1. Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics
Unit III:
Political Parties, Interest Groups & the Mass Media

2. Unit III: Essential Questions
Does the two-party system and the modern election process speak to the needs and political desires of the nation?
What effect do interest groups have on the American political system, and do they more promote or undermine democracy?
How has the media become so influential in US politics?

3. III.1 – Political Parties & the Two Party System
What are political parties and what role have they played in American politics?

5. III.1 Vocabulary
- bolter parties - doctrinal parties - independent candidates - national convention - party de-alignment - party realignment - party era - party platform - political parties - single-issue parties - third parties - two-party system

6. III.1 – The Two-Party System

7. III.1 – Development of Political Parties
: Early Federal Period
: Era of “Good Feeling”
: Second Party Era (Jackson)
: Civil War / Reconstruction
: Gilded Age / Industrialization
: Progressive Era
: Depression / New Deal
: Civil Rights
1965-Present: Modern Era

9. III.1 – The Two-Party System
Jacksonian Democracy Andrew Jackson: “I have only two regrets: I didn't shoot Henry Clay and I didn't hang John C. Calhoun.” John C. Calhoun was his Vice President

11. III.2 –Congressional Elections & Apportionment
- apportionment - coattails - congressional campaign committee - critical election - incumbent/incumbency - gerrymandering - lame duck - open seat - plurality election - redistricting - safe seat - sophomore surge

12. III.2 – Congressional Elections & Apportionment
House 25
7 Years citizen
Live in state
Two year term
Population
Always popular vote
Senate 30
9 Years citizen
Live in state
Six year term
1/3 each cycle
Two per state
17thAmendment

13. III.3 – Primaries & Party Conventions
- blanket primary - caucus - closed primary - critical election - delegates - front-loading - general election - national convention - open primary - party platform - plurality election - post-convention bounce - primary - split ticket voting -superdelegates

14. III.4 – Campaign Commercials
Media
Mass Media
Broadcast Media
Horse-race journalism

15. III.5 – The Electoral College
- blue states - critical election - electoral college - plurality election - red states - safe state - swing state - winner-take-all system
Essential Question:
How does the electoral college affect presidential campaign strategies?

16. III.5 – Electoral College by the Numbers and Dates
Total Votes – 538
Note: These are not the “electors”, it is simply where the numbers come from!
435 House of Representatives (proportional)
100 Senators (two per state)
3 for Washington D.C. (23 Amendment)
Number needed to win – 270
No majority = House picks President
Senate picks Vice President

17. III.5 – Electoral College by the Numbers and Dates
Election Day
First Tuesday after first Monday in November
Electors Meet in States
First Monday after second Wednesday in Dec.
New Congress Sworn In
January 3, 2017
Congress Counts Electors
January 6, 2017

18. III.5 – Why an Electoral College?
Why did the 'founders' decide on using the electoral college to choose the president?
How was the election of 2000 a test of the electoral college system?
What hope did the 'founders' have about the electoral college that was never realized? Why not?

19. III.5 – Elections with Issues
President =
Educated Man +
Political Knowledge +
Popular Vote +
Electoral Vote

20. III.5 – Elections with Issues
1888
B. Harrison – Electoral
Cleveland - Popular
2000
GW Bush – Electoral
Gore - Popular
2016
Trump – Electoral
Clinton - Popular
1800
Jefferson / Burr – electoral tie
HOR picks Jefferson
1824
JQ Adams – Electoral
Jackson - Popular
1876*
RB Hayes –Electoral
Tilden – Popular
Contested results – Compromise of 1877

21. III.6 – Divided Government
Presidency held by one party
One or both houses of Congress by the other
When?
Has been the norm since 1969
Why?
Split ticket voting
Increasing number of Independent voters
Executive and Legislative branches elected separately

22. III.6 - Divided Government
Weaknesses
Political Gridlock
Partisan Bickering
Nixon resignation
Clinton impeachment
Strengths
Forces parties to work together
Can lead to more effective oversight of Executive Branch

23. III.7 – Campaign Finance, PACs & 527s
527 groups Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) class actions suits Federal Election Campaign Act (1971) free riders McConnell v. Federal Election Commission (2003) political action committees (PACs) soft money super PACs

24. III.7 – Campaign Finance, PACs & 527s
Is money given to political campaigns a form of free speech? The Supreme Court says it is, and thus any limitations put on one's ability to donate to political candidates are difficult to set. Since the 1970s, campaign finance has played an increasingly important role in determining the success and failure of political candidates. Indeed, many argue that the candidate with the most money has the best chance at winning.

33. III.9 – The Mass Media
blog blogosphere broadcast media horse-race journalism linkage institution mass media medium new media print media public agenda sound bite

34. III.9 – The Mass Media Questions:
What is the role of the media in the American political system?
Are the television and mainstream print media biased?
How does the media help shape debate on the issues?