VOTING
A right and a
responsibility of
citizenship.
VOTING:
QUALIFICATIONS
18 years old
 U.S. Citizen
 State Resident
 Mentally
Competent
 Not a convicted
felon

VOTING:
REGISTRATION
Must register 29
days before the
election at:
 DMV
 Registrar’s Office
 Mail in Application
VOTING: PARTICIPATION
Increased turn-out in
Presidential Elections
 Participation more
likely:

Education
Age
Income
VOTING: NON VOTERS
Lack Interest
 Forget to register
 Not informed on
issues
 Participation less
likely:

Income
Age
Education
VOTING: MAIN IDEA
Qualified citizens have a
responsibility of stay
informed about campaign
issues and exercise their
right to vote.
POLITICAL PARTIES
Organizations made up of people
who share similar ideas about the
way the country should be
governed
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
Recruit and
Nominate
Candidates for
Public Offices
Primaries-
Elect
Candidates
ConventionsName
Candidates
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
 Raise money for
Help
campaigns
Candidates
 Campaign for
Win Elections candidates

Most important
function since
Candidate will
support party goals
if elected
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
Set Party
Goals
Platform-
Statement of
party’s
positions of
major issues
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
Leadership
Work
to
pass laws
that support
the party’s
goals
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
Watchdog
 Monitor
the
actions of
officeholders to
insure that
they are honest
and
hardworking
FUNTIONS AND PURPOSES OF
POLICAL PARTIES
Help
Citizens
 Educate
citizens
about issues
 Offer
opportunities for
citizens to be
involved in the
political process.
THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Left
Democrats
Center
Moderates
Right
Republicans
DEMOCRATS
“Liberal”
 On the left
 Support government financed
programs to help the poor
 Emphasize domestic programs
 More/Expanded Government
 Supported by workers, laborers,
lower and middle income levels

Lyndon B. Johnson
1963 - 1969
Jimmy Carter
1977 - 1981
Democratic Presidents
Woodrow Wilson
1913 to 1921
Andrew Jackson
1829–1837
Harry S. Truman
1945–1953
1961 - 1963
REPUBLICANS






“Conservative”
On the Right
Support individual initiative and economic
growth to help the poor
Emphasize foreign policy and a strong
military
Less/Limited Government
Gain support from big businesses and
upper income levels
Abraham Lincoln
Ulysses S. Grant
Herbert Hoover
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican Presidents
Howard Taft
Richard Nixon
Teddy Roosevelt
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
George W. Bush
MODERATE
A person who avoids the
extremes of either party
POLITICAL PARTIES
The American political system is
dominated by the Democrats and the
Republicans; but third parties play an
important role.
Two-Party System
Similarities
BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS &
DEMOCRATS






Have both liberal and
conservative views
Organize to win elections
Appeal to the political
center
Influence public policies
Reflect citizens views
Want to associate with
many people to get
more votes
Two-Party System
Differences
BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS &
DEMOCRATS
Party
Platforms
(positions on
major
issues)
THIRD PARTIES
Third parties play an
important role in American
politics.
THIRD PARTIES
 Introduce
new ideas
 Support a particular issue
 Revolve around a person (Ross Perot;
Ralph Nadar)
 Rarely win elections
 Change the outcome on an election
THIRD PARTIES
Ross Perot
Reform Party
Ralph Nader
Green Party
Teddy RooseveltProgressive party
Test Question
Which of the following is a key component in the
definition of voting?
a.
available only to members of political parties
b.
a right and a responsibility
c.
required by law
d.
available only to members of the Electoral
College
EOC Question
Which individual was a third-party candidate
in the 1992 presidential election?
a.
Ross Perot
b.
George Wallace
c.
George Bush
d.
Bill Clinton
EOC
Which of the following applies to political
parties?
a.
began during the 20th Century
b.
began during George Washington’s time
c.
began during Abraham Lincoln’s time
d.
are required by the Constitution
EOC Question
The two-party system in the United States
means which of the following definitions?
a.
only two political parties are allowed by law
b.
every citizen must join two political parties
c. every citizen must join one of two political parties
d.
there are only two major political parties
EOC Question
Political parties are organized at which of
the following level(s)?
a.
national and state levels
b.
national level
c.
local, state, and national levels
d.
local and state levels
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The President and the
Vice President are
elected by a majority
vote in the Electoral
College.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
 Each
state has
the same
number of
electors as it
does Congress
Members
# of Senators
+
# of Representatives =
__________________
# of electoral votes in
each state
ELECTORAL COLLEGE

