Unit_2

UNIT-2: Political Participation

Learning Targets

  • Understanding expectations for U.S. citizens include:

    • Being informed on civic issues.

    • Obeying the law.

    • Paying taxes.

    • Respecting the rights of others.

    • Serving as a juror.

    • Serving in the military or alternative service.

    • Volunteering and performing public service.

    • Voting.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Duties citizens must obey:

    • Serving on a jury.

    • Serving as a witness.

    • Attending school.

    • Paying taxes.

    • Obeying local, state, and national laws.

    • Draft registration.

    • Respecting the rights of others.

  • Responsibilities citizens should fulfill:

    • Voting.

    • Volunteering.

    • Participating in civic life.

    • Understanding the workings of government.

Tennessee Juror Requirements

  • Must be:

    • 18 years of age.

    • A citizen of the U.S.

    • A resident of Tennessee for a minimum of 12 months before summons.

  • Disqualifications:

    • Persons convicted of a felony.

    • Persons convicted of perjury.

  • Excuses:

    • Mental or physical incapacity.

    • Undue physical or financial hardship.

Voter Eligibility in Tennessee

To vote in Tennessee, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.

  • Be at least 18 years old on or before election day.

  • Be a resident of Tennessee.

  • If convicted of a felony, your eligibility may depend on the crime and the restoration of rights.

  • Must register to vote at least 30 days before an election.

The Role of Political Parties

Political Parties in the Nomination Process

  • Political parties play a crucial role in nominating presidential candidates.

  • Primaries, Caucuses, and General Elections:

    • Primaries and caucuses decide the candidate nominees.

    • General elections determine the elected candidates.

The Two-Party System

  • The Republican and Democratic parties dominate U.S. politics.

  • Most elections are won by candidates from these two parties.

  • Election system favors two major parties due to single-member districts.

Historical Context

  • Democratic Era (1800-1860): 13 of 15 elections won by Democrats.

  • Republican Era (1860-1932): 14 of 18 elections won by Republicans.

  • Return of Democrats (1932-1968): Democrats gained support during the Great Depression.

  • Divided Government Era (1968-2004): Both parties held presidency and congressional control alternately.

One-Party Systems

  • In some states, one party repeatedly wins elections, limiting choices for voters.

Role of Minor Parties

  • Minor parties can influence major parties by raising important issues and can spoil elections by siphoning votes from major candidates.

The Caucus Process

  • Republicans and Democrats conduct caucuses to decide delegate support for candidates.

  • Participants must achieve a viable percentage to proceed.

Types of Primaries

  • Closed Primaries: Only registered party members can vote.

  • Open Primaries: Open to all qualified voters, including independents.

The Convention

  • Party conventions finalize the nomination of candidates and signal the official selection of party nominees for president.

Influence of Media on Politics

Public Opinion

  • Public opinion consists of widespread attitudes regarding government and politics.

  • Measured through scientific polling for accuracy.

Scientific Polls

  • Steps include defining the universe, constructing a sample, preparing questions, and analyzing results.

  • Random samples of about 1,500 people yield representative accuracy.

Citizen Participation in Politics

Forms of Participation

  • Campaigning.

  • Demonstrating.

  • Lobbying.

  • Petitioning.

  • Running for office.

  • Voting.

The Electoral College

  • Consists of 538 votes; majority needed to win presidency.

  • Most states use a winner-take-all system except Maine and Nebraska.

  • Electors meet in December after elections to cast votes.

Initiatives and Referendums

  • Initiatives: Citizens propose laws through petitions (requires certain signatures).

  • Referendums: Measures referred to voters by legislatures for approval.

Recall Elections

  • Citizens can remove public officials through a voting process, requiring a petition for sufficient votes.

Media Bias

  • Types of Media Bias:

    • Tonal Bias: Different narratives by outlets.

    • Gatekeeping Bias: Selecting what stories to cover.

    • Visibility Bias: Highlighting certain aspects of a story.

Voting Behavior

Voter Demographics

  • Higher likelihood of voting among higher-income, educated, older individuals with strong party affiliation.

Candidates and Issues

  • Close correlation between candidates’ public images and sway of voter opinions.

Voter Profiles

Republican Profile

  • Typical voters include:

    • Higher income and education levels.

    • Older demographics.

    • Predominantly Protestants.

    • Seen frequently in suburban and rural areas.

Democratic Profile

  • Significant voter base includes:

    • Women (5-10% margin).

    • African Americans (historically large margins since 1930s).

    • Latinos (varied).

    • Majority support from urban populations.

Party Affiliation

  • Strong predictor for voting behavior; party loyalists tend to vote their party's candidates in elections.