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A political party is an
organization of citizens
who have similar views
about government and
work together to put their
ideas into practice
• Nominate candidates for public
office
• Practical politics -Inform and
activate voters/supporters
• Strength in numbers
(PARTISANSHIP-cultivating loyal
support of the party and its
policy)
• The winning party must do a
good job to be reelected; the
losing party keeps close tabs
to let the voters know when
the other party does wrong
(acts as a “watchdog”)
Alexander Hamilton
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1780s during the
formation of our
government:
• Federalists favored the
Constitution and
a strong Federal
government
(led by
Alexander
Hamilton)
• AntiFederalists opposed the
Constitution
(led by
Thomas
Jefferson)
Thomas Jefferson
Federalist v. Anti-Federalists
Text of Washington’s Farewell Address
Reenactment of Washington's Farewell Speech
George Washington’s Farewell Address
George Washington
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George Washington
warned the nation
about “political
parties” in his
Farewell Address
(September 1796)
“the baneful effects
of the spirit of party”
• DEMOCRAT PARTY began as
the Democratic-Republicans
in 1800 by Thomas Jefferson
(became the Democrat Party
in 1828 with the election of
Andrew Jackson)
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Andrew Jackson
History of Political Parties in the U.S.
Abraham Lincoln
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• Republican Party began in
1854 in opposition to slavery
as the Whig party fell apart
and the Democrat Party
divided North/South over
slavery
Franklin D. Roosevelt
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DEMOCRATS (in general) BELIEVE
• Liberal
• More government
involvement
• Less military
spending
Symbol of Democratic Party
• Believe that it is the
responsibility of the
government to care
for its people
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Abraham Lincoln
REPUBLICANS (in general) BELIEVE
• Conservative
• Less government
involvement
• More military
Republican Party Symbol
spending
• Believe each person
is responsible for
themselves
Ronald Reagan
George W. Bush
Richard Nixon
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• 1800-1860 -The Era of the
Democrats
• 1860-1932 - The Era of the
Republicans
• 1932-1968 -The Return of the
Democrats
• 1968-Present - Divided Era
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• people chose which party or
no party to join
• influenced by family
(parents), major events (Civil
War), economics, education,
age, place of residence,
religion, work environment,
etc.
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• Near equal strength
• New ideas and programs emerge
when one party does not succeed
• With only two parties, one party is
usually able to win a majority of
votes
• Multi Party system would require a
coalition to win election or get
things done  difficult to remain
stable as coalitions shift and dissolve
• Usually a minor party like
Libertarian,
Green,
Constitution, Theodore Roosevelt
Ross Perot
Socialist, or
Communist party
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(exceptions were Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party
that received 27% of the popular vote in 1912 and
Ross Perot’s Reform Party in 1992 that received
18.9% of the popular vote)
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•usually form for different
reasons--ideological,
single-issue, economic,
or splinter from major
party
Third Parties Explained by Star Wars
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• Propose new ideas (often
somewhat extreme or radical in
views) that the major political
parties sometimes adopt
(Populist Parties’ ideas of direct
election of Senators, recall,
referendum; Socialist Party ideas
adopted by FDR during the
Depression, etc.)
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• Historical tradition -America has a
two party system because we
have a two party system – it’s the
way it is
• “Winner-take-all vs. proportional
representation” – vote for minor
party candidate is often viewed as
a “wasted vote”
• Difficulty in raising funds
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• Election laws are often written to
discourage third party candidates
(BIPARTISAN - done by both
Democrats and Republicans)
• There’s an ideological consensus
on most major issues for
Democrats and Republicans so
there is no need for a third party to
arise and cause either party to split
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North Korea
• They are dictatorships
since
there is no choice for the
people
• A one party system is really a
“no party” system
www.kremlin.ru
State Central Committee - one in every state,
help raise money
Local Committees - very important base for the
party
Precinct - division of voting districts, citizens vote
at the “polling place” within their precinct
Precinct Captain - local party leader responsible
for the voting effort
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National Committee - Chairperson is the highest
position, responsible for the National Nominating
Convention (where the presidential candidate is
chosen)
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• Party Organization - leaders,
activists
• Party Electorate - party
members that vote for the
party’s candidates
• Party Officeholders - in office
at the federal, state, local
levels
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• Fewer voters identifying
themselves as Democrats or
Republicans
• Increase in SPLIT-TICKET VOTING
(voting for candidates from
different political parties)
• Changes in campaigning
technology - social media,
internet ads
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Political Parties get
money by holding
fundraisers and
gathering donations.
