1. Political Campaigns Political Advertisements Direct mail & Telephone Campaigns Canvassing Votes – candidates and volunteers go house to house to talk to voters Public Relations/Reports in the Media/Political Rallies & Demonstrations Volunteers Public Debates Online – candidates make websites to post detailed policy statements

2. Campaign Finance Political campaigns are generally financed by private money Presidential candidates can receive public money. If they do, they must limit their total election spending. Those who do not accept these funds have no spending limits. Candidates can form political committees. Corporations and labor unions cannot make contributions to candidates, but can make contributions to separate “political action committees” (PACS)

3. What is a PAC? Political Action Committee a political committee set up for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent ideological, business or labor interest.

4. Evaluating Candidates Qualifications: background, education, employment, and achievements Experience: experience in the job? Is the candidate the incumbent (an official already holding the same public office?) Issues: what is their platform? What are their campaign promises? Debates: Voters can judge a candidate in action Political Ads: good ads present qualifications, experience, and views on issues. Political ads are also used to criticize the opponent.

5. Types of Primaries Closed primary: a registered voter may vote only in the election for the party with which that voter is affiliated. Democratic can vote only in the Democratic primary Republican can vote only in the Republican primary. In an open primary a registered voter can vote in either primary. The voter cannot participate in more than one primary.

6. Primary Elections The Caucus Caucuses were the original method for selecting candidates In states that hold caucuses a political party announces the date, time, and location of the meeting. At the caucus, delegates are chosen to represent the state's interests at the national party convention. After discussion and debate an informal vote is taken to determine which delegates should be chosen. FLORIDA has primary elections (not caucuses)

8. Democratic Party a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need

9. Republican Party a political party that believes that the federal government should play a small role in people's lives; they favor lower taxes and less government spending

10. Libertarian Party a political party that believes in individual freedom and the only purpose of government is to protect this freedom

11. Socialist party a political party that believes people should own and control industry through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives and other collective groups

12. Communist Party a political party that believes the government should control all means of production and distribution of goods and working people should control their own lives and destinies

13. Communism Believes capitalists exploit workers Need revolution to achieve change Government should control ALL production and distribution of goods. Everyone works toward the same goal. There are no wealthy and poor classes. All are equal. Supports taking power from the rich and giving to the working class. Socialism Equality is the main focus. Public ownership of energy, resources, transportation, housing, and other basic industries. Free services in health and education. People should own and control industry through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups. Does not support taking all power from the rich and giving it to the working class

14. The statement below is from a political party platform. We, the workers and our allies, need to take power from the hands of the wealthy few, their corporations, and their political operatives. Which political party's position is represented in the statement? A. Communist B. Democratic C. Republican D. Socialist

15. Which issue represents a basic disagreement between Socialists and Communists? a.Whether income taxes should be lowered b.Whether conditions for workers should be improved c.Whether all private businesses should be replaced by state ownership d.Whether the government should provide public services like free education and health care