American Political Ideologies & Beliefs Notes
Slide 1: Title - American Political Ideologies & Beliefs
Bullet Points:
Unit 4 & 5 focus on political ideologies, participation, voting, and campaign finance.
Speaker Notes: “This unit explores how American beliefs and values shape the government, and how people express those beliefs through participation, elections, and political behavior.”
Slide 2: Alexis de Tocqueville
Bullet Points:
French observer of American democracy in 1835.
Wrote Democracy in America.
Believed geography, laws, and culture made U.S. democracy successful.
Speaker Notes: “De Tocqueville was impressed by how well democracy worked in America, and he thought it wasn't just because of the government—it was also because of the American people’s customs and values.”
Slide 3: Core Political Beliefs
Bullet Points:
Liberty
Equality of Opportunity
Democracy
Civic Duty
Individualism
Speaker Notes: “These five ideas form the foundation of American political culture. Even when we disagree politically, we generally agree these values matter.”
Slide 4: Political Opinion
Bullet Points:
Public opinion = views held by many on politics/gov’t.
Shaped by culture, experience, and identity.
Speaker Notes: “Public opinion drives the direction of policy and elections, and it's shaped by everything from our family to where we live.”
Slide 5: Civic Duty
Bullet Points:
Americans value civic participation like voting, jury duty, etc.
A belief that involvement is necessary to maintain democracy.
Speaker Notes: “Civic duty is a core belief that keeps our system going. If we don’t engage, the system can’t reflect the will of the people.”
Slide 6: Hello! Jayden Smith
(No content needed here—it’s a lighthearted intro slide.)
Speaker Notes: “Hi everyone, this is just a fun slide introducing the presentation and the presenter!”
Slides 7–9: Citizenship Test Videos
Bullet Points:
Citizenship tests help understand basic U.S. civics.
Linked YouTube videos provide examples of how Americans perform.
Speaker Notes: “These videos are entertaining but also eye-opening. Many Americans don’t know basic civics, yet we expect informed voters.”
Slide 10: Polling!
Bullet Points:
Public opinion is often measured through polls.
Policy usually follows public opinion—but not always.
Speaker Notes: “Polling is how we take the public’s temperature on issues. It’s not perfect, but it helps leaders know what people want.”
Slide 11: Random Sampling
Bullet Points:
Polls need random samples to be accurate.
Sampling error is the margin of error.
Speaker Notes: “To trust a poll, it must include a random mix of people. A poll with a 5% margin of error means actual views could swing by 5%.”
Slide 12: Polling Metaphor
Bullet Points:
Is polling like taking a blood sample or tasting soup?
Must stir the soup to get a good sample—same with polling.
Speaker Notes: “This metaphor shows why random sampling matters. You can’t just ask a few people from one part of the pot.”
Slide 13: Exit Polls & Question Wording
Bullet Points:
Exit polls = after voting.
Wording affects answers dramatically.
Speaker Notes: “‘Welfare’ and ‘aid to the poor’ mean the same thing, but people react very differently based on how the question is asked.”
Slide 14: Poll Accuracy
Bullet Points:
Good polls only need ~1,500 people.
Margin of error shows confidence range.
Speaker Notes: “A well-done poll of 1,500 people can accurately represent over 300 million. That’s why sample quality is everything.”
Slide 15: Do people answer phones anymore?
Bullet Points:
Many people ignore poll calls.
Makes polling more difficult in the cell phone era.
Speaker Notes: “Fewer people answering their phones means it’s harder to get a good sample. Pollsters now struggle to adapt.”
Slide 16: Types of Polls – Straw Poll
Bullet Points:
Informal, non-scientific poll.
People choose to participate (not random).
Often used by talk show hosts or online.
Speaker Notes: “Straw polls are unscientific and unreliable because they’re based on whoever decides to respond, not a true random sample.”
Slide 17: Types of Polls – Tracking Poll
Bullet Points:
Ask the same question over time.
Shows how public opinion changes daily.
