Transcript Political Party

POLITICAL PARTIES and YOU
WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?
 Political Party: An organization of individuals with broad,
common interests who organize to win elections, operate the
government and influence government policy.
 The United States has what is called a “TWO-PARTY SYSTEM”
which means it is dominated by two major political parties
“REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS”
 DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Today’s Democratic party began around
1828 and would be considered Anti-Federalists.
 REPUBLICAN PARTY: Today’s Republican party began in 1854
and opposed slavery and would be considered Federalists.
Why do parties exist?
 Parties exists for many reasons,
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among the most prevalent are:
Represent the views of people
within their government.
Help get like minded people
elected to office.
Make changes in existing laws.
Help determine the nation’s
future.
 Encourage people to take part in
their government.
 Help encourage change on the
social, political and economic
level.
 Help unite the county’s many
different people, races, religions
and ethnic groups.
 Show people that their vote
counts.
What roles do political parties play in
American Society?
 Pull people together “Ideological Consensus.”
 Inform the public about issues that concern
them.
 Act as watchdogs against the actions of rival
parties.
 Act as bonding agents “they help unite people.”
 Act as the public’s voice on matters of public
policy.
ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
1.
ORGANIZING POLITICAL PARTIES
2.
NOMINATING CANDIDATES FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.
3.
CAMPAIGNING FOR CANDIDATES.
4.
INFORMING CITIZENS
5.
CARRYING THE PEOPLE’S MESSAGE.
6.
OPERATING THE GOVERNMENT.
7.
LINKING THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
8.
ACTING AS A WATCHDOG “Usually the party not in power acts as a watchdog
against the abuses of the party “IN POWER”
WHO ARE DEMOCRATS?
 Our party was founded on the conviction that wealth and privilege
shouldn’t be an entitlement to rule and the belief that the values of
hardworking families are the values that should guide us.
 We didn’t become the most prosperous country in the world by
rewarding greed and recklessness or by letting those with the most
influence write their own rules. We got here by rewarding hard
work and responsibility, by investing in people, and by growing our
country from the bottom up.
 Today Democrats are fighting to repair a decade of damage and
grow an economy based on the values of Main Street, not greed and
reckless speculation. Democrats are focused on rescuing our
economy not just in the short run but also rebuilding our economy
for the long run—an economy that lifts up not just some
Americans, but all Americans.
WHO ARE REPUBLICANS?
 This is a platform of enduring principle, not passing
convenience. the product of the most open and transparent
process in American political history. We offer it to our fellow
Americans in the assurance that our Republican ideals are
those that unify our country: Courage in the face of foreign
foes. An optimistic patriotism, driven by a passion for freedom.
Devotion to the inherent dignity and rights of every person.
Faith in the virtues of self-reliance, civic commitment, and
concern for one another. Distrust of government’s interference
in people’s lives. Dedication to a rule of law that both protects
and preserves liberty.
WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DO I BELONG
TO?
 Which political party you decide to join is based upon
several factors, which include:
1. Family background
2. Social status
3. Sex / Gender
4. Religion
5. Education Level
6. Race
7. Age
8. Geographic Location
.
Republicans are primarily…
 30 years or older
 White, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican
 Income is $100,000 or higher
 Professional occupations (Lawyers, doctors, CEOs, etc.)
 College grads or higher
 Protestant
 Attend church regularly
 Males
 Rural, Midwest and NE states
Democrats are primarily…
 Between the ages of 18-30
 African-American or Cuban American
 Lower income (below $29,999)
 Manual workers
 Belong to a workers union
 No or some high school or GED
 Catholics & Jews
 Don’t attend church, or not often
 Live in the south, southeast or big cities
 Females
Authoritarian
Liberal
Radical
Bleeding
Heart
Liberal
WHAT AM I?
Conservative
Moderate
Libertarian
Reactionary
Ultra
Conservative
Why do people join political parties?
 To become civically involved.
 To change laws they see as outdated, archaic or no longer
representative of the people’s needs.
 As a way to express themselves within their government.
 To address a specific need that they feel the current government is
not addressing.
