UNIT I
CIVICS, CITIZENSHIP, AND
GOVERNMENT – The tools for a
Successful Democracy
Name:__________________
1
Lesson 1 – Vocabulary for Unit 1 – SUBSTITUTE PPT PAGES
OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to define basic vocabulary terms
UNIT I VOCABULARY LIST
TERM
1. GOVERNMENT
DEFINITION
2. POLITICS
3. LAWS
4. PUBLIC POLICY
5. LEGITIMACY
6. AUTOCRACY
7. OLIGARCHY
8. DEMOCRACY
9. PURE
DEMOCRACY /
PARTICIPATORY
DEMOCRACY/ or
DIRECT
DEMOCRACY
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10. REPUBLIC / OR
INDIRECT
DEMOCRACY OR
REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY
11. NATURALIZATION
12. POLITICAL
SOCIALIZATION
13. PRIMARY
ELECTION
14. ELECTORAL
COLLEGE
15. CAPITALISM
16. SOCIALISM
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Lesson 2 – Government Basics
OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:
1.) Define and explain government
2.) Compare and contrast different methods of organizing a government
3.) Distinguish between different types of governments
GOVERNMENT BASICS
What would you think of a government with the following characteristics:
 No Executive or President
 No Court system
 No army or military
 No power to tax
 No single currency or money system
 No single set of rules on trade and business
This government actually existed and it was the 1st in the USA called the Articles of
Confederation, which ran our country from 1781 to 1787.
State, Country, Nation
History trivia: Is Pennsylvania a state?
Pennsylvania is a Commonwealth which is a traditional English term for a
political community founded for the common good. (4 in US = KY, MA, VA)
A State is a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the
power to make and enforce laws without the approval of a higher authority.
A Country is the same as state (but on a larger scale under US ideas).
A Nation is any sizeable group of people who are united by common bonds of race, language, custom,
tradition and sometimes religion, often called a nation-state.
I. THE STATE – THE BASICS
1.
2.
3.
“GOVERNMENT” is the body within a community, political entity or organization which
has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws, and regulations. It can also be used to refer
to the people that hold the authority in a state.
What are the purposes of government?
 Pass laws and provide stability
 Provide Services
 Settle Disputes (Court System)
 Provide Defense
 Make Economic decisions for a group of people
What are the essential features of a state?
 Land or territory
 People
 Government
 Sovereignty
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II. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
1. Basic Test that distinguishes one from another How many people rule? The number of people that control the
government power
2. Basic Forms or Types of Governments throughout history into today:
A. AUTOCRACY
1.) Definition:
 Government by one person
2.) Characteristics:
 Rule by one person
 This can be a monarch, a dictator, etc.
 It is one of the oldest and most common forms of government
 Most autocracies maintain their positions of authority by
inheritance or the ruthless use of military or police power
Types: Monarchy: king or queen, emperor or empress
Absolute Monarchy: monarchs with complete and unlimited power to
rule, this power is usually justified by divine right (the view that god
granted those of royal birth the right to rule their people)
EX: Great Britain with its Kings and Queens / Japan with its Emperors / Monte
Carlo
Type:
Totalitarian Dictatorship (Authoritarian Govt or Fascist Govt): the ideas of
a single leader are glorified; the government seeks to control all aspects of social
and economic life
EX: Hitler / Castro / Stalin / Kim Jung IL in North Korea
Theocracy – Government controlled by religious leader (Iran after the Islamic
Revolution in 1979 with the Ayatollah)
B. OLIGARCHY
(1)Definition: Government by a small group
Characteristics:
 Rule by a group; a system of government where a small group holds power
 This group usually derives its power from wealth, military power, social
position or a combination of these; Sometimes religion is a source of power
 All political opposition by the people is usually suppressed ruthlessly
EX: Like Communist China where the leaders of the Communist Party control
the government powers
Iran Today with the Shia Clerics running the country
C. DEMOCRACY
“Democracy is the worst form of government on earth except for all the rest.”
–Winston Churchill
What does it mean? Why would he say it like that? What do you think he was getting at?
(1) Definition: Government by the many – by the people
 Any system of government in which rule is by the people
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Types of Democracies:
 Pure Democracy/ Direct Democracy / Participatory Democracy: a system
of government in which the people govern themselves by voting on issues
individually as citizens; this works only in very small societies since they must
meet regularly to discuss and decide key issues; no country today has a direct
democracy, but some small towns in New England and some communities in
Switzerland use this
 Representative Democracy / Indirect Democracy: a system of government
in which the people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and
power to make laws and conduct government; this takes the form of a council,
legislature, congress, or parliament
 Indirect democracies and representative democracies are REPUBLICS; a
republic is any system of government where the power of the government is
officially in the hands of the people; the people are considered supreme and
the government only rules with their consent. Leaders get and retain political
authority by winning free and fair elections.
