Unit 5: Elections and Political Parties
SOL 5a: What roles do political parties play in the American political process?
Functions of political parties
· Recruiting and nominating candidates
· Educating the electorate about campaign issues
· Helping candidates win elections
· Monitoring actions of officeholders
· Recruiting and nominating candidates
· Educating the electorate about campaign issues
· Helping candidates win elections
· Monitoring actions of officeholders
SOL 5b: How are political parties similar, and how do they differ?
A two-party system characterizes the American political process.
Although third parties rarely win elections, they can play an important role in public politics.
Similarities between parties
· Organize to win elections
· Influence public policies
· Reflect both liberal (democratic) and conservative (republican) views
· Define themselves in a way that wins majority support by appealing to the political center
Differences between parties
· Stated in party platforms and reflected in campaigning
Third parties
· Introduce new ideas and/or press for a particular issue
Often revolve around a political personality (e.g., Theodore Roosevelt)
For more information on the difference between Democrats and Republicans, visit: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican
Although third parties rarely win elections, they can play an important role in public politics.
Similarities between parties
· Organize to win elections
· Influence public policies
· Reflect both liberal (democratic) and conservative (republican) views
· Define themselves in a way that wins majority support by appealing to the political center
Differences between parties
· Stated in party platforms and reflected in campaigning
Third parties
· Introduce new ideas and/or press for a particular issue
Often revolve around a political personality (e.g., Theodore Roosevelt)
For more information on the difference between Democrats and Republicans, visit: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican
SOL 5c: How do citizens make informed choices in elections?
Voters evaluate information presented in political campaigns to make reasoned choices among candidates.
Strategies for evaluating campaign speeches, literature, and advertisements for accuracy
· Separating fact from opinion
· Detecting bias
· Evaluating sources
· Identifying propaganda
Strategies for evaluating campaign speeches, literature, and advertisements for accuracy
· Separating fact from opinion
· Detecting bias
· Evaluating sources
· Identifying propaganda
SOL 5c: How does the media play a role in the political process?
SOL 5d: How has the high cost of getting elected changed campaigning for public office?
Rising campaign costs
· require candidates to conduct extensive fund-raising activities
· limit opportunities to run for public office
· give an advantage to wealthy individuals who run for office
· encourage the development of political action committees (PACs)
· give issue-oriented special interest groups increased influence.
Campaign finance reform
· Rising campaign costs have led to efforts to reform campaign finance laws.
Limits have been placed on the amount individuals may contribute to political candidates and campaigns.
· require candidates to conduct extensive fund-raising activities
· limit opportunities to run for public office
· give an advantage to wealthy individuals who run for office
· encourage the development of political action committees (PACs)
· give issue-oriented special interest groups increased influence.
Campaign finance reform
· Rising campaign costs have led to efforts to reform campaign finance laws.
Limits have been placed on the amount individuals may contribute to political candidates and campaigns.
SOL 5e: What are the qualifications for voter registration in Virginia? What factors influence voter registration and turnout?
Only citizens who register may participate in primary and general elections.
Qualifications to register to vote in Virginia
· Citizen of the United States
· Resident of Virginia and precinct
· At least 18 years of age by day of general election
How to register to vote in Virginia
· In person at the registrar’s office, at the Division of Motor Vehicles, or at other designated sites
· By mail-in application
Voter registration is closed 22 days before elections.
Factors in predicting which citizens will vote
· Education (higher educated people more likely to vote)
· Age (older people more likely to vote)
· Income (wealthier people more likely to vote)
Reasons why citizens fail to vote
· Lack of interest
· Failure to register
The percentage of voters who participate in presidential elections is usually greater than the percentage of voters who participate in state and local elections.
Every vote is important.
Qualifications to register to vote in Virginia
· Citizen of the United States
· Resident of Virginia and precinct
· At least 18 years of age by day of general election
How to register to vote in Virginia
· In person at the registrar’s office, at the Division of Motor Vehicles, or at other designated sites
· By mail-in application
Voter registration is closed 22 days before elections.
Factors in predicting which citizens will vote
· Education (higher educated people more likely to vote)
· Age (older people more likely to vote)
· Income (wealthier people more likely to vote)
Reasons why citizens fail to vote
· Lack of interest
· Failure to register
The percentage of voters who participate in presidential elections is usually greater than the percentage of voters who participate in state and local elections.
Every vote is important.
SOL 5f: How does the Electoral College select the president and vice president of the United States?
The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president of the United States.
Electoral College process
· A slate of electors for each state is chosen by popular vote (majority of all voters).
· Most states have a winner-take-all system. This means the person with the majority of votes by the people in the popular vote receives ALL of the state's electoral votes. For example, Virginia has 13 electoral votes (11 representatives + 2 senators = 13). If Candidate 1 receives 60% of the votes, and Candidate 2 wins 40% of the votes in the popular vote, Candidate 1 wins ALL 13 of the electoral votes. The candidate who receives at least 270 electoral votes wins the election.
· The electors meet to vote for president and vice president.
The winner-take-all system leads to the targeting of densely populated states for campaigning, although candidates must pay attention to less populated states whose electoral votes may make the difference in tight elections.
The number of electors of each state is based on the size of the state’s Congressional representation, which is based on the state’s population.
The requirement for a majority vote to win in the Electoral College favors a two-party system.
SOL 5g: How can students under 18 participate in the democratic process?
Student participation in the democratic process can include
· participating in campaigns
· participating in classroom and online simulations.
· participating in campaigns
· participating in classroom and online simulations.
SOL 9a: What influence do the media have on public policy and policymakers?
Ways the media play an important role in setting the public agenda
· Focusing public attention on selected issues
· Offering a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated
· Holding government officials accountable to the public
Government officials use the media to communicate with the public.
· Focusing public attention on selected issues
· Offering a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated
· Holding government officials accountable to the public
Government officials use the media to communicate with the public.
SOL 9b: How do individuals and interest groups influence policymakers?
Terms to know
· lobbying: Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or vote for or against a bill
Ways individuals influence public policy
· Participating in politics (voting, campaigning, seeking office)
· Expressing opinions (lobbying, demonstrating, writing letters)
· Joining interest groups
Ways interest groups influence public policy
· Identifying issues
· Making political contributions (PACs)
· Lobbying government officials
· lobbying: Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or vote for or against a bill
Ways individuals influence public policy
· Participating in politics (voting, campaigning, seeking office)
· Expressing opinions (lobbying, demonstrating, writing letters)
· Joining interest groups
Ways interest groups influence public policy
· Identifying issues
· Making political contributions (PACs)
· Lobbying government officials