchdog Role

Points out the wrongdoing of political figures

Democratic Republicans

Thomas Jefferson’s political party, believed in state power and weaker national government

Federalists

Alexander Hamilton’s political party, believed in strong central government

Andrew Jackson

first democratic president

Abe Lincoln

first republican president

Whigs

did not support Andrew Jackson, the opposing party

Minor Party

another name for a third party

Types of Third Parties

Ideological Parties, Economic Protest Parties, Splinter Parties, and Single-Issue Parties

Coalition

parties working together to pass laws

One-Party System

Cannot exist in a democracy, there is no choice of candidates in the elections.

Two-Party System

Two parties dominate the political field in all three levels of government

Multi-Party System

a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition

Democrats

usually feel that the federal government has a responsibility to help those in need through government intervention, and that government regulation is the best means of protecting public interests; are generally associated with Liberal ideology

Republicans

hold the view that leaving the economy alone will allow for growth, giving people greater ability to help themselves. They believe in less regulation; generally associated with Conservative ideology.

Liberals

Those who believe government should do more to solve the nation’s problems, but reject the notion that government should favor a particular set of social issues.

Values of Liberals

Equal opportunity; Equality for all (Due Process of law); Duty of state is to protect civil liberties, alleviate social ills, and promote human rights; People are innately good; Idea of state as “nurturing mother”

Conservatives

Those who believe government tries to do too many things that should be left to firms or individuals, but look to government to uphold traditional values.

Values of Conservatives

Personal responsibility; Limited government; Traditional values; Free markets (laissez-faire); Strong national defense; Duty of government to provide freedom necessary for people to pursue their own goals; Idea of government as a “strict father”

Libertarians

Those who believe government should be strictly limited to essential services. They oppose government as an instrument of managing the economy and upholding traditional values.

Populists/Communists

Those who believe government should do more to solve the nation’s problems, and look to it to uphold traditional values.

Obstacles to Third Parties

Electoral College, Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns, Ballot Access Laws, and Participation in Events — Presidential Debates

Third Party Concepts and Ideologies

Women’s suffrage, child labor laws, reduction of working hours, income tax, and social security

Types of Third Parties

ideological, single issue party, economic protest, and splinter party

Testimonial

endorsements from celebrities and other well known people

Mudslinging

often referred to as “attack ads,” the TV, radio, and print advertisements make assertions

Card Stacking

Presenting only information that supports one side of an argument while ignoring opposing points; The use of statistics and selective facts to shape public opinion

Plain Folk

Candidates present themselves as ordinary citizens to connect with average voters; tactics include using colloquial language and sharing personal stories

Glittering Generalities

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases that are associated with highly valued concepts; Examples: "Change we can believe in," "Stronger Together."

Bandwagon Campaign

Creating the impression that everyone supports a cause or candidate, so you should too; techniques include showing large crowds at events or high poll numbers

Contrast Ad

Often show good things about one person running for office and bad things about the other person in the same ad

Print Ad

An advertisement created by a political group that appears in printed materials; these ads promote the candidate's platform, attack opponents, or advocate for a specific policy or issue

Who originialy were the only people allowed to vote?

White, Christian Property-Owning Males

5 Stages of Extending Voter Rights

1. religious qualifications/property qualifications removed

2. 15th amendment

3. 19th amendment

4. Federal Legislation takes over the states

   1. 23rd Amendment

   2. 24th Amendment

5. 26th Amendment

Voter Qualifications

Citizenship, Age, Residency, Registration

Voting Qualifications of the Past

Literacy Tests, Poll Taxes, Grandfather Clause

Literacy Test

tests to prevent certain people from voting in the elections

Poll Taxes

taxes imposed to prevent certain groups of people from voting

Grandfather Clause

used to keep descendents of slaves out of elections

People who cannot vote

non-citizens, some people with felony convictions, some who are mentally incapacitated, and U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories

People who are more likely to vote

people who are educated, older in age, caucasian, female, and apart of a union are more likely to vote

15th Amendment

gave African American men the right to vote

19th Amendment

gave women the right to vote

23rd Amendment

allowed for Washington D.C. to vote

24th Amendment

eliminated poll taxes

26th Amendment

lowered the voting age in all elections to 18 years old

Voting Rights Act of 1965

prohibited voter discrimination based on race, color, or membership in a large minority group; also required some places to provide election materials in languages other than English

Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984

required polling places to be accessible to people with disabilities

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986

allowed members of the U.S. armed forces and overseas U.S. voters to register and vote by mail

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

created new ways to register to vote; also calls for states to keep more accurate voter registration lists

Help America Vote Act of 2002

authorized federal funds for elections

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

helps states comply with HAVA to adopt minimum standards on voter education, registration, and ballots

Military and Overseas Voting Empowerment Act of 2009

improved access to voting by military and overseas voters

State Primaries

voting happens through secret ballot

Caucuses

private meetings run by political parties; participates divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support, each group gives speeches supporting its candidate and tries to get others to join its group, in the end the number of voters in each group determines how many delegates each candidate has won

Open Primaries/Open Caucuses

people can vote for a candidate of any political party at these primaries and caucuses

Closed Primaries/Closed Caucuses

only voters registered with that party can take part and vote at these types primaries and caucuses

Semi Open/Semi Closed Primaries and Caucuses

variations of the variations of the two main types of primaries and caucuses

Delegates

individuals who represent their state at national party conventions

National Conventions

held by each party to select a final presidential nominee

Pledged Delegates/Bound Delegates

must support the candidate they were awarded to through the primary or caucus process

Unpledged Delegates/Superdelegates

can support any presidential candidate they choose

Electors

538 total; each states gets as many as it has members in congress (house and senate)

Electoral College

voting system for the united states; each state gets a set amount of electors

House of Representatives

picks the president if no candidate receives the majority of electoral votes

Senate

picks the vice president from the remaining two candidates

Process of electing a president

primaries and caucuses —> national conventions and general election —> the electoral college