Writing Prompt Questions What purposes do political parties serve in the U.S.? Can you have Democracy without Political Parties? Why or Why not? Do you think U.S. citizens value their “right” to vote? Is Public Opinion important? Please explain why.

Voter Requirements

Universal Requirements Citizenship: legal resident Voting age: 18 Registration 49 states require voters to be registered Any state could allow them to do so if it chose to

Outlawed Requirements Literacy Test Grandfather Clause Poll Tax

Unit 5: Ante Up Political Parties

What is a Political Party? organization of citizens who share similar views on issues work together to put their ideas into effect through government action.

Role of Political Parties Selecting & Supporting candidates Serve as a link Acts as a watchdog Set platform & planks for party Informing the public & activating supporters through pamphlets, bumper stickers, ads, signs, buttons Act as bonding agent To ensure qualified representatives are carrying the people’s message to government Enables the branches & levels of government to communicateThe party not in power is watching the party in power

Platform A political party’s statement of its goals & positions on all issues

Plank A single issue on a political party’s platform

Party Organization

What do party members do? Nominate Candidates Campaign for Candidates Raise money, stuff envelopes, poll voters, & drive people to the polls Make telephone calls

Role of Political Parties Selecting & Supporting candidates Informing the public Make sure qualified representatives are carrying the people’s message to government

Role of Political Parties (cont) Serve as a link Enables the branches & levels of government to communicate Acts as a watchdog The party not in power is watching the party in power

National Level Raise money for Presidential campaigns Organize the national convention Create the party’s platform Senatorial Committee – elect Senators to committees House Committee – elect Representatives to committees

State Level Work on electing state officials Work within the state to elect candidates to national office

Local Level Cities are divided into districts or precincts Organizes local election efforts Responsible for all elections

Republicans vs. Democrats… Unit 5: Ante Up Republicans vs. Democrats… What’s the difference anyway?

Republicans more socially conservative economically libertarian closer ties to both large corporation & locally owned businesses than do the Democrats less affiliation with labor unions strong belief in personal responsibility, limited government, & corporate entrepreneurship generally oppose gay marriage, oppose abortion, & oppose embryonic stem cell research

Democrats favors farmers, laborers, labor unions, & religious & ethnic minorities opposed unregulated business & finance, & favored progressive income taxes advocates for welfare spending programs targeted at the poor. Environmentalism advocates civil liberties, social freedoms, equal rights, equal opportunity, & a free enterprise system tempered by government intervention (what economists call a mixed-economy) believes that government should play a role in alleviating poverty & social injustice, even if that means a larger role for government & progressive taxation to pay for social services support gay marriage, abortion, & stem cell research.

This is a range of differences in political views between parties. Political Spectrum This is a range of differences in political views between parties.

Political Spectrum in the U.S. Far left: Radical Left Wing: Liberal & Democrat Left Moderate: Democratic mainstream Centrist: Moderate. Democrat & Republican Right Moderate: Republican Right Wing: Conservative mainstream Far Right: Reactionary This should be considered a spectrum in which a candidate can fall in between two categories from left (democrats) to right (republicans) Majority of Candidates elected to office are considered “Moderate”

Why do you think people choose not to vote? Many Americans regularly choose not to vote in elections. Why do you think people choose not to vote?

The main reason people choose not to vote is Voter Apathy – lack of interest in politics.

Gun Control R: Oppose-Gun control is unconstitutional D: Favor – Gun control is needed Natural Environment R: Strong environmental laws harm the economy D: Strong regulations are needed to protect the environment Race Relations R: People & Business can be trusted not to discriminate D: Strong anti-discrimination laws are needed

Minimum Wage R: Oppose- raising hurts business D: Favor – help workers Healthcare R: Private insurers are preferable to government mandates D: Universal access to Healthcare Family Values R: “Traditional” family values D: Support Homosexual causes

Unit 5: Ante Up Types of Elections

Primary Election Elections held to Nominate candidates for political office Used to see which candidate is going to represent a political party.

2 Types of Primary Elections Closed Primary – only declared party members may vote Open Primary – voters do not have to register, just have to choose which party to vote for before entering booth

General Elections Voters cast ballots to PUT A CANDIDATE IN OFFICE Candidates of different parties run against each other for election to political office Held first Tuesday after first Monday in November Popular vote – votes cast by the people Electoral vote – votes cast for President as part of the Electoral College

Non Partisan Elections Political parties are prohibited from participating Candidates organize & run without party help

Special Elections Run-off Elections – when there is a “tie” a run off must be held to determine a winner Recall – voter can remove a public official from office

Types of Voting

Absentee voting – voting earlier than the election day Those too ill or disabled Those who will be away from their county Those serving in the military

Straight Ticket/Party Voting – voting only for one political party Split Ticket Voting – voting for different parties for different offices in the same election