Speaker Notes: “Tracking polls are useful in campaigns. They help candidates see if opinions shift after a debate or major event.”
Slide 18: Types of Polls – Exit Poll
Bullet Points:
Done on election day, as people leave the polls.
Used by news outlets to predict winners.
Speaker Notes: “Exit polls help networks call races early—but when rushed or inaccurate, they can lead to big mistakes, like in 2000.”
Slide 19: Florida 2000 Exit Poll Nightmare
Bullet Points:
CBS made multiple wrong calls during the 2000 election.
Caused confusion and mistrust.
Speaker Notes: “In 2000, poor exit poll data led to networks calling Florida for both Gore and Bush—then taking it back. It showed the danger of over-relying on early poll data.”
Slide 20: Push Poll Examples
Bullet Points:
Use loaded, misleading questions.
Designed to sway opinion, not measure it.
Speaker Notes: “Push polls are shady. They disguise as surveys but really try to manipulate voters by planting negative ideas.”
Slide 21: Horse Race Journalism
Bullet Points:
Media focuses on polling data over policy.
Treats campaigns like sports contests.
Speaker Notes: “Horse race journalism focuses more on who’s winning instead of what they stand for. It makes elections seem like reality TV.”
Slide 22: Political Socialization
Bullet Points:
Process of developing political beliefs.
Family is most influential.
Environment also matters (city vs. rural).
Speaker Notes: “Political views aren’t random. We absorb them through life—family, friends, media, school, and where we live.”
Slide 23: Impressionable Years Hypothesis
Bullet Points:
Teens to mid-20s = most influential political years.
Events during this time shape long-term beliefs.
Speaker Notes: “Our worldview gets cemented during young adulthood. That’s why major events like 9/11 or COVID have such a strong effect on people who lived through them at a young age.”
Slide 24: Gender Gap
Bullet Points:
Women more likely to vote Democratic.
Men more likely to vote Republican.
Speaker Notes: “This gap has grown over time. Women tend to prioritize social programs, while men may favor limited government and defense spending.”
Slide 25: Race & Ethnicity
Bullet Points:
African Americans: heavily Democratic.
Hispanics: generally liberal, but Cuban-Americans lean conservative.
Speaker Notes: “Race and history are deeply connected to voting. For example, Black Americans shifted to Democrats after the Civil Rights Movement.”
Slide 26: Religion
Bullet Points:
Evangelical Christians = Conservative.
Jews, Catholics, and non-religious = more liberal.
Speaker Notes: “Religion often shapes views on issues like abortion, marriage, and welfare—so it plays a big role in party affiliation.”
Slide 27: Social Class & Income
Bullet Points:
Lower income = more likely to support welfare, vote liberal.
Wealthier = more conservative, lower taxes.
Speaker Notes: “Class impacts political views, especially on economic issues like taxes and government programs.”
Slide 28: Region
Bullet Points:
East/West Coasts: Liberal.
South: Conservative.
Urban = liberal, Rural = conservative.
Speaker Notes: “Geography really matters. People in cities tend to value diversity and progressive change, while rural areas value tradition and smaller government.”
Slide 29: Electoral Map Patterns (2004–2016)
Bullet Points:
Some states vote red/blue consistently.
Others flip—called swing states.
Speaker Notes: “Looking at trends across elections helps us predict behavior. States like Florida or Ohio often swing and get lots of campaign attention.”
Slide 30: Americans Vote Outside Their Ideology
Bullet Points:
Not all conservatives vote Republican.
In 2008, 20% of conservatives voted for Obama.
Speaker Notes: “Americans don’t always vote along party or ideology lines. Personality, charisma, and issues can sway voters.”
🗳 Slides 31–45: Voter Behavior, Efficacy, Participation
Slide 31: Ideological Voters Are More Active
Bullet Points:
Strongly ideological = more likely to join political groups.
Attend rallies, protests, boycotts.
Speaker Notes: “People with strong political beliefs—on either side—are the most politically active. They care deeply, so they show up.”
