US Government and Economics All Elections Are Based in Issues As we just concluded the 2014 Midterm Election we found ourselves in a time of much debate about what issues matter the most in our society ID: 651361
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "The American Election Process" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The American Election Process
US Government and EconomicsSlide2
All Elections Are Based in Issues
As we just concluded the 2014 Midterm Election, we found ourselves in a time of much debate about what issues matter the most in our society
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES OF TODAY?Slide3Slide4
In-Class Assignment (20 pts)
Create a “Top
10
” list of what issues concern you for the upcoming elections. For each of the issues, you must include each of the following:
Why it mattersSlide5
In-Class Assignment
Now, with a partner…
Discuss both of your lists
Choose 5 issues that you both believe are most
importantSlide6
Class Results, Pd 3
ISIS
Ebola
US economy
UnemploymentHealthcareSchool system/education PresidentTerrorismInsurance
Gun controlWar on drugsNational securityEnvironmentMinimum wage
ImmigrationSlide7Slide8
1st MP Reflections
What would you like to see more/less of in the second marking period?
Discussions?
Projects?
Assignments?Format of instruction?Group work?Test preparation?Slide9
The Two-Party System in AmericaSlide10
Political Parties
Using the books (pages
252-253,
264) fill out the worksheet about political parties
**skip section on worksheet about the roles of political parties **Slide11
What is a political party?
Political Party:
A group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work to put their ideas into effective government actionSlide12
Why do Political Parties Exist?Slide13
Why do Political Parties Exist?
Political parties have many roles including:
Nominate candidates
Convince voters
Show candidate ideologiesOverview stances on issuesAppeal to certain votersInfluence policyRaise money
Many more…Slide14
The Two-Party System
Simply means we have two
main
political parties
Other parties do exist, but they have almost no impact on national politicsWhy it works?Both parties have almost equal strengthTrying to attract masses of voters means the parties are fairly close to the political middle and drastic changes rarely happenSlide15
Party Systems Elsewhere
More than two strong parties
Common in Europe
To run government, parties need to work together and compromise
Coalition: Agreement between 2+ parties to work together
Single party controls governmentLaw often forbids the formation of other political partiesDictatorshipsTotalitarian Governments
Multiparty System
One-Party SystemSlide16
Key Vocabulary
Platform
Statement on the party’s views and policies on important issues
Outlines party’s program for actions to address problems
RoadmapSlide17
How are platforms created?
W
ritten
by each party's leadershipD
irectors, policy experts, and committee headsWhen the party nominates a candidate to represent it, there's an expectation that the nominee will reflect
the platformPlatforms are usually updated between national elections
Why?Slide18
Key Vocabulary
Planks
Each part of the platform
Proposals of what to doExamplePlatform: Increasing Education in America
Plank: More money devoted to K-12 and Higher EducationSlide19
Examples of Platforms/Planks
Half of you will read Obama’s 2012 political platform on education
The other half will read Romney’s 2012 political platform on education
As you work through the documents, highlight/underline/circle the
planksSlide20
Political Parties and Election Game
In groups of 4 (no more than 5)
Create a name for your political party
Create a symbolPolitical Platforms:
Choose 5 issues your group cares aboutState why it is an issue3 planks (your approach to the issue- what should be done?)Slide21
Review from Block Days
What did you think of the political spectrum quizzes?
Were you surprised by the results?
Did you learn anything new?Slide22
What are the differences between Republicans and Democrats?Slide23
Who Believes What?Slide24Slide25Slide26Slide27
Democratic
Issue
Republican
Liberal
Philosophy
Conservative
Donkey
Symbol
Elephant
Blue
Color
Red
Favor
minimum
wage
laws
and progressive taxation
(higher
tax rates for higher income
brackets)
Economy
Believe
taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should reflect free market.
Support
for the death penalty is strong among democrats but opponents are a substantial fraction
.
Death Penalty
A
large majority of Republicans support the death penalty.
Should
not be made illegal; support Roe v. Wade (some Democrats disagree
)
Abortion
Should
not be legal; oppose Roe v. Wade (some Republicans disagree)
Support (some Democrats disagree)
Gay
M
arriage
Oppose (some Republicans disagree)Slide28
Democratic
Issue
Republican
Try to solve most
foreign policy issues through diplomacy; less open to military intervention
Foreign Policy
Open to Military Interventionism; Very far
right are isolationists
Prefer “pathway to citizenship” for illegal
immigrants educated in the US; many still favor punishments on employers, but to a lesser degree
Immigration
Many
favor deportation or tougher restrictions on illegal immigrants;
Many support increasing punishments for employers hiring illegal migrants;
Most oppose “pathway to citizenship”
Decreased spending
Military issues
Increased
spending
Community
and social responsibility
based
Social
and
Human Ideas
Individual
rights and justice based
Believe government regulations are necessary
to keep businesses in line
Government Regulation
Believe
in very little government involvement in the economy/private sectorSlide29
Reminders:
Quiz tomorrow on Republicans v. Democrats
20 points
Study the chart that compared opinions on issuesStudy the scenario activity where you decided which party made the statement and underlined proof
Current event due Friday on any topicSlide30
Who are the 3rd Parties Today?