 So they can learn about the American political process and how it
works.
 A political candidate has suddenly excited them about being
involved in the political process.
TYPES OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS
 TWO PARTY SYSTEM: Party system of the U.S. in which the
country is dominated by two major political parties.
VS
 MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM: Party system in which a country has
many major political parties (INDIA, ITALY, ISRAEL, GERMANY)
 ONE-PARTY SYSTEM: Party system in which a country has only
one political party and all other parties are outlawed or severely
limited. (CHINA, CUBA, NORTH KOREA)
OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES
A. THIRD PARTIES: Often called “Minor” parties, these parties
are not part of the two major parties because they have never
elected a President to office.
 SINGLE ISSUE PARTIES: Parties that organize around a
single issue. “Prohibition Party” “Marijuana Reform Party”
Usually very short-lived.
 IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES: Parties which support a
particular philosopher or doctrine. “Communist Party” or
“Socialism”
 INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES: Political candidates for
office who are not supported by any political party.
 SPLINTER PARTIES: Occurs when a party splits and people
leave the party over a divisive issue.
HOW ARE PARTIES ORGANIZED?
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON
NATIONAL
CONVENTION
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
STATE CHAIRPERSON
STATE COMMITTEE
LOCAL CHAIRPERSON
CITY, TOWN or LOCAL CHAIRPERSON
PRECINCT CAPTAIN and PRECINCT
WORKERS
CONGRESSIONAL
CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
SENATORIAL
COMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
WHAT IS A POLITICAL MACHINE?
 POLITICAL MACHINE: A political party that becomes so
powerful that its candidates are certain to win every election.
WHAT TELLS YOU THE PARTIES ARE
DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER??
 PLATFORM: A statement made by each party that
attempts to explain “What they stand for” or their
principals, beliefs and positions on election issues.
 PLANK: An explanation of how the party “stands”
on a certain issue such as crime, education,
immigration, the death penalty etc.
What are “Platforms and Planks?”
 A Party’s Platform:
 A Party’s Planks:
 Specifically identifies who the
 Are how the party stands on
party truly represents and
some of the ideas mentioned
within their ideology.
 Makes a strong statement
about what kind of people
join their party.
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specific issues such as:
The death penalty.
Education
The war in Iraq.
Affirmative Action
Women’s rights.
Taxation.
HOW DO PARTIES PICK
CANDIDATES?
 PRIMARY ELECTIONS: Are election in which candidates
who want to represent their party in the general election
run against candidates from the same party.
 DIRECT PRIMARY: Party members of the same party go
head to head to see who is the best candidate.
 CLOSED PRIMARY: Only members from a particular
party may vote on candidates running for office.
 OPEN PRIMARY: Any registered voter may vote in the
primary and pick a candidate to vote for.
CAPTURING THE VOTE
 PLURALITY: the act of winning an election based upon the
winner simply having more votes than other candidates, not a
majority.
EXAMPLE: Candidate “A” gets 39 percent of the vote.
Candidate “B” gets 35 percent of the vote.
Candidate “C” gets 26 percent of the vote
Candidate “A” wins because they have more votes.
 MAJORITY: The act of winning an election by winning more
than 50 percent of the vote.
 PETITION: Non-Affiliated Candidates have to have a certain
number of signatures from voters to be able to have their name
printed on a state or national ballot.
VOTING AND YOUR ROLE
Does my vote really count?
Why is it important for me to vote?
Why do old people vote more than young people?
Why aren’t there more choices when you vote?
U.S. QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE
 MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD.
 MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN.
 MUST BE A REGISTERED TO VOTE.
NORTH CAROLINA QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE:
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MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD.
MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN.
MUST BE A REGISTERED TO VOTE.
MUST BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE FOR 30 DAYS
BEFORE AN ELECTION.
**NC may restrict your voting rights if you have been
convicted of a felony.
RESTRICTIONS IN VOTING
 POLL TAXES: A tax that many African Americans were forced to pay
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in order to vote.
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE: If your grandfather didn’t qualify to
vote then neither could you.
VOTER INTIMIDATION: African Americans were discouraged
from voting by threats or use of force.
