1. Do Now Find your new seat by looking at the chart near the door
Write Date and Daily Objective (if you didn’t get it yesterday) in your notebooks
Turn in any late homework to Mr. G.
Work quietly on Memorization until Notes 8:30

2. Chapter 10
Voting and Elections

3. Section 1
Who can vote?

4. The Big Idea
The right to vote is one of the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS of citizens in a democratic society.
Voting is a basic political right of all U.S. citizens who meet CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS set by law.

5. Qualifying to Vote
The right to vote is the FOUNDATION of American DEMOCRACY.
Voting is both a RIGHT and a RESPONSIBILITY.
People previously BARRED from voting in the United States:
White adult MALES who did not own property
WOMEN
African American MALES
Native American MALES
People under 21 years of age

6. Qualifying to Vote Voting rights today:
Right to vote NOT DENIED because of race, color, gender, or age (if at least 18 years old)
Right to vote denied to people convicted of SEROUS CRIMES

7. Qualifying to Vote Voter registration:
Required 25 days before an ELECTION in most states
State requirements vary
Information needed for voter REGISTRATION FORMS
Identity proof needed to register for FIRST-TIME voters

8. Steps in Voting
Voting is a basic political right of all U.S. citizens who meet CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS set by law.
On Election Day, citizens cast their votes at a polling place in their PRECINCT.
Sample BALLOT at the entrance
CLERKS and CHALLENGERS have certain responsibilities
ELECTION JUDGES are also present

9. Steps in Voting Types of voting machines:
PUNCH-CARD machine
LEVER machine
Ballots: “BUTTERFLY ballot”, PUNCH-CARD ballot, COMPUTERIZED ballot, SECRET ballot, ABSENTEE ballot

10. Steps in Voting
After voting: ELECTION WORKERS take returns to ELECTION BOARD, Election board sends returns to STATE CANVASSING AUTHORITY, EXIT POLLS used to predict election results, MEDIA PROJECTIONS may influence on voters

11. Why Your Vote Matters
Through our vote, we DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE in governing.
Voters use a variety of sources to inform themselves about CANDIDATES and PUBLIC ISSUES.
QUESTIONS to ask when deciding for whom to vote
The ELECTORATE as all the people eligible to vote

12. Why Your Vote Matters Why some people do not vote:
Not meeting state REQUIREMENTS
Not REGISTERING
Views NOT REPRESENTED by candidates
Vote won’t make a DIFFERENCE
APATHY

13. Why Your Vote Matters Why some people do vote:
POSITIVE ATTITUDES towards government and citizenship
EDUCATION, age, and income
Gives a chance to choose GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Gives a chance to VOICE OPINIONS

14. What do YOU think?
Do you think it is a citizen’s duty to vote in every election?
Do you think that turnouts in U.S. elections would improve if Election Day was made a federal holiday?

15. Section 2
Election Campaigns

16. The Big Idea
A successful democracy is built on an informed electorate.
The success of an election campaign depends on the people who organize it.

17. Types of Elections
There are different types of elections in the United States political system.
Besides primary elections, there are three types of elections in the United States: general elections, elections on issues, and special elections.

18. Types of Elections General elections: Held after primary elections
Always on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
All seats in House and one-third of seats in Senate at stake every even-numbered year
Presidential elections every four years
State and local elections
Disputed elections

19. Types of Elections Issue elections:
Initiatives as a way to amend the state constitution through propositions
Referendums as a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law

20. Types of Elections Special elections:
Runoff election as a way to determine winner of state or local election
Recall as a way to remove a public official from office

21. Presidential Elections
Presidential elections have three major steps: (1) nomination of the candidates, (2) the campaign, and (3) the vote.
Changing role of national conventions in nominating candidates
Elements of campaigns

22. Presidential Elections
Electors:
Part of the Electoral College system
List of electors pledged to each candidate
Winner-take-all system
Elector votes sent to Congress to be counted
Candidate with majority of votes wins

23. Presidential Elections
Origins of the Electoral College system
Problems with the Electoral College system
Reforming the Electoral College system

24. What Do YOU Think?
Do you agree that U.S. voters should vote directly on specific issues, rather than electing representatives to vote on their behalf?
Do you think that the Electoral College system should be abolished?

25. Paying for Election Campaigns
Section 3
Paying for Election Campaigns

26. Running for Office
Running for public office is the first step in the election process.
Money plays a major role in the election process.
The purpose of campaigns is to convince the public to vote for a particular candidate.

27. Running for Office Campaign techniques:
Canvassing to find out public opinion
Endorsements as propaganda
Advertising to create the right image and to attack opponents
Campaign expenses and high levels of spending in recent elections

28. Financing a Campaign
Candidates spend considerable time and effort raising campaign funds.
Legislation and judicial decisions have established rules for financing political campaigns.
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971:
Required public disclosure of candidates’ spending
Limited amount of hard money donated directly to a candidate or party
Tried to limit campaign spending

29. Financing a Campaign Federal Election Commission (FEC):
Created by the 1974 amendment to FECA
Administers all federal election laws
Monitors campaign spending
1976 Supreme Court ruling in Buckley v. Valeo:
Government could set limits on campaign contributions
Government could not limit spending of a candidate’s own money

30. Financing a Campaign Presidential Election Campaign Fund:
Text created to establish public funding for presidential elections
Money comes from annual taxes
Two major-party candidates can receive equal shares of money from fund
Third-party candidates can also qualify for funding

31. Financing a Campaign Private funding from various sources:
Individual citizens
Corporations
Labor unions
Interest groups
Political action committees (PACs)

32. Financing a Campaign Laws made by Congress concerning soft money:
Money used for general party-building purposes
Money could not come from individuals or PACs
No limits on contributions
Money spent by interest groups on media
Money given by PACS to incumbents makes reform difficult.

33. Financing a Campaign
2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain- Feingold Act):
Set limits on who could raise soft money
Set time restrictions on campaign ads
Set new limits on hard money contributions

34. Financing a Campaign
McConnell v. Federal Election Commission ruling upheld the McCain-Feingold Act
Role of Internet in future fundraising increasing

35. What Do YOU Think?
Do you agree that government limits on campaign spending can interfere with citizens’ right to free speech?
Do you think that the McCain-Feingold Act will make it more difficult for big donors to influence policymakers?