Pros of Democracy
 More creative and effective in the long run
 Satisfies the largest number of people
 People’s freedoms and rights are protected
 Less violent with other countries
 Should be more internally resistant to
revolution or civil war
Cons of Democracy
 SLOW!!! and Inefficient
 Requires consensus by the people; this is
hard to get sometimes and is time
consuming; it requires patience and
consistent effort
 Requires: education, participation,
communication, freedom, protection of
people’s rights
(2) 3 ways in which government today can be more like a Pure or Direct
Democracy:



Initiative – Process by which people can recommend changes to their state
Constitution by way of a Petition. Yes – Tyler can make his own
amendment to the PA. Constitution!
Referendum – The People’s Veto – Process by which the people get to
vote “yes” or “no” to laws passed by their State Legislature. It is usually
used in cases of tax increases or large spending bills (like financing a new
sports stadium)
Recall – Process by which citizens can remove an elected official from
power before the end of their term (See Arnold the Governator in
California)
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Characteristics of a Healthy Democracy
Some governments, over history or presently in parts of the world, have presented themselves democracies
while not actually being democratic. Each of the categories listed below is a characteristic necessary for a
government to truly be a democracy.
1.
Individual Freedom: Democracy is based on a very strong faith in the goodness and
intellect of the individual. It is also based on a belief that all individuals were meant to be
free.
As such, individuals are to be given as many rights and freedoms as is possible so long as
those rights and freedoms don’t restrict the rights and freedoms of other people. As one
Supreme Court ruling declared: “your right to swing your fist ends where someone else’s
nose begins.”
Also, democracy guarantees a right of equal opportunity. Democratic governments do not
promise to make anyone equal in wealth, physical condition, or any other matters of fact. But
democratic governments do have an obligation to ensure that everyone is given the ability to
succeed to the best of their abilities with as few obstacles or limitations as possible.
2.
Rule of Law – principle holds that a nation’s laws should be codified (written down) and
published for all to learn and that the laws should be applied equally to all citizens. No one
person is above the law!
3.
Majority Rule with Minority Rights: For most issues, the majority opinion is believed to
be the best way to make decisions. But in no case can the majority make decisions that would
strip the minority of its rights (e.g. the rights to: voting, equal justice, property, freedom of
speech and religion, etc.)
4.
Free, Fair and Frequent Elections: There should be as few restrictions or obstacles to one’s
ability to vote as possible. Voters should be able to make an informed choice among
competitive candidates.
5.
Competing Political Parties: Voters must have a real choice between at least two distinct
competing viewpoints when casting votes. Otherwise the function of voting has no practical
effect on the path that government takes.
6.
Civil Society – It is tied to freedom of association in the 1st Amendment. It refers to the web
of associations and organizations that people can join in order to advance their interests. It is
all those Interest Groups that exist in American Politics like the NRA, the AMA, the ABA,
the NEA, Labor Unions, and Amnesty International among thousands of others.
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III. Spectrum of Economic Systems
No government control  total government control
1.
COMMAND ECONOMY
Defined:
 A centrally planned and controlled economy / or
 Government dictates pricing and production
FEATURES / CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMAND ECONOMY:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Central Planning
Central power makes all decisions
Fixed or gov’t set pricing
Govt’ control of distribution and production
Gov’t control of employment and wages
State owned econ resources
Highly Restricted property rights if any
Use of production quotas and PLANS
Socialism
Government owns basic means of production, determines use of resources, distributes products and wages,
provides social services- education, health, welfare.
Communism
Government decides how much to produce, what to produce, how to distribute goods and services,
command economy
2.
MARKET ECONOMY
DEFINED: An economy in which decisions regarding investment, production and distribution
are based on supply and demand based on the private market with little to no government control
FEATUES / CHARACTERISTICS OF A MARKET ECONOMY
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Private sector controls and makes econ decisions and sets
prices
Supply and demand determines allocation of resources
Private property rights
Freedom to choose jobs and econ decisions
Focus on profits
Emphasis on competition
Income / Wage inequality / unemployment
Economy booms and busts - instability
Capitalism
Government is mostly hands off the means of production, use of resources, distribution of products and the
determination of wages. The essentials of capitalism are free enterprise, free market, freedom of choice,
individual incentive and laissez-faire.
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Lesson 3 – Citizen Behavior and Participation
OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:
1.) Identify the responsibilities of good citizens
2.) Describe methods of participation possible in a democracy
3.) Explain the rules for voting in Pennsylvania
4.) Discuss why citizens do not vote
Civics and Good Citizenship
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
CIVICS means a social science that studies the rights and duties of citizens.
