1. Key topic: POLITICAL PARTIES is about the roles political parties play in government.

2. Friday, April 12, 2013 What do third parties organize around? FW Notes
Functions of political parties
Solpass (political parties drag and drop)
Focus Work:
What do third parties organize around?

3. Political parties Third Parties* Rarely win
Provides citizens the opportunity to participate in the political process
Recruit and nominate candidates
Educate the voters about campaign issues
Help candidates win elections and monitor officeholders
Third Parties*
Organized around new ideas or issues (TEA party; Green Party) OR around a personality (Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party)
Rarely win
Influence the outcome of an election

4. Republican Democratic Party Party
Liberal: favorable to progress (moving forward) in politics and social issues
Ex: support gay marriage
Collective ideal: we do better when we all work together
Republican
Party
Conservative: preserve existing conditions; limit change
Ex: wanting an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and woman
Individual over collective: what I earn is mine, what you earn is yours-no helping

5. Ideology: political belief system
Similarities of political parties
Organized to WIN!!
Want to influence public policy
Show both liberal and conservative views
Appeal to the “political center” to get the most votes
Differences in political parties
Differences are listed in the party platform (lists the beliefs of the party and its candidate on the issues.
Ideology: political belief system
Ideology reflected in campaign

6. Moderate: a person who avoids the extremes of either party
POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Liberal
Moderate: a person who avoids the extremes of either party
(most voters)
**This is where candidates aim their campaigns to get the most voters possible
Conservative

7. Key Topic: Political Campaigns and the role of media in politics
Is about… The way the media presents candidates, informs citizens, and influences the public agenda.

8. TV, newspaper, radio, internet
Mass media
TV, newspaper, radio, internet
Helps keep citizens informed so they make educated, informed choices when they vote
Identify candidates, emphasize issues, publish op-ed (opinion editorials), broadcast different points of view

9. Impact of media on public opinion and public policy(issues)
Media keeps citizens informed
Media keeps government officials informed
Govt. officials use media to communicate with the public (speeches, debates, press conferences)
Media influences public agenda (issues people think are important)
Focus attention on selected issues
Offers a forum (discussion) to show opposing points of view
Helps to hold government officials accountable for what they say.

10. Thursday, April 18, 1023 FW
Notes
Campaign websearch
During a political campaign, from what form of media do you think people get their information?

11. Citizen use of the media
Evaluate campaign speeches, ads, and literature
Evaluate sources, Separate fact from fiction
Detect bias (prejudice) and propaganda (deliberate spread of lies/rumors to hurt)

12. Campaign costs are rising
Running for elected office is expensive
Campaign costs are rising
Fund-raising activities by candidates are getting more frequent
High costs of a campaign limit opportunities to run for office (some candidates just can’t afford it)
The advantage goes to the wealthy who run for office

13. High cost of political campaigns encourages the use of special interest groups to secure money for the campaign
Issue oriented special interest groups are called PACs (Political Action Committees)
Offer a way for an individual to donate money to a candidate.
Teachers (VEA)
Labor unions (Teamsters)

14. Individual donates to PAC PAC donates money to candidate
Candidate uses money for campaign

15. Ways PACs influence public policy (course of action by the government)
Identify issues they think are important
EX: VEA is against the SOLs
Making political contributions to candidate
EX: Obama does not like the No Child Left Behind Act and wants it repealed or altered=VEA backing him as a candidate
Lobbying government officials for their vote on issue
“Hey, remember that donation we made…”
“We may be able to make a donation if…”

16. Name three ways that citizens use the media.
Thursday, April 25, 2013 FW AN
Notes
FW:
Name three ways that citizens use the media.

17. HOMEWORK PACKET DUE FRIDAY ALL COMPLETED!

18. Individuals can also influence public policy
Lobbying: Trying to influence legislators to vote for or against a particular bill
Ways individuals can influence public policy
Participate in politics (voting, campaigning)
Express opinions (lobbying, demonstrating)
Join Public Interest Groups
Make donations

19. Campaign Finance Reform
Efforts to reform how politicians raise money due to the increased costs
Attempt to limit the amount of money individuals can contribute to political candidates
Most political candidates do not want reform: they are afraid they won’t get the money they need.

20. VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION
Only citizens who register can participate in primary elections and in general elections.

21. Qualifications to register and vote in Virginia
Citizen of the US
Resident of Virginia AND the voting district
18 years old by the day of the election
Register at the DMV, registrars office, or by mail
Registration closes 22 days before an election

22. Presidential elections
Larger turnout than in state or local elections
Factors for lack of voter turnout (why people don’t vote)
Lack of interest
Failure to register
Factors in predicting which citizens will vote
education
income
age

23. Electoral College—the way the president is elected!
Winner takes all system
Favors two party system
538 votes in Electoral College
270 needed to win
Each state has electors and those electors meet to cast vote for President and Vice President after the November election

24. Virginia voters vote for President at their local voting poll.
The state goes to Obama
52% Obama
48% Romney
Electors meet and cast vote for the state they represent. Elector casts Virginia’s 13 electoral votes for Obama.