Act Five:
The Political Process
READ ME!!!!!!
Section 1: Who Can Vote?
Qualifying to Vote
During our nation’s early years, most voters were white, adult males, and property owners. The many
people often barred from voting include white adult males who could not afford to buy property, women,
African Americans males, Native American males, and people under 21 years of age. Today, however,
property ownership is no longer a consideration, and the U.S. Constitution states that no state may deny the
right to vote because of race, color, gender, or age-if the person is at least 18 years old. People who have been
convicted of serious crimes are the most common exception to the general rules. Most states deny them the
right to vote until they have served their prison sentences.
To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18, a resident of the state for a specified period of time, and a
citizen of the United States. In most states, you must also be registered to vote.
Voter Registration
People who meet the qualifications must register to vote before they can take part in an election.
Different states have different requirements for when to register to vote and for where you can register.
Virginia requires registration 22 days before an election. In Virginia you can register to vote at a Department
of Motor Vehicles (DMV), by mail, or at various other designated sites.
When you register for the first time, you must show proof of citizenship, address, and age by showing
a driver’s license or birth certificate. Once you have registered, you are assigned to an election district. On
Election Day, election officials will use a list of voters registered in the district to verify that the people who
vote are eligible and to prevent people from voting more than once.
Steps in Voting
On Election Day, voters go to the polling place in their precinct. A polling place is the location where
voting is carried out, a precinct is a voting district. Polling places are usually set up in town halls, schools, fire
stations, community centers, and other public buildings.
Polling places are generally open from early morning until 7 or 8 PM. When you first arrive you can
study a sample ballot. A ballot lists the candidates on which you cast your vote. Once inside you go to the
clerks table and check in. Check in requires you prove your identification by showing a driver’s license or
another form of identification.
Once through the check in, you will go to cast your vote in a voting booth. You may vote at a voting
machine. The two most common forms of voting machines are the punch-card machines and the lever
machine. All types of voting machines allow voters to cast a secret ballot so no one knows who you voted for.
Absentee Voting
Citizens who cannot get to the polls on Election day can vote by absentee ballot. People who know they
will be out of town that day, those who are too sick to get to the polls, and military personnel serving away
from home often use absentee ballots. Voters must request an absentee ballot from their local election board
sometime before Election Day. Then they mark this ballot and return it by mail. On Election Day, or shortly
thereafter, election officials open and count the absentee ballots.
Why Your Vote Matters
The best way to prepare to vote is to stay informed about candidates and issues. You can do this by
watching TV, reading newspapers, magazines, the internet or by finding other sources of published
information. Voting is important because every vote counts towards helping decide an election! For example,
the 2000 presidential election was decided by about 500 votes in the state of Florida.
All people who are eligible to vote are called the electorate. All though many Americans are eligible to
vote, many chose not to because they do not care or think their vote does not count. Those who do vote
though tend to be more positive about government and how their vote could change the government. These
people who tend to vote usually are more educated, wealthier (earn a higher amount of money), and older.
Section 2: Similarities and Difference in Political Parties
Despite the wishes of our first president, political parties formed. A political party is an
association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence of control decision making
in government by electing the party’s candidate to public office. Party members usually share beliefs
about politics and about the proper role of government. They pick candidates who agree with those
beliefs. Then they try to persuade voters to support these candidates. In the United States, anyone can
join a political party.
The Two-Party System
During most of American history, there have been two major political
parties. Other parties have sometimes run in elections, but they have seldom
won. For these reasons, the United States is said to have a two-party system.
Competing political parties are a necessary part of democratic government. They are a key link
between elected officials and citizens. They give voters a choice among candidates and ideas. They
help make elections meaningful. Our two major parties today are the Democratic Party and the
Republican Party.
A basic difference between the major parties is their belief in how much the government
should be involved in the lives of Americans. For example, the Democrats tend to believe that the
federal government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and in providing
housing, income, education, and jobs for the poor. The Republicans tend to believe that if they help
the nation’s economy grow, poor people will have a better chance of finding jobs and meeting their
needs on their own. They favor less government regulation of the economy as the best way to
promote the growth of production.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two parties.
Both try to appeal to as many voters as possible because ignoring large numbers
of voters may lead to defeat on Election Day. By adopting moderate and main
stream positions and avoiding extreme or radical positions, the major parties
hope to gain the largest number of voters and win elections. The parties are also
similar because the majority of American people generally agree about many political and social
issues.
One way to find out how the parties differ is to read the platform that each party writes at its
presidential nominating conventions, held every four years. The platform is a series of statements
expressing the party’s principles, belies, and positions on election issues. Each individual part of the
platform is called a plank. The platform communicates to voters what the party claims it will do if it
wins the White House.