CIVIC DUTY means a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.
CIVIC COMPETENCE means a belief that one can affect government policies.
POLITICAL EFFICACY means a citizen’s capacity to understand and take part in political affairs
(Internal Efficacy) and to influence political events (External Efficacy).
In order for Democracy to work, the people have to be responsible and productive citizens. What
are the major responsibilities of good citizens?
6.
How many ways can a person be active in their society and democratic government besides the
voting / electoral method?
7.
Please explain why citizens choose not to vote
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PENNSYLVANIA VOTING
“All elections by the citizens shall be by ballot . . . secrecy in voting shall be preserved . . .
Article VI of the Pennsylvania Constitution
In order to vote in Pennsylvania, a person must be:
 Age – 18 years of age
 A Citizen of the USA
 Residency – Must have resided in their election district at least 30 days before the election
 Registration – Voters must be registered in their election district
The following types of elections are held in Pennsylvania:
 GENERAL ELECTIONS = For the election of national and state officers. These elections are
held every even-numbered year on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS = These elections are held so that the political parties may choose their
candidates for office. They are held in the Spring (usually in May) before the General Elections.
Pennsylvania uses a CLOSED PRIMARY system which means that only voters registered in that
political party may vote in the Primary election for that party’s candidates. (As opposed to an
OPEN PRIMARY which allows anyone to vote in any political party primary)

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS = These elections are held in odd-numbered years on the Tuesday
following the first Monday in November, and the Primaries are held in the Spring of those years.
In these elections, county, city, ward, borough, And township officers are elected along with some
PA judges.
BALLOTS = When voting in Pennsylvania, voters receive a paper ballot or use some kind of automatic
(electronic) voting device such as a voting machine. Instructions for using a voting machine are available
at each polling (voting) placed.
BOARD OF ELECTIONS = The conduct of elections in Pennsylvania comes under the supervision of the
Bureau of Elections of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In each county, where the actual elections are
managed, the Board of Elections is made up of the three (3) county commissioners (called a City Board of
Commissioners in Philadelphia). These bodies control elections in their areas.
REFERENDUMS = Voters are sometimes asked not only to vote for candidates but also to vote on public
issues of some governmental body. Referendums are often used when a governmental body is issuing a
bon d (to raise money) or spending large amounts of money (like stadium financing) or when changing the
state constitution.
Voting Procedures:
Where do you vote and what is the procedure when you arrive there? You go to your
assigned polling place between 7 am and 8 pm. They will ask you for your name and
signature; then compare it to your signature in the roll book; they then give you a voter
slip; and then you go to the voting booth and cast your vote.
Provisional ballot- if you are at the wrong polling place or your name does not appear on
the roll
Absentee ballot- is used if you will be out of town during the election.
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Untapped Power
I once asked a Democratic politician in New York why the Democrats didn't make an all-out push to
increase the voter registration rolls, since it seemed apparent that a large majority of the new voters would
vote for candidates of his party. His reply was blunt. ''You start registering a lot of new voters and you got
trouble,'' he said. ''They might vote for a Democrat, but which Democrat? You could get a primary
challenge. Who needs it?''
That's the way it is with voters. They have clout. They make demands. Ignore them and they can press the
eject button on that previously safe seat. Conversely, the folks who don't vote can be ignored, even reviled,
with impunity. Each ballot they fail to cast is an affront to their own interests, a self-inflicted wound.
The folks at the top of the socioeconomic ladder understand this completely. The levels of voter registration
and Election Day turnout for people with four or more years of college and incomes above $50,000
annually are extremely high. For people with less than a high school education and incomes of $15,000 or
less, the voter participation rates are dismayingly low.
Kari Moe, an aide to Senator Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota Democrat, said: ''People often don't understand
that they actually do affect the outcomes of elections in meaningful ways. And it's a lot easier for
government officials to ignore the agenda of the people who don't vote. That's rolling around in the back of
people's minds all the time -- who votes and who doesn't.''
Part of the reason for the poor voter participation rates of lower income people has been the near-total focus
of the major political parties on the concerns of upscale Americans. The Republicans are locked in a nearpermanent embrace with the upper middle class and the very wealthy, and the Democrats are assiduously
courting suburbanites while trying desperately to conceal their historical alliances with the poor and ethnic
minorities.
This was reflected in a comprehensive survey of voters and nonvoters sponsored by the League of Women
Voters. The league's president, Becky Cain, said: ''The people who voted seemed to feel that when they
watched the election process -- the campaign, the debates, etc. -- they seemed to feel that the candidates
were talking to them, that it was their interests that were being talked about.
