LEARNING TARGET: STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICAL BELIEFS ARE FORMED, EVOLVE AND THE...

LEARNING TARGET: STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICAL

BELIEFS ARE FORMED, EVOLVE AND THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THEY ARE TRANSMITTED. ADDITIONALLY,

STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFERING POLITICAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOR HAVE

CONSEQUENCES FOR THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS: STUDENTS WILL IDENTIFY THEIR OWN POLITICAL

AFFIL IATION, CONSIDER WHAT FACTORS HAVE INFLUENCED THESE BELIEFS AND HOW THESE

BELIEFS COULD IMPACT THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Weaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Weavers-World

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Political Beliefs and Behaviors: 10–20%

A . Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders (Chapter 6)B . Processes by which citizens learn about politics

(Chapter 6)C . The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion (Chapter 6)D . The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life (Chapters 6, 10)E . Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors (Chapter 10)Weaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License



Platform Issues

Democrats (Liberals) Platform Issues Republican (Conservative) - GOP

Increased gun control Gun Control Decrease Gun Control (Pro 2nd Amendment)

More sympathetic Immigration Less sympatheticMore for economic growth & social programs

Spending Cut spending and allow private sector growth

Pro-choice Abortion Pro-lifeMore supportive; support Gay Marriage

Gay Rights Less supportive; opposed to Gay Marriage

Tax the Rich Taxes Give Tax BREAKS to the Wealthy

End ASAP Military Fight to the finishObamaCare Health Care Keep it Private, fix it… Race to the Top Education No Child Left Behind (NCLB)Keep it; fix it Social Security Move to privatization Support it Welfare Oppose it Oppose it Death Penalty Support ItLegalize it Marijuana Keep it illegalSupport – less funding than Rep.

Homeland Security

Secure our borders

Political Affiliation and their Influences

What are your political beliefs on these issues?

What 3 issues are you the most passionate about?

Why do you believe what you believe? or

What has influenced your beliefs?




Political Typology Quiz

TYPOLOGY GROUP PROFILES

Source: Pew Research - http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/typology-comparison/

http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/

http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/typology-comparison/

Public Opinion and Demographic Statistics

Study the data provided What conclusions can you draw?

Discuss possible conclusions with your group Make a list of these conclusions as a group.

Considering the conclusions made, determine a possible thesis you could draw about Political Typology and Demographics.

Create an outline with at least 3 supporting details to explain your thesis. Focus on the “why” of your thesis (not just a longer description of the

data already presented) I.E. – Thesis: Young people tend to be bystanders

Outline… why?• Young people don’t care about politics• Young people do not realize how much government can impact them… yet• Young people are disenchanted by the arguing that takes place in politics and

doesn’t want to be a part of it. Explain your arguments to the classWeaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License

http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/typology-comparison/age/



Liberal Conservative

Under 30African AmericanHispanicWomen

Gender Gap: women more likely to support Democratic candidates (who support social services and oppose military spending)

Jews & Catholics

Over 60WhiteMidwest & South“born-again”

Christians

Political Ideology:Coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy




Public Opinion

Distribution of populations beliefs about politics and policy issues

Measured by polling Sample size – 1000 to 1500 Random Sampling – everyone should have a chance to

participate Consider Sampling error - typically 3 percent

Challenges: Prevalence of cell phones as opposed to land lines Wording of questions can be misleading


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703384204575510272945083114.html



Pro Con

Help candidates know what matters to people

“Tool for democracy”

Allows for immediate response

Politicians become followers (of public opinion) as opposed to leaders

Creates bandwagon effect

Exit polls can lower voter turnout

The Impact of Polling




American Demographics

Census indicates changes in population Every 10 years Impacts reapportionment

Growth in the West and South since WWII




Impacts on Apportionment

Source: Census.gov http://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-data.php

American Demographics

Minority Majority White majority will eventually no longer be a majority Hispanics largest minority group (15%)

Largest growing age group Citizens over 65 Impact on Social Security debate




Political Culture

Overall set of values widely shared within a society Equality Freedom Security




Political Socialization

“Process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations...”

Family #1 indicator of political affiliation

Schools Educated on values of free enterprise and democracy

“Better educated citizens are more likely to vote in elections, they exhibit more knowledge about politics and public policy, and they are more tolerant of opposing (even radical) opinions.”

Media “new parent” in terms of political socialization




François Guizot

“Not to be a republican at 20 is proof of want of heart; to be one at 30 is proof of want of head.”

Age and the impact on Politics

Stronger party attachmentIncreased voter turnout




Turnout Increases with AgeSource: Authors’ analysis of 2006 Census Bureau data.

T6-2

Americans and Public Knowledge

“dismally low”

“The paradox of mass politics is that the American political system works as well as it does given the discomforting lack of public knowledge about politics.”

