Transcript Politics, Citizenship and Voting

Politics, Citizenship
and Voting
Goal 4.0
The leaner will explore active roles as
a citizen at the local, state, and
national levels pf government.
Key Questions

What are the characteristics of an active
citizen?
 How does the voting process work?
 What functions do political parties perform?
 What key issues do we face, how does that
influence our voting, and how can we
influence change?
 What duties and responsibilities do we have
as good citizens?
Front Side
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Canvassing
Interest Groups
Political Party
Political Action Committee
Propaganda
Lobbying
Caucus
Electoral Votes
Front Side
9. The process of naming persons who are
possible candidates to run for a particular
office.
Nomination
Front Side
10. An election held only among members of
a particular political party in order to
choose one candidate from the ones
nominated to run for a specific office.
Primary Election
Back Side
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Poll Tax
Polling Site (Place)
Redistricting
Apathy
Electorate
Straight Party Ticket
Literacy Test
Gerrymandering
Grandfather Clause
Candidate
Front Side Short Answer
1.
•
•
•
Public Opinion Polls and Random
Samples.
A way to determine or measure public
opinion.
Asking individuals survey questions
Random samples are public opinion polls
that survey a random group of people
from all ages, incomes, races, etc.
Party Platform and Planks
 Platform:
The parties basic principles,
beliefs, and positions on certain issues.
 Planks:
The individual parts of the party
platform. Each viewpoint or belief on a
specific issue.
Multi-Party v. Two Party

Multi= when there are many political parties
but none of them seem to dominate the
elections.
IE: congress would be made up of individuals
from dozens of political parties.
 Two= When there are two main political
parties that dominate almost every election.
IE: congress 49 Dem, 49 Rep, 1 independent, 1
independent democrat.
Conservative or Liberal?
Conservative:

con·ser·va·tism
A political philosophy based on tradition and social
stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring
gradual development to abrupt change.
Liberal:

lib·er·al·ism
A political philosophy based on belief in progress, the
essential goodness of the human race, and the
autonomy of the individual and standing for the
protection of political and civil liberties.
Political Machine

A powerful political organization whose party
members win almost all elections year after year.
 Often times use bribes, kickbacks, or other
illegal activities to maintain control.
 Often times provided food, jobs, medical care to
the needy in return for votes.
 After they are in control for a period they begin
to do what ever they like with no regard to
anyone but themselves.
Duties v. Responsibilities (chart # 4)
You can go to jail for not doing your duty!
 Obey
the Law
 Pay Taxes
 Defend Nation
 Serve in Court
 Attend School





Be informed
Vote
Community and
government
involvement
Respect others
rights and property
Respect other
peoples opinions
and ways of life
Back Side
Republicans v. Democrats
 Republicans:
Generally conservative party
that originally began out of the federalist
party.
 Democrats:
Generally liberal party that
originally began out of the anti-federalist
party.
Campaigns
 Private

funding
Contributions from businesses, political
parties, interest groups, and individuals
 Public
funding (Federal government)
 Congressional Campaigns 1997-2000



Individuals 57%
PAC 28%
Candidates 15%
Voting Requirements
 18
years old
 A resident of the state for a specific
amount of time
 A citizen of the US
 Registered to vote
Roles of Political Parties
 Nominate
Candidates and conduct a
Primary Election to choose a single
candidate to represent their party in the
“General Election.”
 Campaign for Candidates
 Inform Citizens
 Helping Manage Government
 Linking the different levels of government
 Acting as a watchdog
Charts
 Use
pages 151-154 and the chart on page
153 to complete “Duties and
Responsibilities”
 Use
the chart on page 294 to complete
“amendments that eliminated abrriers to
voting”
Exit Polls, recall vote, Initiative
 Exit
Polls- asking a sample (random) of
voters leaving selected polling places how
they voted. This can be unreliable… why?
 Recall Vote- Special election in which
voters can vote to remove a person from
office. Requires a petition.
 Initiative- A way for citizens to propose
new laws or state amendments. Requires
a petition.
Proposition, Referendum

Proposition- When an initiative has received
enough names on the petition, it can be put on
the ballot in the next election. If it makes it to the
ballot it is called a proposition.
 Referendum- When citizens get to approve or
reject state or local laws by a vote.


Difference: a proposition starts with the people, a
referendum starts with the government.
Similarities: the voters get to decide whether they
become a law. (Popular Vote)
Electoral College
 State
electoral votes
 How many electoral votes did NC have
after the 2000 census?
 Winner take all
 North Carolina has 15 electoral votes

In 2004 George Bush won the popular vote in
NC and therefore got ALL 15 of the electoral
votes.
Electoral College
 538
electoral votes
 100 = Senators
 435 = Representatives
 3 = Washington DC
Which amendment gave three electoral
votes to Washington D.C.?