''The people who didn't vote felt there was no connection between what was being said and what was
happening in their daily lives. It wasn't that they didn't care. They just didn't feel the dialogue or the
rhetoric was directed toward them, had any meaning for them.'' While this reasoning is valid to a point, it
should be recognized that the inclination of many politicians to give short shrift to the interests of the
young, the poor, the working classes, the black and the brown, has been encouraged by the consistently
poor voting records of those groups.
There is, as Ms. Cain said, ''a vicious cycle'' at work. ''Look at the 18- to 24-year-olds,'' she said. ''They do
not normally register in large numbers. When the candidates look over the voter registration lists, they are
not there. So the candidates say, 'I better talk to the people who are going to show up on Election Day.' You
won't hear a lot in the campaign about tuition tax credits, or early job market entry. But you will hear a lot
about Social Security.''
There are other chronic factors, mostly ignored, that hamper voter participation. A surprising number of
Americans are mystified and intimidated by the voting process. And they are not anxious to advertise their
misgivings. ''We found that people needed more information,'' Ms. Cain said. ''Very basic things. They
would say to us, 'Like, O.K., where is precinct 432?' They would ask, 'Can I go on my lunch hour, or do
they close the polls so the people there can eat lunch?' They would say, 'What do we vote on here? A voting
machine? A punch-card thing? How does it work?' ''
Like the energy embedded in every grain of matter, there is enormous untapped power in the hands of the
tens of millions of Americans who choose each election not to vote. Much of that power will be released
when voting becomes as common, as easy and lacking in mystery, as running out to the bodega, or going to
the mall.
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1.
According to this article, why is it a lot easier for politicians “to ignore the agenda of the people
who don't vote”?
a. Because they won’t help the politicians get elected.
b. Because they won’t help the politicians’ opponent get elected.
c. Because nonvoters don’t know what they want from politicians.
d. Because poor voters don’t contribute money to politicians’ campaigns.
e. A and B
2.
Which groups are more likely to vote?
a. people with higher incomes
b. younger people
c. older people
d. A and C
e. B and C
3.
According to the article, discussion about which of the following examples shows that politicians
pay attention to the concerns of the people who vote?
a. Funding for tuition tax credits.
b. Political strategies to help early job market entry.
c. Improving voter education.
d. Social Security
e. A and B
4.
According to the article, what other obstacles reduce voter turnout?
a. Poor voters can’t afford to leave work to vote.
b. Voting cannot be done on a person’s lunch hour.
c. Confusion about basic issues of when and how to vote.
d. Primary elections could cause existing politicians to lose their positions.
e. A and B
5.
Which statement best describes the “vicious cycle” that reduces voter turnout?
a. Some citizens don’t understand the voting process and therefore are not allowed to vote.
b. Specific groups of people don’t vote if politicians aren’t talking about their issues and
politicians don’t talk about the issues of nonvoters.
c. You can’t solve the problems of Social Security and college tuition costs at the same
time.
d. Voters make demands and politicians don’t like it.
e. Better educated citizens vote and then earn more money.
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Lesson 4 - OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:
1.) Define what an Amendment is
2.) Explain the Amendment process set out in Article V of the US Constitution
3.) Explain the Civil Liberties and Civil Rights guaranteed in the Amendments
to the US Constitution.
YOUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
THE US CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
2.
3.
4.
5.
AMENDMENT - a written change or addition to a Constitution.
There have been 27 Amendments to the US Constitution since 1787.
The BILL OF RIGHTS is the first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution which contain the basic
rights and freedoms of the American people.
AMENDMENT PROCESS: Article V of the US Constitution
 Step 1 –

Step 2 –
6.
Today, we are going to focus on the Amendments which lay out the basic rights and freedoms which
every responsible US citizen should know and cherish. Fill in the chart below with a list of your
basic rights and freedoms as protected by the US Constitution.
7. IMPACT – What impact did each Amendment have on our political system?
 Add or subtract (+ or - ) national government power
 Add or subtract (+ or -) state government power
 Increase / Expand or decrease the power of the electorate
 Structural changes to the US Political system
AMENDMENT
1ST
RIGHT AND FREEDOM PROTECTED
1ST
1st
1st
1st
2nd
4th
5th
5th
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IMPACT
5th
5th
5th
6th
6th
6th
6th
6th
8th
8th
12th
13th
14th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th
26th
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Lesson 5 – OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to explain the process of US citizenship and to
discuss the issue of Immigration.
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS
1.
2.
Every nation has rules on who is a member of, owes allegiance to, and is a subject of that nation..
How is citizenship acquired and lost?
