UNIT 6 PART 5

Gerrymandering, Political Parties, etc.

GERRYMANDERING

Gerrymandering: To divide an area into a voting district so as to give an unfair advantage to one political party over another.

THE STORY…. In 1812 Elbridge Gerry was the

governor of Massachusetts. He was up for re-election in 1812 He knew that he could not win the

way the district lines were drew through out his state.

So… he re-drew the lines to have an advantage and win the election

He did this through “cracking” and “Packing” the districts.

Gilbert Stuart created the cartoon - putting Gerry and mander together – (gerry his last name and mander from salamander)

CRACKING VS. PACKING

“Packing”: Drawing district lines to “pack” votes in one district to favor that political party

“Cracking”: Drawing district lines to divide or “cracking” a concentration of votes of one political party – to win

DEMOCRAT VS. REPUBLICAN

Basics: How much government involvement do you like?Democrats: More government

involvement. Government provides more stuff; states have less control. More Liberal (like change)

Republicans: Less government involvement. You provide for yourself; states have more control. More conservative (likes things traditional, the way they are/were)

WHO DOES CONGRESS REPRESENT?

Constituents – anyone who is represented… ALL OF US

CONGRESS SET UP.. THE HOUSE

CONGRESS SET UP.. THE SENATE

CONTROL OF THE FLOOR!

Filibuster – Legislative tactic to stall the legislative process. A senator holds the floor by continually talking. As long as they stay in the chamber and talk they can prevent anything else from happening. from a Dutch word meaning "pirate" -- became

popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

Cloture: developed to stop a filibuster. Requires a 3/5 majority vote (60 senators).

Congressional Budget Office - CBO – Provides financial experts to help congress establish a budget year to year.

General Accounting Office – GAO – Study an agencies spending.

Government Printing Office – GPO – Prints everything congress and Washington needs

Library of Congress – Holds all the important books, legal documents, and important American historical items. Holds over 100 million items.

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INTEREST GROUPS AND LOBBYISTS

Interest Group: An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy – without running for office

Many types of Interest Groups: labor unions, doctors, education, environmental… Serria Club – Environment Green Peace - Environment Planned Parenthood - Abortion National Right to Life - Abortion Mothers Against Drunk Driving – Alcohol PETA – animal rights

INTEREST GROUPS AND LOBBYISTS

Lobbyists: Representatives of interest groups.

Lobbyists try to convince members of Congress to support policies favored by the groups they represent

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

Political Action Committees (PAC’s): political fund-raising organizations established by corporations, labor unions, and other special interest groups.

PACs uses its funds to support lawmakers who favor the PAC’s positions on issues