P O L I T I C A L B E H A V I O R

U S P O L I T I C A L C U L T U R E

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American Political Culture
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Liberty, Equality, Democracy, Civic Duty, Individual
Responsibility
ADVERSARIAL
 US vs. Other Nations
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Stronger sense of Civic Duty and Civic Competence
Less voting, but MORE participation
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The Culture War – Orthodox vs. Progressive
Political Efficacy
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Internal vs. External
Political Tolerance?

P U B L I C O P I N I O N

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Polls can MEASURE or SHAPE political opinions
5 steps of process
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Universe, Sample, Valid Questions, Interview, Analyze Data
Flaws or errors can invalidate poll data
Random Sampling is most accurate

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Sources of Socialization
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Family #1
Work, school, friends, church, groups, etc
 Trends
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Gender Gap: Women more liberal
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Race: white more conservative, most minorities liberal (not most
Asians or Cubans)
Social Class: Poor more liberal
Religion: Protestant Conservative, Catholic & Jew Liberal
Region: South & Midwest Conservative, West & NE Liberal

 Political Spectrum

P O L I T I C A L P A R T I C I P A T I O N

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VAP (Voting Age Population) vs. VEP (Voting
Eligible Population) vs. Registered Voters
Extending Suffrage in US
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Stage 1: No Property Requirements
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Stage 2: 15 th Amendment (African-Americans)
Stage 3: 19 th Amendment (Women)
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Stage 4: Voting Rights Act of 1965 (No Literacy Tests) & 24 th
Amendment (No Poll Taxes)
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Stage 5: 26 th Amendment (18 year olds)

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US v. World: Very low compared to other nations
Causes of the Problem?
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Low Political Efficacy, Apathy, difficult registration process
Registration
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Motor Voter Law (effects have not been great)
PARTICIPATION
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Voting not only way to participate
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US low in Voter turnout but HIGH in other participation
(campaigning, petitions, contacting govt officials, etc)

E L E C T I O N S A N D C A M P A I G N S

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Issues
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Position vs. Valence
Retrospective vs. Prospective Voting
Coalition-Building
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Combining different groups to support a candidate
Base v. Swing Voters
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Base: Traditional supporters of Party (More Extreme Right or
Left)
Swing: Undecided (More Moderate)

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Going up each election
Sources of Funds
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Individual Contributions, PAC money, Fed Govt
Independent Expenditures & SuperPACs
Reforms
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Federal Campaign Act of 1974 – Created FEC
McCain-Feingold Act (BCRA) – Limits on Contributions
Buckley v. Valeo & Citizens United v. FEC undermine laws

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Presidential vs. Congressional
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More people vote in Prez elections
Prez elections more competitive
Incumbency Advantage & Sophomore Surge
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Much greater in HoR
Why?
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Pork-Barrel Legislation
Franking Privilege
Name-Recognition
PAC Money
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
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Drawing district lines for political advantage
Baker v. Carr, Wesberry v. Sanders, Reynolds v. Sims

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Primary: Intra-Party Election to get nomination
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Open, Closed, Blanket
Delegates selected in Primaries, Nomination officially given at Convention
Election Day
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1 st Tuesday after 1 st Monday in November
Electoral College
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# of electors = # of HoR + # of SEN
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270 (majority) to win
Election is by state (winner take all)
4 times, winner of popular vote doesn’t become Prez
If no majority, HoR picks Prez

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Baker v. Carr
Wesberry v. Sanders
Reynolds v. Sims
Buckley v. Valeo
McConnell v. FEC
Citizens United v. FEC