Slide 32: Primary Voters
Bullet Points:
Strong ideologues dominate primaries.
Leads to more extreme candidates.
Speaker Notes: “This is why primary elections often favor far-left or far-right candidates—it’s mostly highly engaged, ideological voters showing up.”
Slide 33: Who Votes?
Bullet Points:
Older, wealthier, educated people vote more.
Youth turnout is historically low.
Speaker Notes: “If you’re rich, older, or college-educated, you’re much more likely to vote. That’s who politicians tend to listen to.”
Slide 34: Efficacy
Bullet Points:
Political efficacy = belief your vote matters.
High efficacy = higher turnout.
Speaker Notes: “When people believe they have a voice, they participate. If they feel ignored, they stay home.”
Slide 35: Voter Turnout Over Time
Bullet Points:
1860–1900: 65–80% turnout.
Modern times: around 50–60%.
Speaker Notes: “Turnout used to be much higher—politics was more central to everyday life. Now, turnout is improving but still below past levels.”
Slide 36: Voting Age Population (VAP) vs Voting Eligible Population (VEP)
Bullet Points:
VAP: everyone 18+
VEP: only those eligible (no felons, noncitizens)
Speaker Notes: “We often say turnout is low—but it depends on how you measure it. VEP is more accurate than VAP because it excludes ineligible people.”
Slide 37: Who’s Excluded?
Bullet Points:
Felons, noncitizens, and some residents can’t vote.
215M VAP vs 235M total adults.
Speaker Notes: “Millions of Americans are legally excluded from voting. This affects voter demographics and political power.”
Slide 38: Felony Voting Laws
Bullet Points:
48 states bar felons while incarcerated.
Many restore rights after parole/probation.
Speaker Notes: “Some states are stricter than others, but many felons lose the right to vote even after serving time.”
Slide 39: Florida Example
Bullet Points:
1.5M Floridians can’t vote due to felonies.
Can apply for clemency to restore rights.
Speaker Notes: “Florida has some of the strictest laws. That’s a huge chunk of the population with no say in elections.”
Slide 40: Discussion Prompt
Bullet Points:
What’s your earliest political memory?
How do events shape your beliefs?
Speaker Notes: “This is about your political socialization. Think about how your life experiences influence what you believe.”
Slide 41: Registering to Vote
Bullet Points:
In U.S., individuals must register.
1993 Motor Voter Law: register at DMV.
Speaker Notes: “Other countries auto-register voters. In the U.S., you have to take action to register, which can be a barrier for some.”
Slide 42: Voting Rights Amendments
Bullet Points:
Important amendments to know:
15th (race)
19th (gender)
24th (no poll tax)
26th (18+)
Speaker Notes: “These amendments expanded voting rights. You’ll definitely want to remember them for the AP exam.”
Slide 43: Voter Qualifications Assignment Reminder
Bullet Points:
Complete your assignment on voting laws and qualifications.
Speaker Notes: “Make sure you complete this assignment—it ties directly into our study of voter access and laws.”
Slide 44: Party ID & Voting
Bullet Points:
People often vote along party lines.
Straight-ticket vs. split-ticket.
Speaker Notes: “Your party ID is usually a strong indicator of how you’ll vote. But split-ticket voting has increased in recent decades.”
Slide 45: Independents & Trust Issues
Bullet Points:
More people now identify as independents.
Lack of trust in government since the 1960s.
Speaker Notes: “Because of scandals and polarization, many Americans don’t trust either party and prefer to call themselves independents.”
Let’s keep it going with Slides 46–60—you're on a roll 🔥
🗳 Slides 46–60: Coattails, Turnout, Participation, and the Election Cycle
Slide 46: Coattails
Bullet Points:
Popular candidate helps others in their party win.
Obama helped Al Franken in 2008.
Speaker Notes: “This is the coattail effect—when a well-liked presidential candidate boosts lower-level candidates down the ballot.”
Slide 47: Minnesota Senate 2008
Bullet Points:
Franken beat Coleman by just 477 votes.
State law triggered a recount.