538 Total Electoral
Votes

270 Electoral votes
needed to win the
election
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
WHY
Why do we
need
electors?
What made the
framers of the
Constitution
create this
system for the
election of the
President and
Vice-President?
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Representation
Question for the
framers:
How to balance
power between
the large and
small states?
 Result:
Electoral votes
for each state
are determined
by population
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Fear
Issue for the
framers:
People are not
educated
enough to make
a good decision.
 Result:
Electors who
were educated
about the
process would
make the
official vote.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Knowledge
Issue for the
framers:
Voters do not
know about
candidates from
other states.
 Result:
Using
electors would
keep people
from only voting
for candidates
from their state.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Electoral College
The President and the Vice President are elected by a
majority vote in the electoral college.
Each state has the
same number of
electors as it does
Congress Members
# of Senators
+
# of Representatives =
____________________
# of electoral votes in
each state
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Process
Each party picks
electors who
promise to vote for
their party’s
candidate.
Popular vote: first
Tuesday after the
first Monday in
November
Winner take all
system
Electoral Vote:
December
The candidate with
most votes in a
state wins all of
the electoral
votes for that
state.
Electors cast the
official votes for
President and Vice
President.
Effect of the Electoral
College on Campaigns
Candidates concentrate
on states with more
electoral votes
(California, New York)
Favors a 2-party system
Small states can
make the
difference in close
elections
It is possible to
tie (269 electoral
votes each)
What if… no candidate
receives 270 votes?
A TIE!!!
House of
Representatives
selects the
President
Senate
selects the Vice
President
Financing a Campaign
Running for office is
expensive!
$
Rising
Campaign
Costs
$
Lots of fund
raising by
candidates and
parties
Limits
opportunities
to run for
office.
Gives an
advantage
to rich
people
Limits
opportunities
to run for
office.
Interest
Groups have
more power
Encourage
PACs
Campaign
Finance
Reform
Rising campaign costs have
led to efforts to reform
campaign finance laws. Limits
exist on the amount
individuals may contribute to
political candidates and
campaigns.
06oENya4
fundraiser
PACs
Political Action
Committees
Established to
raise money to
support an issue or
candidate
Public Policy is influenced by:
Individuals
•Vote
•campaign
•Keep informed
•Express Opinions
by:
-Writing letters
to politicians
-Demonstrating
-Lobbying
•Join interest
groups
Interest Groups
•Identify and publicize
issues
•Offer different
viewpoints
•Lobby
•Donate Money $$$
Media
•Draws
attention to
issues
•Shows
different views
on issues
•Holds
candidates
accountable
•Allows officials
to communicate
with citizens
Political Action Committees
oPACs are the political branch of a
special interest group.
oPACs raise voluntary donations of
money from people who agree with their
cause.
oThey give money to elections
campaigns of people they support and to
the political party that will work for
their goals.
Review!
One purpose of political
parties is to
A. cast electoral votes.
B. set the age for voting.
C. administer literacy tests.
D. recruit and nominate
candidates for public office.
A candidate needs _________
to win the presidency
A. 270 Electoral votes
B. the majority of the popular vote
C. a majority vote in the House of
Representatives
D. All of the above
The president is chosen by the
House of Representatives if
A. different candidates win the popular
vote and the electoral vote
B. no candidate wins the majority in
the Electoral College
C. the candidate with the most votes is
already a member of congress
D. there is widespread electoral fraud
A political candidate who
accuses his or her opponent
of "reckless spending" is
using the
A. name-calling technique.
B. glittering generality technique.
C. plain-folks appeal.
D. card-stacking technique.
This type of election has the
highest voter turn out:
A. mayoral
B. gubernatorial
C. congressional
D. presidential
Which of the following is NOT a
strategy to use when
evaluating campaign ads?
A. believe propaganda
B. evaluate sources of information
C. separate fact and opinion
D. detect bias
Which of the following is a
voting requirement in
Virginia?
A. 21 years of age
B. US citizen and a resident of VA
C. passage of DMV test
D. pass a literacy test
An organization made up of people
who share similar ideas about how
the government should be run are:
A. Interest Groups
B. Political Parties
C. Political Action Committees
D. candidates
Which of the following is NOT a
similarity of Republicans and
Democrats?
A. Organize to win elections
B. party Platforms
C. Appeal to the political center
D. Influence public opinion
During an examination for
naturalization, an applicant must
A. prove that he or she can read, write, and
speak English acceptably.
B. show that he or she believes in the
principles of the U.S. Constitution.
C. prove that he or she knows something
about U.S. history and government.
D. all of the above
The U.S. federal system of
government was established
by
A. Magna Carta.
B. the Constitution.
C. the Articles of Confederation.
D. the English Bill of Rights
The statement "to secure the
blessings of liberty" is
A. listed in the Mayflower Compact.
B. one of the six goals of government
stated in the Preamble.
