ELECTIONS & VOTINGChapters 7, 8, & 9

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Chapter 7

• The nominating process is a key part of an election because it narrows the field of possible candidates

• Five Ways to Nominate Candidates:

THE NOMINATING PROCESS

Self-Announcement A person declares him or herself to be a candidate

Petition A candidate gets a certain number of qualified voters to sign a petition

Caucus A group of like-minded people meet to select candidates

Convention A political party’s members meet to select candidates

Direct Primary An election is held within a party to pick its candidatesCandidates in most States are now nominated in direct primaries.

• The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life.

• Election Procedures

ELECTIONS

The Basics of Election Procedure

• Elections are largely governed by State law• Aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law• Voting takes place in voting districts called precincts• Within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places• A ballot is used to register a person’s votes• Most States use a form of the Australian ballot – either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot

Election procedures are clearly established by State law and, in some regards, federal law as well.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=election+day+precincts&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=vwsdpjhdYh757M&tbnid=ay41toMYtItoCM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/Ken-Walshs-Washington/2012/11/06/election-day-and-the-secrets-of-americans&ei=QPkzUdnYNoi-9QT2lYDgDw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNG0HtHWqrZ3mMJGd10-uv985YTdkA&ust=1362447015540467

• The use of money, a needed campaign resource that poses a variety of problems, is regulated in today’s elections.

• Political Campaign Money

MONEY & ELECTIONS

Political Campaign Money

contributions

publ

ic

subsidies

Stat

e Tr

easu

ries

Fede

ral

trea

sury

priv

ate

indi

vidu

als

fam

ilies

Cand

idat

es

them

selv

es

PACs

Fede

ral E

lect

ion

Com

mis

sion

Regulates federal elections

Does not regulate soft money

Does regulate hard money

Campaign money comes from both public and private sources and is regulated by the Federal Election Commission

MASS MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINIONChapter 8

• Several factors, including family and education, help to shape a person’s opinions about public affairs

• Factors That Shape Public Opinion

THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION

Mass media

education occupation

Historic events

race

Opinion leaders Peer

groups

family

PUBLIC OPINION

Many factors play a part in shaping public opinion

• Of the methods for measuring public opinion, polls are the most effective

• Measuring Public Opinion

MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION

PUBLIC OPINION

• Random sample• Quota sample

Indicators of public Opinion

Accurate Measures of Public Opinion

Election

results

Interest

Groups

MediaPerson

al Contac

ts

Scientific Polling

• The media are our most important sources of political information

• The Mass Media

THE MASS MEDIA

Mass Media tele

visi

on

radio

Oth

er

med

ia

Internet

videocassettes

audiocassettes

films

books

new

spap

er

s

mag

azines

The many forms of mass media greatly impact American politics.

INTEREST GROUPS

Chapter 9

• Interest groups offer Americans an important means of influencing U.S. public policy

• Are Interest Groups Good or Bad?

THE NATURE OF INTEREST GROUPS

INTEREST GROUPS

Positives Negatives

1. Help stimulate interest in public affairs

2. Are based on shared views, not shared geography

3. Provide information to government

4. Keep tabs on government5. Can limit each other’s

extremes

1. Can have more influence than they deserve

2. Difficult to figure out how many people they represent

3. Some do not represent the views of all the people for whom they claim to speak

4. Some engage in dishonest behavior

The political power of interest groups is viewed both positively and negatively.

• Interest groups are formed around many issues, such as public interest and economics

• Types of Interest Groups

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS

PURPOSE EXAMPLE

To promote business American Bankers Association

To organize labor Fraternal Order of Police

To protect agricultural interests National Farmers Union

To promote professions American Medical Association

To promote social programs Veterans of Foreign Wars

For religious purposes American Jewish Congress

For the public good League of Women Voters

Interest groups work for an array of public policies that benefit their members.

• Interest groups use propaganda, form political action committees, and engage lobbyists in order to influence public policy.

• Techniques Used by Interest Groups

INTEREST GROUPS AT WORK

Techniques Used by Interest Groups to

Achieve Their Goals

PropagandaPersuasive techniques aimed at influencing

individual and group behaviors to create certain beliefs

PACsPolitical action committees that work for or against political candidates and may make

campaign contributions

LOBBYINGBringing pressure to bear on all aspects of

the making of pubic policy

Interest groups use various techniques to influence public opinion, political parties, and the making of public policy