Speaker Notes: “This shows how every vote matters. Even in big elections, results can come down to just a few hundred ballots.”
Slides 48–54: Voter Intent – Ballot Questions
Bullet Points:
Examine unclear ballots to determine intent.
Used in tight races with recounts.
Speaker Notes: “Sometimes voters mark ballots strangely, and officials must interpret what they meant. This became a huge issue in the 2000 election.”
Slide 55: Reasons for Low Turnout
Bullet Points:
Voting is voluntary in the U.S.
Countries with compulsory voting see higher turnout.
Speaker Notes: “In the U.S., turnout is lower partly because there’s no legal requirement to vote. In places like Chile or Australia, voting is required by law.”
Slide 56: Turnout in 2008
Bullet Points:
63% turnout in Obama vs. McCain.
High compared to modern elections.
Speaker Notes: “2008 was a high-turnout election. Obama energized a lot of first-time and young voters, boosting participation.”
Slide 57: Ballot Fatigue
Bullet Points:
Fewer votes for races further down the ballot.
People vote for president but skip local races.
Speaker Notes: “Many voters only care about the top of the ticket. This leads to low engagement in local and state government decisions.”
Slide 58: 48,000+ Governments
Bullet Points:
U.S. has thousands of local governments.
Hard to stay informed on all elections.
Speaker Notes: “With so many offices and elections, voters can feel overwhelmed. That contributes to ballot fatigue.”
Slide 59: 1996 Example
Bullet Points:
Presidential turnout ~49%.
Local elections = even lower.
Speaker Notes: “Turnout drops dramatically the further you go down the ballot. Some local races see under 20% of voters participating.”
Slide 60: How Candidates Use Polls
Bullet Points:
Measure support, adjust messages.
Target key demographics and issues.
Speaker Notes: “Campaigns use polls to fine-tune their strategy—what to say, where to campaign, and which issues to highlight.”
Slide 61: Election Cycle
Bullet Points:
Federal elections every 2 years.
House: all 435 seats.
Senate: 1/3 of seats every cycle.
President: every 4 years.
Speaker Notes: “Our election cycle is constant—every two years there’s a major federal election, which keeps representatives accountable.”
Slide 62: Incumbent Advantage
Bullet Points:
Reps win re-election ~90% of the time.
Gerrymandering creates safe districts.
Incumbents often run unopposed.
Speaker Notes: “Incumbents have name recognition, donor networks, and often face no competition, especially in gerrymandered districts.”
Slide 63: Senate Advantage
Bullet Points:
Senators win re-election ~80%.
Harder than reps—statewide vote.
Speaker Notes: “Senators still benefit from being incumbents, but their campaigns are more competitive since they represent the whole state.”
Slide 64: Primary Types
Bullet Points:
Closed: only registered party members vote.
Open: vote in either primary, not both.
Blanket: vote for candidates of both parties.
Speaker Notes: “Primaries determine who will represent each party. The rules vary by state and influence who turns out to vote.”
Slide 65: Runoff Primaries
Bullet Points:
Some states require majority (not just a plurality).
Runoff happens between top two.
Speaker Notes: “If no candidate gets 50%+1 of the vote, the top two go head-to-head in a runoff. This ensures a clear winner.”
Slide 66: News & Opinion Quiz
Bullet Points:
How informed are voters?
Political opinions can be shaped by misinformation.
Speaker Notes: “Being informed matters. Quizzes like these show how well people understand current events—which affects voting decisions.”
Slide 67: Ideological Placement
Bullet Points:
Where you fall ideologically affects who you support.
Pew quiz can help define your beliefs.
Speaker Notes: “Knowing your ideology helps you understand why you support certain issues—and how political parties align with those views.”
Slide 68: Federal Matching Funds
Bullet Points:
Matches first $250 per citizen donation.
Candidate must accept spending limits.
Most candidates refuse it now.
Speaker Notes: “This program was designed to limit money in politics—but in today’s landscape, candidates often reject it so they can raise unlimited funds.”
