American Government Notes
The Political Spectrum
Political ideology is a complex framework of beliefs about the role of government, the rights of individuals, and the organization of society. It exists on a spectrum, with various ideologies representing different points of view. Understanding this spectrum helps to contextualize political discourse and policy debates.
Political Ideology
Political Ideology - Any ideas or beliefs, or coordinated body of ideas or beliefs, relating to government.
Political ideology exists separately from party affiliation.
Conservatism
Commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or the unproven.
The holding of political views that favor free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas.
Key Tenets:
Emphasis on individual responsibility and limited government intervention.
Belief in the importance of traditional institutions and values.
Advocating for fiscal conservatism, lower taxes, and reduced government spending.
A strong national defense and a cautious approach to foreign policy.
General Conservative Beliefs
Small federal government, stronger state governments.
“Peace through strength”.
Free market economy with minimal government regulation.
Supply-side economics.
Low, flat tax rate.
Examples:
Supporting policies that promote traditional family values.
Advocating for stricter immigration laws.
Opposing government regulation of businesses.
Emphasizing the importance of individual liberty and personal responsibility.
Liberalism
Typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others, but they also recognize that government itself can pose a threat to liberty.
Usually willing to accept new ideas and a focus on social justice.
Key Tenets:
Emphasis on social justice, equality, and individual rights.
Belief in the importance of government intervention to address social and economic inequality.
Advocating for policies that promote environmental protection and sustainability.
A focus on diplomacy and international cooperation.
General Liberal Beliefs
Larger federal government.
“Peace through diplomacy”.
Free market economy with government regulation.
Keynesian economics.
Progressive tax rate (usually higher rates on the wealthy).
Examples:
Supporting policies that promote affordable healthcare for all.
Advocating for stricter gun control laws.
Supporting LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality.
Emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Voting
State Qualifications
States can choose to deny suffrage (the vote) to criminals and anyone deemed to “mentally incompetent”.
No citizen can be denied the right to vote based on their gender, race, or religion.
No poll taxes, literacy tests, or other tests can be required to vote.
Registering to Vote
Must be a US citizen.
Must be a resident of the state.
Must be 18 or older.
Most states require citizens to register ahead.
Some have same-day registration.
Can affiliate with a party or not.
Primary Elections
Voters decide who will represent their party.
Types of primaries
Closed primaries
Open primaries
Nonpartisan primaries
Runoff elections
General Elections
Early voting
Absentee/Mail-in voting
Election workers
Poll Watchers
Presidential Candidate Requirements
Natural-born citizen
Minimum age 35 years
U.S. resident for 14 years
Presidential Election Process
Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses
Candidates from each political party campaign throughout the country to win the favor of their party members.
Primary: Party members vote for the best candidate that will represent them in the general election.
Caucus: Party members select the best candidate through a series of discussions and votes.
Step 2: National Conventions
Each party holds a national convention to select a final presidential nominee.
At each convention, the presidential candidate chooses a running mate (vice presidential candidate).
Step 3: General Election
People in every state across the country vote for one president and vice president.
When people cast their vote, they are actually voting for a group of people known as electors.
Step 4: Electoral College
Each state gets a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress.
Each elector casts one vote following the general election, and the candidate who gets more than half (270) wins.
The newly elected president and vice president are inaugurated in January.
Definitions
Caucus: A meeting of the local members of a political party to select delegates to the national party convention. A caucus is a substitute for a primary election.
Delegate: A person authorized to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference.
Elector: A member of the electoral college.
Electoral College: The voters of each state, and the District of Columbia, vote for electors to be the authorized constitutional members in a presidential election.
Natural Born Citizen: Someone born with U.S. citizenship includes any child born "in" the United States, the children of United States citizens born abroad, and those born abroad of one citizen parent.
Primary: An election where voters select candidates for an upcoming general election. Winning candidates will have delegates sent to the national party convention as their party's U.S. presidential nominee.
Polling
How Polling Works
Public Opinion
Poll
Keys to good polling
Comprehensible questions
Fair wording
Random sample
About 12% of Americans don’t know the name of the sitting Vice President.
A majority of people favor expanding most government programs and paying less in taxes.
Sampling Error
Margin of Error
Exit Polls
Challenges to polling:
Cell phones (how do you find them?).
People hang up (how do you reach them?).
Bias In Polling
Exclusion
Survivorship
Pre-screening
Self-selection (non-response)
Criteria for analyzing a poll:
Who did the poll?
How many were interviewed?
How were the people chosen?
What area or group was polled?
When was the poll done?
In what order were the questions asked?
Are questions biased?
The Media
Media Through History
Prior to the 1960s, media would:
Report only the facts.
Largely cooperate with the government.
In the ‘60s, investigative journalism takes over.
Journalists find themselves at odds with politicians.
In the current era of the media, we most often see clips in the news called sound bites.
Who Decides?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates airwaves.
Can they regulate online too?
The media, though, selects what is important to broadcast/cover.
Role
Gatekeeper: The media decides which stories and issues are important enough to receive public attention. This role has a significant impact on what the public considers to be important.
Agenda-Setting: By choosing which issues to cover, the media influences the public agenda. This means they can shape what issues people think about and discuss.
Watchdog: The media keeps a close eye on government and those in power. They investigate and report on any wrongdoing, corruption, or abuse of power.
Educator: The media informs the public about important issues, events, and policies. They provide context and analysis to help people understand the world around them.
Platform for Public Discourse: The media provides a space for people to discuss and debate important issues. This can take the form of letters to the editor, opinion pieces, or public forums.