2. Ch. 7 - The Electoral Process Sect. 1 - The Nominating Process Nomination - The selection of those who will seek office - Five ways candidates have been nominated Self Announcement - Candidate declares that they are running for office.

3. 2 Caucuses - Private meeting of party members to choose candidates Criticized for being un-democratic - the people had no say Conventions - Party selects delegates to go to a convention to nominate candidates - now only used for Presidential candidates

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9. 8 Caucuses - Private meeting of party members to choose candidates Criticized for being un-democratic - the people had no say Conventions - Party selects delegates to go to a convention to nominate candidates - now only used for Presidential candidates

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11. 10 Primary Elections - The people elect candidates to run in the general election - used for most national and state elections Closed Primary - Only Democrats vote in Democratic Primary, Republicans in Republican Primary Open Primary - All voters may participate - they choose which party’s ballot they want Runoff Primary - If no candidate receives a majority they have a second “runoff” primary with the top two vote getters

12. 11 Presidential Primary - Each state holds primary - based on results candidates earn a number of delegates to party’s nominating convention

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16. 15 Petition - Candidate files petition with signatures to get on ballot - used mostly at local level * In all methods the states set the rules (Reserved Power)

17. Section 2 - Elections More than 500,000 people hold elected office in the U.S. Federal Control - Constitution, amendments and federal law ensure fair election practices America Vote Act of 2002 - 1. Replace punch card and lever voting devices 2. Train poll workers 3. Computerize voter registration system 4. Provide for provisional ballots

18. Election Day - Congress set election day as the first Tues. after the first Mon. in November Coattail Effect - A strong candidate can help other candidates of the same party win office on election day Precinct - A voting district - small geographic area of voters Voting - All states require a secret ballot Online Voting - A few elections have used online voting - security concerns

19. 18 Voting

20. 19 Sect. 3 - Money and Elections Sources of Funding - - Small contributors - average citizen that gives $5 to $10 - Wealthy individuals and families - The candidates themselves - hold fundraisers - Political Action Committees (PACs) Support a particular issue and contribute to candidates Regulating Campaign Finance - Federal law made it illegal for corporations, non-profit organizations, banks, labor unions to contribute to campaigns * In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled this was a violation of the 1 st Amendment right of Free Speech

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22. 21 Cost of Campaign

23. 22 Sect. 3 - Money and Elections Sources of Funding - - Small contributors - average citizen that gives $5 to $10 - Wealthy individuals and families - The candidates themselves - hold fundraisers - Political Action Committees (PACs) Support a particular issue and contribute to candidates Regulating Campaign Finance - Federal law made it illegal for corporations, non-profit organizations, banks, labor unions to contribute to campaigns * In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled this was a violation of the 1 st Amendment right of Free Speech

24. 23 Federal Election Commission - 1974 Federal agency to enforce campaign finance laws - Today no person can contribute more than $2400 to a campaign or $5000 to a PAC - PACs can contribute no more than $5000 to a campaign or $15,000 to a political party

25. 24 Ch. 8 - Mass Media & Public Opinion Sect. 1 - Public Opinion Public Opinion is not a single view on an issue - it is the sum of the views of many different people

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27. 26 Ch. 8 - Mass Media & Public Opinion Sect. 1 - Public Opinion Public Opinion is not a single view on an issue - it is the sum of the views of many different people Our opinions are formed over our lifetimes - most significant influences are: Home/Family - Just like with political views, is the most significant influence Mass Media - TV, radio, newspapers, internet greatly effect public opinion Peer Group - Create a support group to reinforce our beliefs

28. 27 Opinion Leaders - People you admire or respect and influence your opinion Historic events - Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, Watergate, 9/11 - events change our opinion of the role of government Sect. 2 - Measuring Public Opinion Public Opinion Polls - Gathering information on public opinion by asking people questions Straw Votes - Early method that was unscientific - quantity over quality - simply ask a large number of people the same questions

29. 28 Scientific Polling - Today’s scientific polls are highly sophisticated - Gallup Poll, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NY Times - 5 basic steps to a good scientific poll: 1) Define the universe - The whole population that the poll wants to measure 2) Construct a sample - A random sample is a subset of the total population that each have an equal chance of being selected - 1,500 people for an accurate sample of the U.S. 3) Ask well-structured questions - - must be un-biased and not be emotionally leading

30. 29 4) Interviewing - Most today are by phone - Interviewers are carefully trained to ask questions 5) Analyzing results - Compile all the data, interpret data, draw conclusions, and publish their findings Sect. 3 - Mass Media Means of communication that can reach a large audience Mass Media

31. 30 4) Interviewing - Most today are by phone - Interviewers are carefully trained to ask questions 5) Analyzing results - Compile all the data, interpret data, draw conclusions, and publish their findings Sect. 3 - Mass Media Means of communication that can reach a large audience Newspaper - The oldest source of mass media - have declined with the rise of electronic media Magazines - By 1900 magazines became 1 st national media - Today there is a magazine for almost every topic

32. 31 Radio - 1920s & 30s became popular for news & entertainment - FDRs Fireside Chats - talk radio is very popular today Television - By 1960s became primary medium in the U.S. (Nixon / Kennedy debate)

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34. 33 Radio - 1920s & 30s became popular for news & entertainment - FDRs Fireside Chats - talk radio is very popular today Television - By 1960s became primary medium in the U.S. (Nixon / Kennedy debate) Internet - Quickly becoming major source of news & information Sound Bites - News and political campaigns use short focused, pieces of information for maximum impact

35. 34 Ch. 9 - Interest Groups Sect. 1 - Nature of Interest Groups Interest Group - A group of people with a common view on an issue that try to shape public policy - they are private organizations (association, union, committee) Function of Interest Groups - - Help stimulate public awareness of an issue - Compile and provide information to govt. officials - Act as watchdogs to ensure govt. acts responsibly

36. 35 Criticism of Interest Groups - - Their cause is not always best for all of society - Can use money to gain too much power in government

37. 36 Criticism of Interest Groups - - Their cause is not always best for all of society - Can use money to gain too much power in government Sect. 2 - Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest - Most common - labor unions (AFL-CIO), Chamber of Commerce, Professional Associations Issue oriented groups - National Wildlife Federation, Right to Life Committee, National Rifle Association, AARP, Religious groups

38. 37 Sect. 3 - Interest Groups at Work Lobbying - Attempt to persuade public officials to take actions in favor of the interest group - contribute billions to campaigns / party - professional lobbyists are hired by interest groups - Laws regulate how lobbyists can operate

39. 38 Shaping Public Opinion - Interest groups attempt to shape public opinion - use mass media and propaganda Electioneering - Helping candidates get elected - Hold fundraisers, distribute literature, make phone calls

40. 39 The End