A. How is citizenship conferred on an individual?
1.) JUS SOLI – Citizenship by PLACE OF BIRTH – If you are born on US
soil, then you are automatically a US citizen.
EX: 50 states, Washington DC, Territories like Puerto Rico / Guam /
Virgin Islands / Northern Marianas Islands, and US embassies around
the world.
2.) JUS SANGUINIS – Citizenship by Blood. You are a citizen regardless of
where you are born if one of your parents or grandparents is a US
Citizen.
3.) BY NATURALIZATION – What? The process of conferring citizenship
on a person
b.) Congress set Naturalization requirements for Nonenemy Aliens:
(1.) over 18 years of age:
(2.) lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence and has
resided in US for at least 5 years and in this state for at least 6
months:
(3.) file Petition for Naturalization
(4.) be able to read, write, and speak English
(5.) possess good moral character
(6.) understand US history and principles of US government
(7.) demonstrate that he / she is well disposed toward the good order
and happiness of US
(8.) does not believe in, or in the last 10 years belong to, an
organization that is communist or is in favor of the violent
overthrow of the government
(9.) need to renounce allegiance to your former country and swear to
support, defend, and take up arms for the US
All aspects are investigated by the INS and the FBI.
B. Can citizenship be revoked? NO – Once a citizen, always a citizen (Even for Timothy
McVeigh).
C. What is the Right of Expatriation? The right of a citizen to renounce and to give up their
citizenship in a country. (Ask Cat Stevens – a/k/a Yusuf Islam)
3.
What is Dual Citizenship? Citizenship in more than 1 country at a time
A. Which countries allow Dual Citizenship? Many such as Canada and Mexico (wonder
why), Italy, France, India, among others
4.
RIGHTS OF ALIENS
A. We are now in a period of growing hostility toward aliens.
B. The Constitution protects many rights of ALL persons and not just citizens.
C. Congress can deny or limit some federal benefits to aliens and illegal immigrants.
D. Can states deny a public education for children of illegal aliens? How about welfare?
No according to the US Supreme Court since we do not want to punish children for
the decisions of their parents.
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5.
ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES
A. Aliens do NOT have a Constitutional right to enter the USA.
B. Congress has complete power (and wide discretion) over admission.
C. IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1965
1.) Sets the annual ceiling for nonrefugee aliens allowed entry as permanent
residents.
2.) It also sets limits on the numbers of aliens admitted from each country.
3.) Preferences are given for family reunification or for people with special skills
or who are needed for jobs that US workers do not want.
4.) Preference for “Millionaire Immigrants”???
5.) Diversity Category with visas for 55,000 immigrants from 34 different
countries set for qualified applicants by lottery.
D. Political Refugees – The Attorney General can grant asylum for people who can show a
specific danger of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group / class or
political opinion.
6.
Aliens who are legally in the USA have a full range of obligations: obey the laws, pay taxes, etc.
7.


When can deportation occur?
Commit a felony
Illegal voting
8.
Immigration Test


Terrorist Actions
Spousal Abuse
Part 1:
Take the Naturalization Test use site below or use link on my webpage. Go to www.uscis.gov
(Department of Homeland Security- US Citizenship and Immigration Services), click on “The
Naturalization Test”, click on “Naturalization Self Test”, complete 5 rounds of the sample
questions, print out a copy of your results (passing is 70%).
DISCUSSION QUESTION – What policy should the US Government adopt on the issue of
Illegal Immigrants?
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Lesson 6 - Political Ideology: Ideological Groups
OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:
1.) Define Political Ideology and the Political Spectrum
2.) Compare and Contrast the major schools of Political Ideologies
Political Ideology: a basic set of beliefs and values about government and public policy (as well as
how they should influence life, culture, and society)
The Political Spectrum
Left wing
Radical
Right Wing
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Reactionary
Radical: "someone who advocates extreme measures to create an entirely new system" (dictionary
definition)
They usually view society’s problems similarly to liberals, but radicals are more extreme in what
they identify as the causes and what they want as solutions. They usually see society as exploiting
someone or something for the benefit of those in power. At most, they make up one to two percent
of the population and probably don’t belong to one of the major political parties because they’re too
mainstream. They’re sometimes violent, but many are not.
examples: Earth First, Communists (here in the U.S.A.), anarchists
Liberal: "someone in favor of reform or change for something new" (dictionary definition)
They want government to get involved by fixing those things which seem unfair in society;
want to help by creating programs and policies to improve health, education, equal
opportunity, and protection from unfair criminal justice proceedings.
The Democratic Party is considered more liberal. But while many liberals are Democrats,
not all Democrats are liberals. There are conservative Democrats in many parts of the country.