List as many 3
rd
Parties in America as you can.Slide31
Reform PartySlide32
The Role of Third Parties
At times, third parties or independents with no party affiliation have greatly influenced politics
However, it is VERY rare
1912: Teddy Roosevelt (Progressive Party)
Took votes from Republican William Taft and Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins election1992: H. Ross Perot (Independent)
19% of vote; may have cost George H.W. Bush the electionSlide33
Role of Third Parties (continued)
May not win elections, but can influence policy
Late 1800s: Populist Party
Graduated Income Tax, 8-hour workday, Immigration Reform
Biggest Change: Direct Election of US Senators
Republicans and Democrats opposed changePopulist support grew, forced 17
th
AmendmentSlide34Slide35Slide36
Some Questions to Consider
Would 3
rd
Parties disrupt the balance of power in the US? Would the emergence of a 3rd Party be a bad thing?
Should 3rd Party candidates be allowed to participate in presidential debates? Why/why not? Slide37
Political Party: Next Step
Now that you have a party name, logo, and 5 issues that are of importance…create a presidential candidate
Give your candidate a name (school appropriate)
Come up with a sloganCreate a campaign signSlide38
Political Party Project: Next Step
Candidate name
Party slogans
Obama: “Yes we can” “Change we can believe in”McCain: “Country First”
Romney: “Believe in America”Kerry: “A Stronger America”Campaign signsSlide39
Political Party: Next Step
Now that you’ve created a party platform with 5 key issues, named your candidate, created a slogan and a campaign sign…
Create a stump speechSlide40
Stump Speech
Named in the
19
th century after
a politician giving a campaign speech on top of a sawed-off tree stump
A standard, consistent message delivered to different audiencesK
eep message
consistent with
political platform
When
a
politician
writes a stump speech, he or she usually discusses
their
credentials
, identifies their
platform
(issues),
compares him or
herself
to other candidates, and attempts to unify the electorate
under
a
specific
purposeSlide41
Stump Speeches
We will look at Barack Obama’s 2008 stump speech
Pay attention to his wording and how he appeals to voters
In your groups, create a stump speech that you will be presenting to the class on Friday (should be 3-5 minutes)Slide42
Today…
Finish your stump speech
3-5 minutes
Choose who will be presenting from your group
Include: your candidate’s credentials, your issues/what you will do about the issues to improve society, why you are best suited to be president, appeal to your voters!Work on electoral college readingWill be a quiz after break
Remember: current event due tomorrow on any topicSlide43
What do you know about the PRIMARY and GENERAL elections?
What are the types of elections?Slide44
Types of Elections
Primary
Often held in late spring/early summer
Allows voters to choose the party candidates for the general electionSlide45
General Election
November election
Voters choose their leaders from the candidates of all the partiesSlide46
The Primary
Closed Primary
Voters who are registered in a particular party vote to choose the party’s candidates
Independents cannot vote
Open PrimaryMay vote for the candidates of either major party, whether you belong to that party or not
Which type of primary seems
more beneficial?Slide47
Independents
Do not belong to any political party (Republican, Democrat, or 3
rd
Party)
May not be able to vote in primaryCandidates get onto the ballot by getting enough petition signatures
What percent of American voters are independent?Slide48
From January 2014Slide49
What has been the trend in those registered as Independent since 1988?
What has been the trend in those registered as Democrat since 1988?
What has been the trend in those registered
as RepuSlide50
The General Election
First Tuesday following the first Monday of November
Presidential Elections: Every 4 years (…2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016…)
Congressional Elections: Every 2 Years (Even Years)Slide51
2012 Presidential Debate: Job CreationSlide52
Issues to Consider for debate
Gun control
Terrorism
Power of the presidency Your greatest concern
Who has impacted your views?Job creationBuilding international partnershipsFree speech in social media
Current EventsImmigration
Creating the American Dream
Poverty
Education
Environment
Gender equality
Characteristics of Supreme Court
judges
Ebola
Minimum
Wage
LGBT rights
Closing statement**Slide53
Reminders
Electoral College reading due tomorrow
Make sure you’ve talked to the text
10 question quiz on the reading tomorrowSlide54
What must you be/do to be eligible to vote.
Who Can Vote?Slide55
Who can vote?
Any citizen over the age of 18
Some states have other exemptions
To legally be able to vote you must be registered to vote
Must be 18 by a set date before the electionUsually needs name, address, DOB, etc.Reason for registering: protect your right to vote
One man, one voteIdentificationSlide56Slide57
How to Vote
Historically, voting done by voice vote
Public knowledge of vote…also peer pressure
Secret ballot
Started in 1888
Paper ballot that lists names of candidateVote in privateKeeps elections fair and honestSlide58
More on Election Day!