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• 1972 FEDERAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN ACT (amended several
times since) - the primary law
regulating political campaign
spending and fundraising.
-Name, address, and occupation of
donors who give more than $200
must be disclosed
-limits contributions to individuals
($2,700) and organizations ($5,000)
like
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES
(PACs) -private group that raises
and spends money to help elect a
candidate -give money to the
candidate
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-Established the FEDERAL ELECTION
COMMISSION (FEC)
There were major revisions to
the 1972 law in 2002 under the
Bipartisan Campaign Reform
Act (BCRA) or more commonly
called “McCain-Feingold” to
limit party spending and
contributions.
However, the Supreme Court
ruling in Citizens United v.
FEC (2010) struck down the
BCRA’s limit on contributions
to Super PACs.
Citizens United v. FEC
-No limit to Super-PAC
contributions
(SUPER PACS - independent
expenditure only committees advocate for or against political
candidates - can’t give money
directly to the candidate/party)
• HARD MONEY -contributions
that are regulated by the FEC
• SOFT MONEY - unregulated
contributions to political parties
America for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow Super PAC
Lessons from Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC
Super PAC ad for South Carolina
Super PAC Ad for Iowa
PUBLIC FINANCING
• In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt
called for campaign finance reform
and in 1907 he proposed public
financing of campaigns
• 1971/1974 Federal laws began to
allow tax payers to “check off” or
elect to give $3 of their tax money to
the Federal Election Fund
• Money is distributed by the Federal
Election Commission
• In order for Presidential
candidates to receive public
financing, the candidate must
raise at least $5,000 in twenty
states ($100,000) from private
means, but no more than $250
from any individual.
• Candidate would receive
matching money up to set limits
for the primary and general
election.
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RNC-interior-Palin-20080903.jpg
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• Summer before the general
election in November
• Party passes a PLATFORM - stance
on key issues (PLANKS =
individual issues)
• Keynote speaker to address the
convention
Excerpt of Eastwood’s 2012 Keynote address
Eastwood’s full keynote speech from 2012 Republican Convention
RNC-interior-Palin-20080903.jpg
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CHOOSING THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE AT THE CONVENTION
• Nominations - state delegates
nominate a candidate
• Person nominated usually won that
state’s primary election (or caucus) in
the Spring preceding the convention
• Iowa Caucus is one of the most
famous caucuses
• Delegates vote for one person to be
the party’s candidate in the general
election
RNC-interior-Palin-20080903.jpg
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CHOOSING THE VICE-PRESIDENT
• Chosen by the Presidential
Candidate
• Usually makes pick with interest of
convention delegates in mind
• Usually a strong voice for the
Presidential Candidate
• Chosen to do a good job as Vice
President
• Chosen to help get votes for the
Presidential Candidate
CAMPAIGNING
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GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
(not just President, but candidates running for all offices)
• Travel, tour, give personal
speeches
• Participate in debates
• Appear on news/TV shows
• Run advertisements and
commercials
• Enlist volunteers to help with
campaign at the local level
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EXTENDING SUFFRAGE - Expanding the
ELECTORATE (potential voting
population)
• Early 1800s ended religious and
property qualifications  all white
males could vote
• 15th Amendment 1870 - prohibits the
denial of the right to vote based on
citizen’s race, color, or previous
condition of servitude
• 19th amendment 1920 - prohibits
the denial of the right to vote
because of sex
• Indian Citizenship Act 1924 granted citizenship to Native
Americans - right to vote was not
fully granted in all states until Civil
Rights Act of 1965
Women’s suffrage Song
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• Civil Rights Acts and Voting Rights
Act of 1964/1965 - ended
disenfranchisement of black voters
(ended poll taxes and literacy tests
as a requirement to vote; also
prohibited gerrymandering and
instituted preclearance of state
election laws by the Department of
Justice)
How Gerrymandering Affects Elections
Johnson speaks about signing the 1964 law
rd
• 23
Amendment 1964 - DC
residents could vote for
president
th
• 26 Amendment 1971 lowered the voting age to 18
years of age
History of Voting
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26th Amendment Video
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• Must follow the Constitution
and Federal laws
• States may deny suffrage
to criminals (felons) and
mentally incompetent
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• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be a resident of the state in
order to cast a ballot in that
state
• In most states be at least 18
years of age to vote (26th
Amendment lowered voting age