Third Parties
Throughout American history, there have other minor political parties that
have competed with the major parties. These are called Third Parties. No third party
has ever won a presidential election, and third parties rarely win other major
elections. Third parties can, however, affect the outcome of elections by taking voters
from one of major parties.
There are different types of third parties: single-issue parties, ideological parties, and
independent candidates. Single-issue parties do not try to win elections. Rather, they try to promote a
social, economic, or moral issue. For example, the Prohibitionist Party in 1872 was created to ban the
sale of alcohol. These parties tend to fade away once the issue is no longer important or if a major
adopts the issue as its own. Ideological parties focus on changing society in major ways. For example,
the Communist Party USA supports government ownership of factories, transportation, resources,
farmland and other businesses. Sometimes third parties form around well-known individuals from
the two major parties. For example, Ross Perot, a wealthy businessman, ran for President in 1992
under the Reform Party, against the two major candidates: George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. (Bill
Clinton won this election).
One of the most famous third party candidates was Teddy Roosevelt. After holding the
Presidency as a Republican, he ran again, but this time with the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelt was so
popular that he took many votes away from William Taft, the Republican candidate, resulting in
Woodrow Wilson, the Democrat, winning the election.
Section 3: The Functions of Political Parties
Today we recognize two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans. These
political parties today work hard to get candidates elected.
Nominating and Recruiting Candidates
The people who make up political parties play an
important role in the American
system of government. They
Nominee for
select
and
nominate
candidates for office. Political
Office
Parties also act as a link
between different branches and
levels of government. The parties carry out
nominations throughout the year, as well as other
functions. They are busiest however, at election
time. Political parties are the only organizations
that select and offer candidates for public office.
They do this through the nomination process. The
person who the political party nominates becomes
know as a candidate.
Educating the Electorate About
Campaign Issues
Political Parties work to keep people informed and
interested in the issues and the candidates. During
a campaign, the parties’ goal is for its candidate to
win office. However, running a campaign serves
another important purpose in a democracy: it
informs citizens about public issues and the way
government
works
through
informational
pamphlets, speeches, and TV, radio, Internet, and
newspapers. Some common topics that political
parties often inform citizen of are the economy,
education, foreign policy, taxes, and environment.
Helping Candidates Win Elections Once a party has nominated its candidates for office, it begins to
campaign for them in general elections. This means people that have similar views and want the
nominated candidate to win, go around educating voters and try to influence their decision. They
also help raise money for the candidates. The parties manage money for the campaign and help
decide how the money raised is spent. They also help candidates get across their ideas and views
on public issues to voters.
Monitor Actions of Office Holders
Political Parties try to see that party members
elected to office do a good job. They often do this by keeping an eye on the opposition party,
publicly criticizing many of its actions. They call this role the “watchdog”. The party that has
lost its power-the party that lost the election for president, governor, or Congress-watches the
action of the party in power for mistakes or misuse of power. This opposition party (the party that lost) may
criticize the party in power and offer its own solutions to problems the nation faces. The opposition party does
this in hopes to attract voters to support them in future elections. Competition in power forces the political
party in power to pay attention to the will of the people.
Helping Manage Government
Things slow down for political parties once an election is over, but
work does continue. In fact, parties are involves in one of the first tasks that comes up after an electionhanding out government jobs. Most government jobs are civil service jobs gained of open, competitive
examinations and merit. However, the president, governors, and some mayors have the power to appoint their
trusted supporters to many high-level jobs. These supporters will usually be party members who believe in
their party’s ideas and want the opportunity to serve in government. If a chief executive has jobs to fill but
does not have enough high-level supporters to fill them, he or she often seeks recommendations from party
leaders.
Section 4: The Mass Media
The Media’s Impact on Politics and Government
It is hard to imagine modern politics without mass media. The media have a major impact on public
opinion, on the public agenda, on campaigns and elections, and how politicians perform.
Setting the Public Agenda
Countless problems and issues compete for the government’s attention. The ones that receive the most
time, money, and efforts from the government leaders make up what is called the public agenda. The media
have great influence on which problems the government consider important. When the media publicize a
problem, such as pollution, people begin to worry about it and to expect the government official to deal with
the problem. The media have the power to define some issues as problems while others go unnoticed.
Candidates and Elections
The modern media, especially television, are making it possible for some people to run for office who
might never have done so in an earlier time. Previously candidates were usually experienced politicians who
had spent many years working their way up through their political parties. Today sports and show business
celebrities with little or no political experience can quickly move into major political positions.
Elected Officials
Journalists and politicians have a complicated relationship. They need one another, yet they often
clash. One presidential assistant explained it this way: “Politicians live-and sometimes die-by the press. The
press lives by politicians.”
Elected officials want the media to show them as hardworking and effective leaders. They also rely on
the media to communicate information to the public about government activities and decisions. With the help
of professional media assistants called press secretaries, they hold news conferences, give interviews, and
stage media events such as a visit to a new housing project or to the site of a disaster.
