Download Goal 4--Political Parties and Elections

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Civics and Economics EOC Study Guide
Goal 4: Political Parties and Elections
I. Development of Political Parties in the US
A. First Political Parties
1. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
-Developed over the issue of the ratification of the Constitution
B. Current Political Parties (2-party system)
1. Democrats (liberal) and Republicans (conservative)
C. Party Platform
1. Platform: a list of the political party’s beliefs and goals
2. Plank: each individual belief/goal outlined in the platform
D. Role of Political Parties
1. “Watchdog”—political parties check one another while they are in power by challenging abuses of
power and offering different solutions to the party in power
2. Select candidates to run for office
3. To inform citizens
*Mass media’s role in politics
-Media is also responsible for alerting citizens to problems
*Mass media—television, books, newspapers, magazines, radio, Internet
E. Political Machine: a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes
1. Example: Tammany Hall (Boss Tweed), New York City, late 1800s
2. Weakens our democracy because it takes control of the government out of the hands of the people
II. Elections
A. Voting
1. Must be age 18 and registered to vote
*19th Amendment—gave women the right to vote
*26th Amendment—changed the legal voting age from 21 to 18
2. How to Vote
-Split ticket: voting for candidates from different political parties
-Straight ticket: voting for candidates who are all from the same political party
-Absentee ballot: method of voting if you cannot be at the polls on elections day
B. Types of Elections
1. Primary Elections—elections held to narrow the number of candidates running for an office
-Closed primary—only declared members of a party can vote
-Open primary—people can vote for either party’s primary candidates
2. General Elections—elections held in November to determine who will hold office
3. Initiatives—method where citizens propose a new law through a petition and have it placed on the
ballot for a vote
4. Referendum—a bill is sent from a legislature and placed on the ballot for voters to approve or
disapprove the bill
5. Recall—citizens vote to remove a public official from office
C. Presidential Elections
1. Candidates go through primary elections and caucuses
2. National Party Convention
-Delegates select the official candidates to run for President and Vice-President
-Delegates write the party platform
3. General Elections
4. Electoral College
-Officially chooses the President and Vice President
-# of electoral votes per state = # of Senators + # of Representatives in Congress for that state
-Some argue that the Electoral College process reduces the voting power of citizens
D. Elections Campaigning
1. Campaigning Techniques
-Endorsements
-Canvassing—going into neighborhoods, door-to-door, passing out flyers and holding speeches in
communities
-Advertisement
*Propaganda Techniques:
1. Name Calling
4. Bandwagon
2. Symbolism
5. Just Plain Folks
3. Glittering Generalities
6. Stacked Cards
2. Campaign Financing
-Federal Elections Campaign Act (1979)
*Requires candidates to publicly disclose campaign spending
*Limited the amount that people could donate directly to candidates (hard money)
-Public Funding
*Established by the FECA
*The public donates money through their tax returns, which is divided between the 2
candidates
-Private Funding
*Largest source of campaign funds
*Political Action Committee (PAC)—large organizations created to raise money for
candidates
-McCain-Feingold Act (2002)
*Prohibits national political parties and federal office candidates from raising “soft
money”—money that a political party can use for anything
3. Incumbents
A. Definition: Someone who is already in office and seeking re-election
B. Advantages: Easier to raise campaign funds, already has media attention
III. Interest Groups
A. Organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas
B. Examples: Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association, North Carolina Association of Educators
C. What They Do
1. Elections Activities—Form PACs
2. Deal with court cases that involve their cause
3. Lobby lawmakers
-Try to influence lawmakers to pass laws that support their cause
-They may contact lawmakers, campaign for them, or donate money to their campaigns
-Some people are concerned that lobbyists have too much influence on the law-making process
-Illegal actions of lobbyists/interest groups:
*Paying a legislator’s living expenses
*Bribing a legislator
*Giving legislators gifts
-Main goal of interest groups—to lobby for legislation
-Special interest groups use the courts to change legislation, whereas PACs are only involved in
elections activities