CE5

CE.5 - Political Parties and the Electoral Process

CE.5A - Political Parties

• Functions of Political Parties:

  • Key role in government; provide opportunities for citizen participation.

  • Roles include:

    • Recruiting and nominating candidates.

    • Educating the electorate about campaign issues.

    • Helping candidates win elections.

    • Monitoring actions of officeholders.

CE.5B - Two-Party System

• Characteristics of the American Political Process:

  • A two-party system dominates, with two major political parties.

  • Similarities between parties:

    • Organize to win elections.

    • Influence public policies.

    • Reflect both liberal and conservative views.

    • Define themselves to win majority support by appealing to the political center.

  • Differences between parties:

    • Articulated in party platforms and reflected in campaigning strategies.

  • Third Parties:

    • Introduce new ideas or advocate for specific issues.

    • May revolve around notable political personalities (e.g., Theodore Roosevelt).

CE.5C - Role of Media in Campaigns

• Importance of Media:

  • Media plays a critical role in elections by helping voters evaluate candidates.

  • Strategies for evaluating information:

    • Separating fact from opinion.

    • Detecting bias.

    • Evaluating sources for credibility.

    • Identifying propaganda.

  • Mass Media Roles:

    • Identifying candidates.

    • Emphasizing selected issues.

    • Writing editorials, creating political cartoons, and publishing op-ed pieces.

    • Broadcasting diverse points of view.

CE.5D - Campaign Costs

• The Financial Aspect of Campaigning:

  • Running for office is costly, affecting political candidacy.

  • Impacts of Rising Campaign Costs:

    • Require extensive fundraising.

    • Limit opportunities for less wealthy individuals.

    • Advantage wealthy candidates.

    • Promote development of Political Action Committees (PACs).

    • Increase influence of issue-oriented special interest groups.

  • Campaign Finance Reform:

    • Efforts have been made to reform campaign finance laws due to rising costs.

    • Contribution limits instituted for individuals.

CE.5E - Voter Registration

• Importance of Voter Registration:

  • Voting is a fundamental responsibility of citizenship; registration is required to vote.

  • Qualifications to register in Virginia:

    • Must be a U.S. citizen.

    • Resident of Virginia and precinct.

    • At least 18 years of age by the general election day.

  • Registration Process:

    • Register in person, at designated sites, or by mail.

    • Registration closes 22 days before elections.

  • Factors Influencing Registration and Turnout:

    • Education, age, income impact likelihood to vote.

    • Reasons citizens may not vote include lack of interest or failure to register.

    • Voter turnout is generally higher in presidential elections than in state/local elections.

CE.5F - Electoral College

• Function of the Electoral College:

  • Used to elect the president and vice president of the U.S.

  • Electoral College Process:

    • Electors chosen by popular vote in each state.

    • Most states use a winner-take-all system.

    • Electors meet to cast votes for president and vice president.

    • This system incentivizes campaigns to target populous states while still considering less populated states.

  • Electoral Representation:

    • The number of electors per state corresponds to Congressional representation based on population.

    • Majority vote is required to win in the Electoral College, which favors a two-party system.

CE.5G - Participation in Elections

• Encouraging Civic Participation:

  • Citizens, including students under 18, can engage in the political process through various avenues.

  • Ways for Students to Participate:

    • Involvement in campaigns.

    • Engagement in classroom and online simulations of elections.