Voting today
Machines, Punch cards, Paper Votes
Story of the “Hanging Chad”Slide59
Recount Guidelines
Chad:
The scored portion of a ballot card that is punched out when a voter casts a vote.
Hanging Door Chad:
One corner is still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).Swinging Door Chad: Two corners are still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).Tri Chad: Three corners are still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).
Dimpled Chad: Indented but still fully attached to the ballot. (Not counted as a vote).Pregnant Chad: Pierced but still fully attached to the ballot. (Not counted as a vote).Slide60
Straight Ticket v. Split Ticket
Straight Ticket: Vote for all candidates of one party
Split Ticket: Vote for candidates from multiple partiesSlide61
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MESSAGE OF THIS CARTOON? WHY OR WHY NOT?Slide62
The Electoral CollegeSlide63
What is the electoral college?
An institution that officially elects the president and vice president of the US every 4 years
Electors are chosen by popular vote on a state by state basis
The Electoral College consists of 538
electors100 senators + 435 Representatives + 3 from DCA majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the PresidentSlide64Slide65
Review
What is the electoral college?
How many electors are there?
How many electors are needed to win the presidency?When do
general elections take place?Slide66
Who are the electors and how are they chosen?
Loyal party members who will cast a ballot in line with the state’s popular vote
Cannot be members of Congress
How are electors chosen?
The political parties
in each state submit to the state's chief election official a list of individuals pledged to their candidate for presidentSlide67
How does a presidential ticket win electoral votes?
Whichever party
wins
the most popular votes in the state becomes that state's electors
Whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a state wins all the electors of that stateSlide68
When are electoral votes cast?
On the Monday following the second Wednesday of
December
Each state's electors meet in their respective state capitals and cast their electoral votes -- one for president and one for vice
president“Favorite sons”- at least one of their votes must be for a person from outside their stateSlide69
When are the electoral votes announced?
President
of the
Senate, on Jan. 6, opens and reads them before both houses of the CongressHow are a president and vice president chosen?
The candidate for president with the most electoral votes is declared presidentVP candidate
with the absolute majority is declared vice president.Slide70
Add this to your notes! Can the electors change votes?
Yes, though it is highly unlikely to affect the outcome
Most states have punishment for “faithless electors”
156 “Faithless Electors”
71 due to candidate dying before electors vote
3 abstained
82 chose someone else on their own initiative
NO ELECTION HAS BEEN CHANGED BY A FAITHLESS ELECTORAL VOTESlide71
Electoral College ExplainedSlide72
Electoral College Reading Outline
Using your reading on the Electoral College,
Complete the outline in small groups
Each section will be assigned one page to complete
Once completed, you will share your answers with the classThese notes are important…you will see this information again on your chapter test!Test will be on Friday 12/19Slide73
Swing States
What is a swing state?
How do we determine which states are swing states?Slide74
Swing States
Aka: Battleground state
No single party has overwhelming support
Main targets during presidential elections
Determined by: examining statewide opinion polls, political party registration numbers and the results of previous electionsSwing states vs. Safe statesSlide75
Categorize the states…
Blue State: Normally vote Democrat
Red State: Normally vote Republican
Swing State: Unknown and will switch from election to election
Get campaigned in the most and often help decide the electionSlide76
Red, Blue, or Swing?Slide77
Swing
StatesSlide78
Swing
States
170
182
186Slide79
Swing
States
170
237
131Slide80
Election by yearSlide81
Election by yearSlide82
Election by yearSlide83
Election by yearSlide84
Election by yearSlide85Slide86
“Swing Voters Who Will Pick the President”
Read through the article in small groups
Be prepared to discuss the following questions (underline the answers in your reading):
According to the author…
1. Why doesn’t your vote matter in some states?2. Who does the election come down to? (which states)3. How can we characterize typical swing voters?
4. What message should candidates send to swing voters?Slide87
Why not the popular vote?
Only three times has the popular vote winner not gotten the electoral victory
Most Recent: 2000Slide88
Decision Making on the Electoral College
In the following activity, you will look at multiple reform ideas for the electoral college and see which one makes the most sense based on statistical analysis of what we care about as voters.
You will be scoring each option on a number of criteria and mathematically selecting an option.Slide89Slide90
Symbol
Color
Foreign Policy
ImmigrationMilitary
Social IdealsGov’t Regulation
AbortionGay RightsDeath Penalty
Economy
Health Care
Public Funding
Taxes
Based on your activity from last week, list as many things as you can about Republicans and Democrats. Use the list to the right to guide you.Slide91
Getting NominatedSlide92
How to get nominated
Must get party’s nomination at the national convention
Each state has members represent it at the convention (delegates)
Some states get more based on who won the last election