to 18)
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• Most states require voters to register
in advance of Election Day (15 to 30
days in advance), but some states
allow same day registration in
person on Election Day
• May declare political party
affiliation when registering or chose
to be independent
How to Vote in Our State
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Voters decide who will represent the party
in the general election
-CLOSED PRIMARY - only party
members may vote
-OPEN PRIMARY - open to all voters
regardless of party affiliation
-RUNOFF ELECTION - If no candidate
gets a majority of the vote
-NONPARTISAN PRIMARY - candidates
are not identified by party labels
Understanding Primaries
INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES
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(may or may not have a party affiliation)
•Must petition to get
name on the ballot
•“write-in” votes on
election day
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• EARLY VOTING - casting ballot before
Election Day
• ABSENTEE VOTING - casting ballot
without going to the polling place
• Election Day is the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November
• It is the citizens’ responsibility to vote
• POLL WATCHERS - oversee polling
places to make sure the election was
fair
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• In the past, voice vote; open
to outside pressure
• Today, SECRET BALLOT
(Australian Ballot 1856) voter’s choice is anonymous
(more honest, less pressure)
• Today, VOTING MACHINES mechanical or electronic
machines used to cast and
count votes
The Alarming Adventures of Little Billy Ballot
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• STRAIGHT TICKET - vote for the
party’s candidate for each office
COATTAIL EFFECT - strong
candidate for top office attracts
voters to other candidates on the
party’s ticket
• SPLIT TICKET - vote for candidates
from different parties on the same
ballot
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
WHY CITIZENS DO NOT VOTE
(USUALLY ONLY 33% TO 55% OF ELECTORATE VOTES)
Off-year or midterm elections - not concerned
Sick or physically disabled
Out of country
Incarcerated
Against their religion
Psychological belief that their vote does not matter
No personal stake in the election - no affect on
personal life
lack of trust in the political institutions
inconvenient to vote
time zone fall out - media has already called the
winner
Apathy - don’t care, uninformed
Midterm Elections Song
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• Higher income
• Higher education
• Age - over 35
• married citizens more likely to vote
• live in urban areas
• live outside the South
• females vote more than males
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• Established by the Constitution as
the way to elect the President and
Vice President every four years
(originally set up to ensure that a
qualified person was elected
President)
• Citizens cast popular vote which is
actually a vote for the candidate’s
electors not for the candidate
directly
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• Electors, people chosen by each
party, cast electoral votes (In
January after the general
election)
• Candidate that wins majority of
Electoral College wins the
election
• Electors are not required to vote
for their party’s candidate
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• Each state’s number of electoral votes
is equal to the state’s total number of
Congressional representatives—total
of 538 electoral votes (435
Representatives,100 Senators, 3 for
DC), 270 electoral votes needed to
win
• Electors cast two votes - one for the
President and one for the VicePresident (12th amendment)
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• President of the Senate counts
electoral vote in presence of
Congress
• If no candidate receives a majority
of electoral votes, then the House of
Representatives will select the
President from the top three electoral
vote recipients (the Senate would
select the VP from the top two if
necessary)
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WHO LOST THE POPULAR VOTE BUT WON THE
ELECTORAL VOTE TO BECOME PRESIDENT?
• 1824 - John Quincy Adam (elected by
Congress) over Andrew Jackson
• 1876 - Rutherford B Hayes over Samuel J
Tilden
• 1888 - Benjamin Harrison won over
Grover Cleveland
• 2000 - George W. Bush (After disputed
Florida electors were awarded to him by
Supreme Court Ruling) over Al Gore. The
final recount showed that Bush won.
Electoral College TED-ed Video
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Public Opinion - the
opinion held about an
issue by a majority of
the people
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What Shapes Our Opinions?
-Family - parents teach their beliefs and values to their kids
-Friends - peer pressure - the need to be accepted
-Schools - teachers and the curriculum
-Occupation - what a person does, how much they earn
-Mass media - provide information needed to form an
opinion
-Opinion Leaders - any person who has an usually strong
influence on the views of others - elected official, prominent
business or professional person, editorial writers, talk show
hosts, ministers, rabbis, etc.
-Historical event - the Great Depression
-Important to be OPEN MINDED - Seek to find out both sides
of an issue before forming an opinion - Think Critically!