Officials may also secretly pass on, or leak information to friendly reporters about proposed actions.
Leaks allow them to test public reaction to a proposal without having to acknowledge that the government is
considering it. It the public reacts favorably, the government might officially move ahead with the idea. If the
public reaction is negative, they can quickly drop it. Politicians also use leaks to make competing officials look
bad, to change public opinion on an issue, or to gain favor with a reporter.
American Use of Mass Media
Mass media also allows individuals to provide their opinions about elected officials or other topics that
people feel are important. Individuals can write op-ed pieces by writing an article with their opinion. Media
can also include written editorials (opinion pieces written by journalists) or political cartoons (a drawing that
relates to an important issue).
Section 5: Paying for Election Campaigns
Americans spend more than $3 billion on national, state, and local elections every four-year period. It
takes a great deal of money to run a successful campaign for a major office today. Once candidates are
nominated, they spend weeks and even months campaigning for the election.
Running for Office
The purpose of campaigns is to convince the public to vote for a particular candidate. Each campaign
has an organization to help run it. A Presidential campaign may have thousands of workers, while a local
election may have a few workers. The role of the campaign is to introduce voters to the candidate and his/her
position on issues, while convincing them to like, trust, and vote for this candidate. Some ways that campaigns
accomplish their goals are:
1. Canvassing – Campaign workers will travel through neighborhoods and ask for votes. They will
also call homes and conduct polling.
2. Endorsements – Campaigns try to get a famous or popular person to support their candidate. This
is an example of propaganda.
3. Advertising – Campaign worjers spend much time and money trying to create the right image of a
candidate. Much of their campaign funds will go to paying for advertising. Political advertisements
allow a party to present only its candidate’s position or point of view. They also enable a candidate
to attack their opponent without offering an opportunity to respond. Most national elections utilize
TV as their primary method of advertising.
Campaign Expenses
TV commercials are a very effective way to win votes, but they cost lots of money. Other campaign
costs include airfare, other forms of transportation, salaries of campaign staff, and other fees for campaign
materials and professional consultants.
A small town race may only cost a few thousand dollars. A state-wide race may cost several hundred
thousand dollars to several million dollars. A presidential race cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Paying for the Campaign
Candidates must find ways to pay for the cost of all these campaign expenses. Candidates may conduct
lots of fundraising, by selling T-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers, and other campaign materials. They also seek
out political donations from interest groups that have similar beliefs about the issues. Candidates also create
Political Action Committees (PACs) which have the sole purpose of raising money for their campaigns.
Candidates that are independently wealthy have a large advantage over other candidates because they can
finance the beginning of their campaign themselves.
Due to the increasing cost of campaigning, there have been new regulations on donations to candidates
from individual citizens. These Campaign Finance Reforms have been largely unsuccessful though in reigning
in the cost of national elections, as each Presidential election has seen more and more money spent on
campaigning.
Section 6: The Electoral College
What is the Electoral College? Why was it established?
The Electoral College is the group of people that select the President and Vice-President. The
Electoral College was established by the U.S. Congress in 1789. Why? The founding fathers did not
like the idea of a popular election. They were concerned that presidents would always come from
states with high populations. They also wondered if the public would have the knowledge necessary
to make a wise choice. Obviously, they did not have 24-hour news services as we do today!
The Electoral College is not a “college” at all but “electors” chosen from each state. The Electoral
College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.
How the Electoral College Works
Electors are the people who vote for the President. In
a state, each political party creates a list of electors
they would like to vote for President. For example,
the Democrats in Virginia create a list of 13
Democratic electors. The Republicans in Virginia
create a list of 13 Republican electors. After the lists
or slates of electors are created, the people in each
state will vote on Election Day.
When the people in each state vote for the president,
they are actually choosing which list of electors they
would like to vote for their state. For example in
Virginia, since Barack Obama (Democrat) won 51% of
Virginians votes and Mitt Romney (Republican) won
49% of Virginians votes, the slate of Democratic
electors was chosen. All 13 electoral votes for Virginia
went to Barack Obama.
The electoral votes for all 50 states are added and the
candidate with the majority of the votes wins!
How Many Electoral Votes Does Each State Get?
Remember, the number of electors from each state is based on the state’s representation in Congress.
For example, the most populous state, California, has 55 electors because California has 53
representatives and 2 Senators. The least populous states—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming—have three electors each.
The map below shows how many electoral votes each state has.
How Many Electoral Votes Are Required to Win?
There are a total of 538 electoral votes. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the
electoral votes—at least 270 votes.
How do we arrive at 538 electoral votes?
100 senators
435 representatives in the House
3 electors for Washington, D.C.
= 538 electors
Map of Electoral Votes for Each State