Moderate: Someone who holds beliefs that fall between the liberals and conservatives. The ideological
views of this group will vary over time. Moderate belief is defined by what the liberals and conservatives of
the times are advocating.
This is where most Americans are ideologically (usually about 40% of the population.)
Conservative: "someone resistant to change or inclined toward traditional views" (dictionary definition)
They believe that the role of government in society should be very limited and leave
individuals responsible for their own well-being.
The Republican Party is considered more conservative. But while many conservatives
are Republicans, not all Republicans are conservatives. There are moderate Republicans
in some parts of the country.
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Reactionary: "favoring a reverse movement in direction" (dictionary definition)
These are ultra-conservatives who wish to take society back to an earlier form when, as they see
it, things were better.
They usually view society’s problems similarly to conservatives, but reactionaries are more
extreme in what they identify as the causes and what they want as solutions. At most, they make
up one to two percent of the population and probably don’t belong to one of the major political
parties because they’re too mainstream. They’re sometimes violent, but many are not.
examples: militia groups, some religious groups, the K.K.K., fascists like Hitler & Mussolini also used
these ideas, and people favoring royal dictatorships (like a king or queen)
Libertarian - An adherent of a political ideology that is conservative on economic matters (NO TAXES
AND NO GOV”T REGULATION) and liberal on social issues. This ideology advocates a small, weak
government. They are in favor or individual rights and freedoms (Legalize drugs) and against government
rules and regulations (No child safety seats).
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Lesson 7 – Political Socialization and the Influences on Political Ideology
Political Socialization: The process by which parents and other adults teach children about values, beliefs
and attitudes of our American political culture.
Below is a list of the various factors that shape most people’s ideology. Which of these factors influence
each of us most may vary.
 Family & Home Influence: This is the most influential force for most people, probably because
children learn so much at home, especially during their early years, from family stories,
experiences, living conditions, and family activities.

Religious Institutions and Influences

Community Influences – EX: Rural vs. Urban / Northern vs. Southern / Eastern vs. Western – It
is clear that one’s political attitudes will vary based on their geographic region (The Solid South)

Peer Groups: Especially from adolescence onward, friends and social groups have important
influences.

Education and Schools: At the public school level, this should be more limited, but might
include shaping political values like an appreciation of our system of government, a commitment
to becoming a good citizen, knowledge of our history, and valuing diversity. Students who go to
college or some other schooling after high school experience school influences on their ideology
more. Many colleges, universities, and trade schools have very specific political climates that tend
toward the left or right of the political spectrum. Students are often influenced by those cultures.

Mass Media: TV, movies, music, books, magazines, newspapers, internet, etc. As communities
and families change, there is an expectation that the media is growing in influence.
Past research has concluded that media doesn’t often directly change whether we’re liberal or
conservative, but it does influence what issues we think about and what we are concerned about.
For example, as the media presents more dramas involving violence and as TV news gives violent
events more coverage, then the public begins to feel that violence is a greater concern even at
times when crime date statistic have said that violent crime is declining.

Government: Elected leaders and government officials have the responsibility to communicate
issues to the public. If the country needs to take a particular action or treat an issue as a priority,
then they must work to persuade the public to support it at election time.

Race and Ethnicity - Demographic and social categories (Social Class): A variety of other
categories that we fall into also shape our experiences and values. These would include things like
the region where you live (rural vs. urban vs. suburban or the part of the country), your age, race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, profession, social and economic status, and your religion.
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LESSON 8 - THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
I. PRESIDENTIAL VS. CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
1. What are the differences between presidential and congressional campaigns?
 Size – presidential candidates need to work harder and spend more $
 Presidential races are more competitive- winner is usually less than 55% of votes and is
often under 50% (more people voted against Slick Willy)
 Lower voter turnout for congressional elections
 Different steps in the process
II. DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
1. There are 3 stages to a Presidential Election
A. GETTING THE NOMINATION
Need experience – most helpful to be governors or military leaders / war heroes or
former V-P’s rather than straight from Congress
Need a lot of money – Review Campaign finance rules
Need a large support staff to help with campaign
Need a Strategy and a Theme
2 methods of getting the nomination today? Caucuses or primaries
CAUCUSES:
 Oldest and simplest method of allocating delegates for the convention
 Definition?