AGE RESTRICTIONS: Until 1971 you had to be 21 years old to
vote.
SEX DISCRIMINATION: Until 1920 women could not vote in the
United States.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN VOTING?
STEP 1: Identify what PRECINCT or voting district you belong to. A
precinct usually consists of 3 to 4 large
STEP 2: Identify where your POLLING PLACE or where you must
vote is located. Polling places are usually located at
churches, schools, fire stations etc.
STEP 3: Choose candidates to vote for and cast or officially turn in
your BALLOT, or list of candidates.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE?
PAPER BALLOT: Simply write the name of your candidate or place
and (X) or a check by the name.
ELECTRONIC BALLOT: Means of voting by which voters cast
their ballots through an electronic medium.
SECRET BALLOT: Process by which voters vote in secret and do
not have to reveal who they vote for.
BUTTERFLY BALLOT
PUNCH CARD BALLOTS
HANGING CHAD
PREGNANT
CHAD
DIMPLED CHAD
ABSENTEE VOTING BALLOTS
 These ballots are usually
reserved for people such as
U.S. Soldiers or citizens that
are out of the country on
election day.
COUNTING THE VOTE
 When the election is over the news media and other organization
will attempt to predict or forecast the winners of elections.
 RETURNS: The end result when all ballots have been counted and
the results announced.
 EXIT POLL: News media officials will simply ask votes who they
voted for as they exit the
 POLLING PLACE, the actual place where you vote.
WHY PEOPLE
VOTE
1. They have positive
attitudes about
government.
2. They are better educated.
3. Have a higher income.
4. Believe their vote counts.
5. Have been raised in
families that believe it is
important to vote.
WHY PEOPLE DO
NOT VOTE
1. They are “APATHETIC”
which means they don’t
care.
2. Feel as if they’re vote
doesn’t count.
3. Do not qualify to vote.
4. Feel as if political parties
don’t represent their
views.
TYPES OF ELECTIONS
 PRIMARY ELECTIONS: Elections which determine who
has the right to run against their opponent in a general
election.
Example Mitt Romney wins the Republican Primary then will face President Obama in the
general election.
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GENERAL ELECTIONS: An election in which the two
winners of primary elections compete in a winner take all
election.
Example: President Obama and Mitt Romney will run against each other for President.
 SPECIAL ELECTIONS: usually occurs when their has been
an unexpected vacancy in a political office such as town
council or county commission.
TYPES OF ELECTIONS
 RUN-OFF ELECTIONS: Occurs when candidates fail to achieve a
majority or at least 50 percent of the vote.
 RECALL ELECTION: Occurs when voters demand that officials re-
run for their elected office due to voter dissatisfaction.
 Example: Governor Gray Davis of California and Governor Lynn
Frazier of North Dakota (1921) Gov. of Wisconsin Scott Walker
(2012)
HOW CAN CITIZENS MAKE THEIR VOICE
HEARD?
 INITIATIVE:
Citizens may “initiate” or start new laws by
gathering signatures and having the law appear on a ballot.
 PROPOSITION:
Is and initiative which gets put on the ballot
for people to vote on.
 REFEREDUM:
Occurs when a law is put on the ballot by state
or local government for people to vote yes or no on.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The 12th Amendment set up the Electoral College.
 Electoral votes are determined by:
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# of Representatives + # of Senators = Electoral Votes
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The Electoral College is a “Winner Take-All”
System.
It takes 270 votes to become President, if no
candidate gets 270 votes then the House of
Representatives will select a winner.
RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE
 When someone decides to run for political office they must consider
the following:
 Do my ideas have support from the people?
 Can I convince voters to support me?
 Do I have enough people working for me to “CANVASS” or cover
neighborhoods?
 Can I gain “Endorsements” or statements of support from well
known people.
 Am I projecting the right Image?
 Do I have enough campaign funding “Money?”
HOW DO POLITICIANS FINANCE
CAMPAIGNS?
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Politicians and political parties have many sources of funding for campaigns.
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Public Funding: The public may choose to contribute to the
Presidential campaign fund on their tax forms or may contribute money
directly to candidates or parties.