C. the opening statement of the
Declaration of Independence.
D. found in the Articles of
Confederation.
One of the basic ideals of
American government is that
A. government should be based on the
consent of the governed.
B. majority rule can be overruled by
presidential veto.
C. the Constitution should be easily
amended.
D. the executive branch should be the
most powerful branch.
What would happen if a proposed
amendment were not ratified by
three fourths of the states?
A. It could be ratified by two thirds of the
states.
B. The president could ratify the
amendment.
C. Congress could ratify the amendment.
D. The amendment would not be added to
the Constitution.
If the president vetoes a
proposed law,
A. it can never become law.
B. Congress can override the veto with
a two-thirds vote of both houses.
C. the proposed law is sent to state
conventions for approval.
D. the Supreme Court has the power to
pass the law anyway.
The most important function of
political parties is to:
A. Help candidates win elections
B. Monitor the actions of
officeholders
C. set party goals
D. Help citizens
Techniques used to influence
opinion are called:
A. Editorials
B. Propaganda
C. Commentaries
D. Ads
The First Amendment
guarantees
A. freedom of speech.
B. the right to bear arms.
C. freedom from unreasonable
searches and seizures.
D. protection against selfincrimination.
All of the following are true of
the Articles of Confederation
EXCEPT
A. it created a weak central
government.
B. the national government had no
power to tax.
C. it gave no power to enforce laws.
D. the states had little power.
The federal government and the state
governments share all of the following
powers EXCEPT the power to
A. establish courts.
B. borrow money.
C. punish lawbreakers.
D. coin money.
Which of the following is NOT a
power of the legislative
branch?
A. interpreting the meaning of a law
B. passing laws
C. overriding presidential vetoes
D. approving appointments of federal
court judges
Which of the following is not a
function of political parties?
A. recruiting and nominating
candidates
B. educating the public about campaign
issues
C. monitoring the actions of office
holders
D. nominating Supreme Court justices
How does the media influence
policy makers?
A. by broadcasting the state of the
union address
B. by criticizing the news coverage of
other media sources
C. by organizing debates among
leading entertainers.
D. by drawing attention to a particular
issue and arousing public concern
Democrats:
A. want the government to provide public
benefits to assist the poor.
B. want less government activity.
C. believe that public benefits should be
provided by the private sector.
D. are typically backed by small farmers and
the business community.
Third parties:
A. are not found in American politics.
B. typically revolve around a political
personality.
C. receive a lot of attention from the
media.
D. All of the above
Political Parties:
A. organize to win elections.
B. influence public opinion
C. appeal to the political center to win
majority support.
D. All of the above
The majority of Americans
are:
A. Moderate
B. Conservative
C. Liberal
D. Reactionary
Republicans tend to be
A. Radical
B. Conservative
C. Liberal
D. Socialist
To be elected, a presidential
candidate must
A. win both the popular vote and the
electoral vote.
B. win the popular vote.
C. receive 270 electoral votes
D. win the popular vote in the state of
Florida
Democrats tend to be:
A. Conservative
B. Radical
C. Liberal
D. Right-Winged
The "glittering generalities"
technique uses
A. beautiful pictures to sell an idea.
B. words that sound good but have
little meaning.
C. the faces of famous people to sway
public opinion.
D. soothing music and subliminal
messages to persuade people.
Sports figures appearing on a box of
cereal is an example of which
propaganda technique?
A. testimonial
B. bandwagon
C. plain-folks appeal
D. glittering generalities
The main reason that so few
people in the United States vote
is that
A. it is not convenient for most people
to get to the polls.
B. most people are not registered to
vote.
C. most people lack interest
D. most people do not prefer one
candidate over another.
A political candidate who describes
herself as an "ordinary, hard-working
citizen" is using
A. name-calling.
B. card stacking.
C. the bandwagon approach.
D. a plain-folks appeal.
Each state has a total number
of electors
A. equal to its total number of
congressmembers.
B. equal to each of the other states.
C. equal to the number of its state
legislators.
D. based on its voter turnout in previous
elections.
The Democratic and Republican Parties
do all of the following EXCEPT
A. organize to win elections.
B. raise money to pay for campaign expenses.
C. establish state qualifications for voting.
D. Reflect both liberal and conservative views
. A presidential candidate of the Democratic
Party wins 51 percent of the popular vote.
Which of the following statements is
correct?
A. The candidate must next be confirmed by the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
B. The candidate will become president.
C. The candidate will become president only with a
majority of electoral college votes.
D. A runoff election must be held to determine the
new president.
You have just turned 18 years old. The
first thing you will have to do before
you are allowed to vote is
A. take a literacy test.
B. register to vote.
C. join a political party.
D. prove that you have completed high
school.
One purpose of political parties
is to
A. cast electoral votes.
B. set the age for voting.
C. administer literacy tests.
D. recruit and nominate candidates for
public office.