o A closed meeting of party leaders or party members to select
the party’s candidate or to set policy
 These are centered on the political party machine and organization
 EX: IOWA
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
 What is it? Defined
 An electoral system in which people vote on a political party’s
candidates for office
 Today, this is the main method of choosing a party’s candidates
 Types of primaries:
 Open Primary – A voting system that permits voters to choose the
party primary of their choice without disclosing their party
affiliation
 Closed Primary – A voting system in which the selection of party
candidates is limited to party members
 2 Parts to the Primaries: The Beauty Contest and the Delegate
Selection Process
 Delegate Selection methods: Proportional Representation (mandatory
in democrats), Winner-Takes-All, Delegate Selection, or Delegate
Selection with Advisory presidential preference, or Binding
presidential preference –
 DO NOT FORGET THE SUPERDELEGATE – A party leader (Gov,
Senator, Rep, etc) or election official who’s granted the right to vote at
a party’s national convention due to their political position and not due
to any primary election or caucus – NOT PLEDGED prior to
convention
 What is Front Loading? - The practice of scheduling presidential
primary elections during the early parts of election campaigns to
increase the amount of influence that certain states or regions exert on
the nomination
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
Super-Tuesday? –A Tuesday in March (now February 5th in 2008) in
which a large number of presidential primaries, caucuses or
conventions are held – many in the South
B. THE CONVENTION
What is the National Convention? The meeting held every 4 years by each
major political party to select a President and a V-P candidate to rep the
party in the general election, to write a platform, to choose a national
committee and to conduct party business
What is its importance and significance today? Less Significant in the nomination
process – WHY???
Describe the process of the convention. What happens each day?
What is the Party Platform and what is its impact on the candidate? – A platform
is the Party’s official stance or position on the major issues – It has NO
BINDING EFFECT ON A CANDIDATE - The DNC certainly did not
envision a president supporting welfare reform and a reduction of
welfare but Slick Willy did =just that
How is the V-P chosen? “Balance the Ticket” - Geographically or
ideologically
How does TV handle the convention in modern times? It used to be gavel to gavel
but not as much coverage now.
C. THE GENERAL ELECTION
What is the General Election?
What factors go into winning the General Election? Party, Money, Issues like the
economy, how the campaign is run, building a winning coalition
What is a “Clothespin Vote”? A vote cast by one who is not happy with either
candidate and so votes for the least objectionable of the people running. Put a
clothespin over your nose to keep out the stench.
What is the importance of TV and the media today?
 “Spots” vs. “Visuals”
 Issue Ads and Independent Expenditures and 527 Groups
 TV has more of an impact on the primaries as most voters do not
change their vote in the general election
How important are the presidential debates?
What is the role of the Internet? Howard Dean revitalized the campaign process
by tapping into the Internet
The “SOLID SOUTH” – Once a Democratic strong hold since the Civil War and
now a Conservative Republican base.
III. CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
“It does not matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right!”
“There is no such thing as bad publicity!”
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS – WHY BOTHER?
I. GENERAL ELECTION INFORMATION
1. The American political system permits citizens to vote more often
and for more offices than citizens of any other democracy.
2. Despite the present Candidate-Centered era of election campaigns
with its emphasis on television and radio, elections still come down
to what same basic rule?
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3. The United States has regularly scheduled elections. They are set in
advance and at fixed intervals. Should the United States move to a
system with Votes of No Confidence like in the UK and Israel?
4. The United States electoral system is based on FIXED TERMS OF
OFFICE. This means that the length / term of office is specified and
not indefinite.
5. The United States electoral system also has STAGGERED TERMS OF
OFFICE for some positions. This means that not all members of a
branch are up for reelection at the same such as the U.S. Senate.
6. Some U.S. public officials have term limits and some do not.
A. Which amendment limits the President to 2 terms of office?
B. What is a LAME DUCK?
C. Do the U.S. Senate and House have term limits?
D. Would it surprise you that 75% of Americans think there
should be term limits for the U.S. Congress?
E. Should the US have term limits for Congress?
7. The U.S. electoral system is based in most cases on “winner-takeall”.
A. What does “winner-take-all” mean?
B. What is a SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT?
C. What is meant by PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION?
8. ELECTIONS FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A. Size and Term of Office?
B. When are the House elections?
9. RUNNING FOR THE SENATE
A. SIZE and TERM OF OFFICE?
B. When are the Senate Elections?
1.) Why are the Senate elections set up in this way?
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THE FOX IS IN CHARGE OF THE HEN HOUSE!
Tom Delay – the Donna Karan of Designer Districts!
“Keep fishing and maybe you’ll get a bite!”
Esteemed Associate Justice Kennedy’s advice to anyone looking to challenge a
partisan gerrymander in the future.
I. REDISTRICTING AND PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING – WHAT THE FAINT OF HEART
OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN ELECTORAL POLITICS!