Slide 69: Presidential Matching Funds
Bullet Points:
Funds conventions and campaigns.
Not used much anymore due to spending caps.
Speaker Notes: “This system once helped level the playing field, but now it’s seen as restrictive compared to what candidates can raise independently.”
Slide 70: Watergate Scandal
Bullet Points:
Nixon's campaign broke into DNC HQ.
Led to new campaign finance laws.
Limit individual donations.
Speaker Notes: “Watergate changed campaign finance forever. Congress passed laws to stop wealthy donors from buying influence.”
Slide 71: PACs (Political Action Committees)
Bullet Points:
50+ members.
Give max $5,000 per candidate.
$15,000 to national party.
Speaker Notes: “PACs are groups that collect donations and give directly to candidates—but they’re limited in how much they can contribute.”
Slide 72: Independent Expenditures
Bullet Points:
PACs can spend unlimited money if uncoordinated.
Soft money = not tied to a candidate.
Speaker Notes: “These are legal loopholes—money that doesn’t directly support a candidate but clearly benefits them.”
Slide 73: Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
Bullet Points:
Created FEC.
Regulated donations.
Allowed PACs.
Speaker Notes: “FECA was the first big law to try and regulate money in politics. It laid the groundwork for campaign finance rules.”
Slide 74: Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Bullet Points:
Struck down spending limits.
Spending = free speech.
Speaker Notes: “The Supreme Court ruled that candidates can spend as much of their own money as they want—it’s part of free speech.”
Slide 75: Pattern of Loopholes
Bullet Points:
Law → Court Case → Loophole.
Every time a law is passed, new workarounds are found.
Speaker Notes: “This is the never-ending game of campaign finance reform—new rules are always followed by new ways to get around them.”
Slide 76: Timeline of Campaign Finance Reform
Bullet Points:
FECA → Buckley v. Valeo → BCRA → Citizens United.
Speaker Notes: “Understanding this timeline is essential for the AP test. It shows how the system evolved—and how we got to today’s Super PACs.”
Slide 77: BCRA (2002) – McCain-Feingold Act
Bullet Points:
Banned soft money.
Regulated issue ads.
“I approve this message.”
Speaker Notes: “This act aimed to clean up money in politics—but much of it was undone by later court rulings.”
Slide 78: Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Bullet Points:
Overturned BCRA ad limits.
Allowed unlimited corporate/union spending.
Speaker Notes: “This decision opened the door to Super PACs and massive outside spending. It’s one of the most controversial rulings of our time.”
Slide 79: Super PACs
Bullet Points:
Unlimited donations.
Cannot coordinate with campaigns.
Often funded by billionaires.
Speaker Notes: “Super PACs don’t give money to candidates—but they flood media with ads on their behalf. The catch? ‘No coordination.’”
Slide 80: 527s
Bullet Points:
IRS-regulated political groups.
Raise unlimited funds.
Must disclose donors.
Speaker Notes: “527 groups influence elections without being officially tied to a party or campaign. They’re legal but still controversial.”
Slide 81: 527 Rules
Bullet Points:
Must file with IRS.
Tax-exempt.
Disclose contributions.
Speaker Notes: “Even though 527s can raise unlimited money, they have to be transparent about who’s funding them—which isn’t always the case for other groups.”
Slide 82: Exceptions to Filing
Bullet Points:
State/local committees.
FEC-registered candidates.
Small orgs (<$25k/year).
Speaker Notes: “There are exceptions to the disclosure rule. Not every political group has to reveal its donors.”
Slide 83: Conclusion/Wrap-up
Bullet Points:
Political beliefs drive participation.
Money greatly affects elections.
Reforms have limits.
Speaker Notes: “The system is complicated—and ever-changing. Understanding how beliefs, participation, and money interact is key to making sense of U.S. politics.”
Slide 84: What Would You Do?
Bullet Points:
Reflect: Would you change the system?
What reforms would you support?
Speaker Notes: “This is your chance to think like a policymaker. If you were in charge, how would you reform voting or campaign finance?