SOFT MONEY: Money raised by political parties for general
purposes with no specific candidate in mind.
There is no limit to the amount of soft money that
can be raised.
HARD MONEY:
Political Action Committees: Are usually collections of
industries, labor groups or businesses that attempt to influence government
by LOBBYING, or influencing public officials to write legislation in their
favor.
How do I get involved?
 Vote: voting is the simplest way any American citizen can get
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involved in the political process.
Join a political party that represents your views.
Join civic organizations that promote understanding our American
Democracy.
Discuss important political events and current topics with your
parents.
Volunteer to help a political candidate with whom you agree. “Make
phone calls, canvas neighborhoods and put up yard signs.
Take part in simulations that let you play the part of a political
candidate or that help you better understand how our system works.
INFLUENCING YOUR
GOVERNMENT
• “What can I do to change my
government?”
• “What’s Public Opinion and how do
“polls” determine that?”
• “Why does the media seem to favor
one person over another?”
• “What’s Propaganda and how do I
know when it is being used?”
WHAT IS “PUBLIC OPINION?”
 Public Opinion: the beliefs and attitudes that most people
have about a particular issue or person.
A. Understanding public opinion can help President’s make
wise and timely decisions.
B. President’s who depend on public opinion too much can be
hurt by it.
 America is very diverse, so public opinion varies from region to
region and community to community. Other factors such as
race, sex, religion, economic status, education, job, and political
affiliation can influence public opinion.
SOURCES OF PUBLIC OPION
• PERSONAL BACKGROUND: This includes what
economic status you come from, your religion,
education, race, sex, political affiliation, and are of
the U.S. you live.
• INTEREST GROUPS: Groups of individuals who
unite in order to promote or support a common
cause. (NEA, NOW, NRA, NAARP, AMA, SEIU,
UMW, UAW and other groups)
• MASS MEDIA: Groups that communicate broadly
to masses of people (Radio, Television, Newspapers,
Internet, Magazines etc. )
Features of Public Opinion
• DIRECTION: Measures whether public opinion on a
topic is either positive or negative.
A. Are citizens for or against spending more money on
national defense?
• INTENSITY: Measures the strength of an opinion on
a given matter.
B. How far are Americans willing to act on their views or
opinions?
• STABILITY: Measures how firmly people are willing
to hold to their ideas and views.
C. Do people’s hold to their core beliefs over time?
MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC OPINION POLL: involves surveying a large amount of
people in order to gain their attitudes and opinions on public issues.
POLLSTERS: A person who specializes in conducting polls and
reporting the results on a regular basis.
RANDOM SAMPLES “POLLS”: Occur when pollsters sample
only a small amount of the population on a specific issue or topic.
Perhaps 1,500 people of all races, economic backgrounds and
religions will take part.
PUSH POLLS: Pollsters also use polls to “PUSH” you in one
direction or another. Example: “Do you think the President is doing
a mediocre job or simply failing the American people?”
PROBLEMS WITH POLLS
PROBLEMS WITH POLLS
• Polls often do not capture a true picture of
what people believe.
• Political leaders become more interested in pleasing
the public instead of showing leadership.
• Polls can often discourage voting because people
feel as if the election is already over.
• The wishes of the people may be ignored over the
wishes of interests groups or PACs.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Glittering Generalities: Non-specific statements designed to
arouse people’s support but provides very little details about how
goals will be met or accomplished.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Just Plain Folks: When candidates attempt to make voters believe
that they’re ordinary and plain like everyday working Americans.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Stacked Cards: Political candidates only name positive
accomplishments that they have achieved during their time in office.
 Mayor Jones has:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Improved our city.
Made Charlotte a safer place to live.
Fixed our struggling schools.
Revived our economy.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Bandwagon: political candidates attempt to bring other on board
by claiming their campaign is supported by everyone, come on join a
winning team!
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Transfer: The candidate attempts to have an idea or image
associated with their name without making reference to it.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
 Endorsements: Political candidates attempt to gain the support of
famous people in an attempt to convince fans of that person that the
political candidate is alright.