Definitions:

1. Federalist Party → People who believe in a strong federal government

2. Republican Party (1700s) → People who believe in a weak federal government

3. Faction → A dissatisfied group formed within a larger group 

4. Political spectrum → The range of political beliefs where the left is liberal and the right is conservative 

5. Third-party → A candidate who represents a party outside of the two main ones ( Republicans and Democrats)

6. Incumbent → The current officeholder 

7. Challenger → People who try to go against the incumbents 

8. Electoral College → A system used in the United States to elect the president

9. Popular vote → The greater vote in a state

10. Automatic voter registration - AVR (‘Motor Voter' laws) → A law that allows citizens to be automatically registered to vote

11. Voter turnout → The percentage of eligible voters that vote 

12. Media Bias → Opinionated information on national news media 

13. Special interest groups → Organizations that attempt to influence public opinion and government policy regarding issues they care about 

Political Parties and the Political Spectrum ↴

A political party is a group of people who join together because they have similar views about the government. Framers like George Washington thought that political parties created factions. Third parties are important in the US as they provide alternate viewpoints on government. 

• First political parties

  • Federalist Party (Hamilton) - believed in a strong national government 

  • Republican Party (Jefferson) - believed in a weak national government 

The 6 parties (list in order from most liberal to most conservative)

• Socialist party

  • Freedom and equality against violence

  • Diversity

  • Employment

  • Everyone should have a job and a way to support their family

  • Be good to nature

  • Believes in a nuclear world

  • Get rid of capitalism

• Green party

  • Everyone has equal opportunity regardless of their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, religion, physical/mental ability

  • Use self-defense instead of violence 

  • It's important to value other cultures, ethnics, ratio, sexual, religious, and spiritual values

  • They believe in a lot of inequality which is the main idea

  • They protect nature using the government 

• Democratic party

  • Minimum wages

  • Progressive taxation

  • More government regulation

  • A woman has the right to decide what happens to her body for abortion

  • Federal affirmative action law is necessary

  • The death penalty should be abolished 

• Republican party 

  • Abortion should be illegal

  • There is no need for federal affirmative action law

  • Death penalty should be considered as a punishment

  • Taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone 

• Libertarian party

  • Free to make choices for themselves

  • Accept responsibility

  • Government cannot force

  • Support full freedom of expression

  • No censorship

  • Free to do whatever you want for religion

  • Abortion is a sensitive issue

  • Right to free speech

  • Restrict guns

• Constitutional party

  • Extremely religious

  • Want religion to be a part of Education, especially Christianity 

  • Things religion should not be separate

  • Against gun control

  • Against gun registration

  • Don't want to protect illegal immigrants

  • Thinks the borders should be protected

  • People should take care of themselves

  • Follows the Constitution very literally 

Voting ↴

States that have same-day registration typically have the highest voter turnout

Requirements

• 18 or older

• A citizen

• Live in the county for 30 days to vote

• Not in prison ( depends on the state)

• Registered

Steps

• Be qualified

• Register to vote

• Inform yourself about candidates and issues

• Find a polling location

• Vote!! 

Electoral College ↴

The Electoral College is a way for the presidential election to be decided. The system works by first everyone doing their vote. Once everyone's vote is counted the majority of the votes for which side is what the state will represent. Then there will be one final draw where the number of the state’s districts plus two senators are how many votes the state counts for.

• Protects the rights of the smaller States since they have more influence in an election

• There are a total of 538 electoral votes

• One needs 270 votes to win the election

• California is a state that has the most electoral votes, 54

• The minimum number of electoral votes a state can have is two

“Special Interest Groups” ↴

Organizations that attempt to influence public opinion and government policy regarding issues they care about.

Examples:

PETA (animal rights organization) - liberal

NRA (promotes gun rights) - conservative

Greenpeace (environmental cause) - liberal 

NEA (educational association) - liberal

Campaign Advertisements ↴

Different ways a politician uses their advertisements

Testimonial -  endorsements from supporters (can be an everyday person or a celebrity)

Mudslinging -  criticizing your opponent on television, radio, or print advertisements

Transfer - negative/positive connotation with the use of symbols, music, and imagery

Card stacking -  emphasizing information to make an impression

Plain folks -  it candidate appealing to the average voter like they are one of them

Glittering generalities -  and introduction to leave a positive first impression

Bandwagon - “ everyone is doing it, so you should too” mentality

Contrast Ad -  showing differences between candidates

Other methods include social media, public speeches, town hall meetings, letters, and phone calls