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Political Participation
American Government
Political Participation
Political Ideology
Political Party
Two-Party System
Campaigns
Elections
Voting
Political Ideology
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Political Ideology
A set of beliefs about the role of government and what policies government ought to pursue.
Political Ideology
Govt.
control
Conservative
Definition:
S
O
C
I
A
L
Totalitarian
Definition:
Libertarian
Definition:
Liberal
Definition:
Freedom
ECONOMIC
Govt. control
Ideologies
Conservatism: A set of beliefs that include a limited role of national
government in helping individuals, support for traditional values
and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.
Liberalism: A set of beliefs that include the advocacy of positive
government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support
for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.
Totalitarianism: Exercising complete control over the freedom,
will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic. The political
concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state
authority.
Libertarianism: Advocating individual rights and minimum
government involvement in public affairs.

Theme in Politics = Liberty (freedom) versus Control (Order)
Political Parties
A political party is an organization of citizens who wish to
influence and control government by getting their members
elected to office. Political parties:
express the voice of citizens
inform citizens
involve citizens in the democratic political process.
recruit and nominate candidates
raise $
support campaigns
provide organization in government
political parties set goals for the government
advocate issues
write party platform and position statements (planks).
are “watchdogs” (keep other parties accountable)
Brief Party History
“If I could not go to heaven but with a party [political],
I would not go there at all” -T. Jefferson
Federalist party – Alexander Hamilton (1789-1800), supported
strong central gov.; opposed by Anti-Federalists.
Democratic-Republican party, Thomas Jefferson (1800s-1834),
opposed strong national gov. and supported states’ rights. Became
Democratic party 1828 (Jackson).
Whig party (1834) opposed democrats and specifically “king
Andrew” (royal tyranny)
Republican party born in 1854 by members opposed to slavery.
Lincoln first Republican President in 1860. Republican party
dominated until 1930s, FDR, Democrat.
Republican and Democratic parties prevail since 1854.
Two-Party System
U.S. Politics - Red or Blue - Why?
1.
Winner Takes All
discourages “spoiler” vote on other candidates not likely to
win
Alternative is “proportional representation” (5% of votes =
5% of seats in legislative body)
2.
Duality of political issues
Two sides to major conflicts (Fed/Anti-Fed, life/choice)
two-sided debates = no room for third [party] point of view
3.
Tradition
Republicans (GOP) and Democrats already make up majority
of government members and leadership.
Third Parties
Third Parties also form to support a cause or candidate
Influence elections by winning votes, press issues, often don’t receive as
much financial support.
Few third-party candidates get elected to office
Examples:
Tea Party
Green Party (Ralph Nader)
Reform Party (Ross Perot received 19% of pres. Vote in 92)
Libertarian
Constitution Party
“Bull Moose” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1912)
Progressive
Socialist
Free Soil
Party Organization
Both parties have local, state, and national
organizations.
http://www.gop.com/ RNC
http://www.democrats.org/ DNC
http://www.pagop.org/ State
http://www.padems.com/home State
http://yorkgop.com/ Local
http://www.yorkdems.org/ Local
Free Membership (register to vote)
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Choosing Candidates
Self-nomination, write-in candidate
Caucus – meeting of party members/leaders (Iowa)
Direct Primary – election by party members for candidate to run for
office
New Hampshire Primary (New England)
Iowa Caucus (Midwest)
South Carolina (South)
Nevada (West)
Closed primary – must be party member to vote
Open primary – no membership required but may only vote in 1
party primary.
National Convention, every 4 years, write national party platform and
nominate candidates for President and VP.
Campaign Financing
“There are four parts to any campaign. The candidate, the issues
of the candidate, the campaign organization, and the money to
run the campaign with.” - Former Speaker Tip O’Neill
Need at least 30 million to run for president.
Obama 750 Million?
Campaign Laws limiting contributions. Why?
Federal Election Commission
Political Propaganda
Definition(s):
Propaganda, simply put, is the manipulation of public
opinion.
Ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further
one's cause or to damage an opposing cause. (MerriamWebster)
A message that is meant to influence people’s ideas,
opinions, or actions. (Textbook)
Common Techniques:
Name Calling, Fear, Transfer, Plain Folk, etc.
http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.ipa.html
Campaign Ads:
http://pcl.stanford.edu/campaigns/2012/
Voting
Straight Ticket versus Split Ticket?
Independent Voters (at least 35% of voters)
“Ballot” originated from Italian word, ballotta, for small ball
Based on historic “No” black ball vote (ancient Athens)
Quotes
The ballot is stronger than the bullet.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Politician. President of the United
States.
The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of
all.
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA
We don't want someone who will get 98 percent of the vote. We
want someone who will get 51 percent of the vote.
Ann Coulter
There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
"democracy is the worst form of government — except for
everything else.”
Winston Churchill
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Presidential Ballot
Barack Obama
John McCain
Elector Smith
Elector Jones
Electoral College
The Electoral College system was devised for
two reasons:
1. The Framers of the Constitution feared direct
democracy
2. To protect the interests of smaller states and
rural areas (Bicameral anyone?)
Therefore, the electoral college is a compromise
between a popular election and Congress choosing the
President.
Electors?
History Channel Video
Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution
Who chooses Electors? Who are the Electors?
State political parties, loyal party members
How many Electors in PA?
2 (Senators) + # of Reps (House) per State
Strengths and Weaknesses?
Wide support, Center of public opinion (2-party-system)
Democracy? - Overrepresentation - Discourage 3rd Party
Winner-Takes-All: http://www.270towin.com/
Does your vote count? YES!
American Politics
Electoral College: American system where a group electors pledge and
vote for the President if that candidate wins the state popular vote. The
electoral system is winner-takes-all.
Winner-Takes-All: The candidate with the most votes wins. For example,
if 5 candidates run for office and Mrs. Smith earns the highest vote total
at 30%, she wins the election.
Two-Party System: The system in American politics that favors two
parties (GOP and Democratic), discouraging third parties.

How do these systems relate to each other?
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Links
http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz
Electoral College FAQs
Potential GOP candidates
http://www.gop.com/
http://www.pagop.org/
http://www.democrats.org/
http://www.padems.com/home
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php
http://www.teapartypatriots.org/Mission.aspx
http://www.lp.org/