How Voters Decide Crash Course
Shaping Public Opinion Crash Course
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PROPAGANDA - ideas/information, usually
of a biased nature, used to persuade or
influence people’s behavior/decisions
• Two types of propaganda
-CONCEALED - ideas/information that
are one-sided with the goals of the
propagandist concealed
-REVEALED - in the open, people know
that the information presented is
designed to persuade or influence their
behavior/decisions
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Mass Media (TV, Radio,
Newspapers, Magazines, Internet)
is the greatest source (medium or
means of communication) of
information and propaganda
(advertisements/commercials,
editorials, news/talk shows, sound
bites, speeches, etc.)
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• ENDORSEMENT/TESTIMONIAL - famous person to
support their idea or product
• BANDWAGON - follow the crowd, everybody
else is doing it, peer pressure
• NAME CALLING - Unpleasant label or description
to harm someone or product--Doesn’t discuss
the facts, just gives the opposition a bad name
• GLITTERING GENERALITIES - Broad and vague
statements that don’t really say anything, words
and phrases that everyone usually agrees with
• PLAIN FOLKS APPEAL - Pretend to be a plain
simple person (common person) with similar
needs and desires Bill Clinton Hope Political Ad
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Ronald Reagan It’s
• CARD STACKING - Arranging or distorting
Morning Again
facts/information that support only one side
Political Ad
• TRANSFER - Connecting to a respected person, group, or
symbol Ronald Reagan Proud to be an American Political Ad
• ASSERTIONS - statements presented as fact, but with no
explanation or evidence presented to back-up the
statement Hillary Clinton Political Ad
• LESSER OF TWO EVILS – compared to the alternative, this is
best
• PINPOINTING THE ENEMY – simplifying a complex
situation by identifying a single group or person as the
enemy
• SIMPLIFICATION/STEREOTYPING - reduces a complex
situation to a clear-cut choice between good and evil or
right and wrong Lyndon Johnson Daisy Political Ad
Hillary Clinton Political Ad 2
Donald Trump Political Ad
Donald Trump Political Ad 2
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• By the way citizens vote - who they
elect - candidate claims to have a
“mandate” to carry out their
campaign promises
• Views expressed in letters to the
editor or community discussion
boards
• Personal contact with elected
officials - email, letter, phone call,
visit, etc.
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• By using public opinion polls or
surveys
• STRAW POLL - ask the same
question to a large number of
people (not very reliable because
not a representative sample)
• SCIENTIFIC POLLING - George
Gallup - Use a random sample of
the whole population (more
reliable)
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• A good poll will have a “true
representative sample” of the
group it is designed to measure
and will ask valid questions that
are easy to measure
• Universe – body of people being
studied
• Use polls carefully, they could
influence your opinion
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• Must look at polls from all angles
- Who conducted the poll? Who
paid for the poll? Who was
questioned? How many people
were polled? What did the
questions ask?
• Government must balance
majority opinion with minority
rights
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INTEREST GROUP (pressure
group) - an organization
with a common interest that
tries to influence
government decisions
(public policy)
Interest Groups Crash Course
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• Political Parties are not the same as an interest
group
• Business - Chamber of Commerce or National
Association of Manufactures
• Labor unions - AFL-CIO or the UAW
• Agricultural groups - National Grange or the
American Farm Bureau Federation
• Professional groups - American Medical Association
• Environmental - Green Peace
• Religious Organizations - National Council of
Churches
• Issue Oriented - (most common type)Pro-life, Prochoice, MADD, etc.
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INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT
• hire lobbyists to persuade
government officials by using
research, information,
polls/surveys, etc.
• by encouraging members of the
interest group as well as other
voters to contact their elected
officials regarding the issue
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INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION
• mass media-propaganda
• making promises to help
people
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1995 LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT
• Lobbyists must register with the
government and state who they
are working for
• Must report how much money
they spend and what it was for
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•
•
•
•
•
ROLE OF INTEREST GROUPS IN U.S.
GOVERNMENT
provide information to government and
citizens
important voice of political expression
provide volunteers for candidates who
favor the interest group
Contribute money to campaigns—Political
Action Committees (PAC)
Some are critical of wealthy interest
groups for “buying the government”
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VOTING - Democracy in Action
• Most important responsibility of being a
citizen
• Involvement - expresses our opinion
• Low voter participation in elections Why?
TAKING PART IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
• anybody (“grass roots,” average voter)
may volunteer to help with a campaign
• do a variety of jobs—phone calls, visit
homes, mail/handout fliers
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CONTACTING PUBLIC OFFICIALS
• Send an email or a letter
• Call on the phone
• Visit in person
BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
• Local government is very important
because it is where people live
• Community associations
• Need citizen involvement for
democracy to work