1. Key Vocabulary Terms:
 Census
 Partisan Gerrymandering
 Reapportionment
 Single-member districts
 Malapportionment
 Proportional Representation
 Redistricting
 Majority-Minority Districts
 Gerrymandering
 Racial Gerrymandering
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does the Constitution say about redistricting? Very Little
 Article I, Section 2 says that Representatives shall be apportioned among the several
states according to their respective numbers.
 Article I, Section 4 says that elections for the House and Senate shall be prescribed by the
State legislatures
 The 14th Amendment prescribes any type of racial gerrymandering under strict scrutiny
rules.
There are 4 problems to be solved in deciding representation in the House:
A. establishing the total size of the House
B. allocating seats in the House among the states
C. determining the size of congressional districts within the states
D. determining the shape of each district within a state
Redistricting Basics:
 It occurs to accommodate population shifts, which are discovered after each national
census done in 10-year intervals.
 All states with more than 1 Representative use single-member districts
 In 1911, Congress set the maximum number of House seats at 435
 In 1929, Congress accepted a complex statistical system for use as a formula in
apportioning seats among the states.
Redistricting Rules (That’s really an oxymoron!) – Thanks to the USSC Justices
 Voting Rights Act of 1965 was designed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting and
redistricting
 Baker v. Carr 1961
 Issues: Did the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over questions of legislative
apportionment?
 Decision: YES - In an opinion which explored the nature of "political questions" and
there were no such questions to be answered in this case and that legislative
apportionment was a justiciable issue. In his opinion, Justice Brennan provided past
examples in which the Court had intervened to correct constitutional violations in matters
pertaining to state administration and the officers through whom state affairs are
conducted. Brennan concluded that the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection issues
which Baker and others raised in this case merited judicial evaluation.
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


6.
Reynolds v. Sims 1964
 Facts: Challenge to an Alabama Redistricting plan by county / region. System had
population ratios as great as 41 to 1.
 Issue: Did Alabama's apportionment scheme violate the Fourteenth Amendment's
Equal Protection Clause by mandating at least one representative per county and
creating as many senatorial districts as there were senators, regardless of population
variances?
 Decision: Yes – In an 8-to-1 decision, the Court upheld the challenge to the
Alabama system, holding that Equal Protection Clause demanded "no less than
substantially equal state legislative representation for all citizens...." Noting that the
right to direct representation was "a bedrock of our political system," the Court held
that both houses of bicameral state legislatures had to be apportioned on a population
basis. States were required to "honest and good faith" efforts to construct districts as
nearly of equal population as practicable. STANDARD – “ONE PERSON ONE
VOTE”
Districts cannot be based solely on race. But Majority-Minority Districts are possibly
constitutional provided that there are other race neutral factors involved.
(Shaw v. Reno 1993 and Miller v. Johnson 1995) Supreme Court applied strict scrutiny
to strike down racial gerrymandering where race was the overriding and predominant
factor in drawing of district lines and where state plan was not narrowly tailored to meet
the state’s interest in complying with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court also said
that a state needs racially neutral considerations like compactness, contiguity, and respect
for political subdivisions, shared interests of communities.
Is Partisan Gerrymandering constitutional?
 Apparently so according to the U.S. Supreme Court
 Vieth v. Jubelirer 2004 was the 1st modern case on gerrymandering to reach the SC. It
was a 5/4 ruling upholding Pennsylvania’s partisan gerrymandering plan, which resulted
in PA Republicans getting 13 of 19 seats in the Legislature. (Is PA more or less
Democratic?)
 Scalia, Thomas, Rehnquist, and O’Connor made it very clear they would reject any
political gerrymandering claim. Kennedy told citizens to “keep fishing”.
7.
Political Reality Today
 Sophisticated software and polling results with demographic surveys allow incumbent
legislators to pick the voters before the voters get to pick the legislators
 Most major newspapers have called for reforms to make it a fairer system and to give
voters choices. It is rare when the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times agree on
anything but they do here!
 There is no electoral accountability. Example: More House members died in office than
lost in primaries in the last decade!
 The # of women and minorities in the House has come to a standstill after a sharp rise in
1992.
 From 1954 to 2006, there had been only 1 change in the party in control of the House
 In the 2000 election, Gore got more votes than Bush yet the Republicans won 241 House
seats to the Democrats 194. Gore won more votes than Bush in FL, MI, OH, and PA but
unfettered Republican control of redistricting left Republicans with 51 out of 77 House
seats in those states.
 Based upon the above was the 2002 election a key election for the Republicans? YES
AND NO – THE GROUND WORK WAS LAID IN THE MORE IMPORTANT
ELETCTIONS OF 1998
Congress and the States have the right and the responsibility to correct this situation. However, Congress
buries its head in the sand. Some states are working on ballot initiatives at this time.
8. What are the alternatives to today’s redistricting system?
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