- Russell Neuman


http://www.gallup.com/poll/5392/trust-government.aspx



“The American Voter”

Ideologues Connect opinions and beliefs with broad policy

positionsGroup Benefits voters

Groups they like based on benefits for their “Group”Nature of the times voters

Good times – party in power; Bad times – party out of power

No issue content group Vote on personality of candidate




Conventional Unconventional

VotingCampaigningRunning for office

ProtestCivil DisobedienceViolence

Political Participation




- “GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA”

“Americans are ideological conservatives but operational

liberals”

Nominations & Campaigns

The Road to the White House

Announce Candidacy 1-2 years before general election

Campaign Money, media, momentum

Primaries Winter/spring of election year

Nominating Conventions Win majority of delegates to win nomination at convention Not the drama it used to be

More campaigningGeneral ElectionsElectoral College


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2011/10/horse_race_politics_an_animation_of_the_2012_republican_campaign.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqEtWnkuwm8



Primaries Caucuses

Voting within state to choose nominee

Majority of statesNew Hampshire has

the first oneUsually

proportional representation when selecting delegates

Meeting to express preference for nominee

Rural statesIowa has the first

oneLower voter turnout

Selecting the Nominee


http://media.nola.com/stevekelley/photo/sk100411-colorjpg-8699b71071dd6142.jpg

http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/calendar?module=Search&mabReward=relbias:r



Nominating process

State law and Parties determine rules and guidelines for determining delegates to convention

Superdelegates – national party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention




Problems with the Nominating Process

Disproportionate attention to early statesLong campaigns cost money and timeParticipation is low and unrepresentativeMedia has power

Attention focused on New Hampshire, Iowa & the “horserace”




Nominating Convention

Opportunity to energize campaignAdopt Party PlatformPresidential Acceptance Speech




Election Reform

McGovern-Fraser Commission Create more democratic primaries by taking power

from party “bosses” and allowing for primaries to select nominee

Primary Proposals National Primary

Failure to win majority would lead to run-off elections Regional Primary

Favorite sons would have an advantage in first regions Graduate Random System

Not supported by large states




Campaigning

Media AttentionDirect MailCampaign Commercials

Most of budget spent hereImportance of the Internet




Campaign Financing

Federal Election Campaign Act Federal Election Commission

Tighten reporting requirements Limit overall expenditures

Presidential Election Campaign Fund Matching Funds

Not used since 2000

Soft money For generic party advertising Banned under McCain-Feingold Act


http://www.opensecrets.org/resources/dollarocracy/



Supreme Court and Campaign Financing

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) First amendment right upheld to spend as much as

you want on your own campaignCitizens United v. Federal Election

Commission (2010) First amendment right upheld for corporations and

unions to spend as much as they want to promote political views




Campaign Financing Loopholes

527 groups Independent groups with unlimited funding for non-

specific political campaigns501(c) groups

Unlimited contributions without reporting Half of funding on political activities

Political Action Committees (PACs) Concern of impact of PAC on winners once in office




Source: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/08/us/politics/DONATE.html?ref=politics

Cost of Campaign

Time away from real jobFundraising efforts

But $ doesn’t necessarily mean a win

Reinforce Selective perception – pay attention to what they already

agree withActivateConvert

Rarely

Promises made cost money and increase gov’t powerWeaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License



Elections and Voting Behavior

http://www.fairvote.org/research-and-analysis/voter-turnout/

http://www.fairvote.org/research-and-analysis/voter-turnout/

Elections

Legitimacy Institutionalize politics Provide regular access to political power

Primary Elections Select nominees for general elections

General Elections Select the leader for a certain position

Policy Elections Vote on legislation




Policy Elections

Referendum Voters approve or disapprove of legislation or

constitutional amendmentInitiative Petition

Citizen proposed law with enough signatures to get on ballot




Election of 1800

John Adams (Federalist)VS

Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican)Very little campaigning by candidatesUnreliable “media” coverage2 Electoral Votes cast by each elector

Leads to a tie between Burr and Jefferson House ultimately votes for Jefferson

First peaceful transfer of power between parties through the electoral process in world history!




Election of 1896

William McKinley (Republican)VS

William Jennings Bryan (Democrat)Economic debate

Republicans: gold standard and high tariffs Democrats: silver standard

Highest turnout ever in an electionNortheast & Midwest to RepublicansSouth & West to Democrats




Voting

Suffrage Legal right to vote Has increased over time… but participation has

decreasedPolitical Efficacy

Belief that your vote matters




Non-voting

No time Saturday election?

No difference between two partiesLack of political efficacyVoter Registration

In an attempt to prevent corruption Motor Voter Act (1993) in an attempt to increase

registrationElections are often (too often?)Limited choice in elections




Likely Voters

EducatedOlderWhiteWomenMarriedGovernment Workers




Voter Behavior

Mandate Theory of Elections Winner has free reign to carry out policy

Because he got elected According to that person…

Party Identification Simplifies voting process

Evaluation of Candidates Integrity, Reliability, Competence

Policy Voting – easier now than ever Voters know where they stand Voters know where candidates stand Voters see a difference between candidates Voters actually vote




Electoral College

“archaic, undemocratic, complex, ambiguous, indirect and dangerous”

Created to allow the nation’s elite to elect the President Educated “Small State Advantage” No Favorite Son


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUS9mM8Xbbw&list=UU2C_jShtL725hvbm1arSV9w



Number of Delegates per state: Based on total number of Congressmen

(Senators plus Representatives) Colorado has 9 Chosen by the political party that wins the most in the

popular voteWinner take all system

Except Maine and NebraskaElectors cast their vote in December for President

For whomever they want to…270 needed to win

No majority vote – House of Representatives decides




Problems with the Electoral College

In Case of a Tie: House of Representatives chooses the President Senate chooses Vice President

The winner of the popular vote may not become President 2000 election (and 1824, 1876, 1888)

Nothing requires an elector to vote for the candidate the people choose i.e. John Edwards in 2004


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wC42HgLA4k&list=UU2C_jShtL725hvbm1arSV9w



Pro Con

Gives smaller states “voice”

Without…$ would stay on coasts and in cities

Need a broad appeal across many states

Stability through a 2 party system

The winner can loseNot 1 person, 1 voteMinority party not

representedRegional

campaigning has limited impact

Lower voter turnout

Electoral College




Not Large or Small but SWING

Hand represent number of visits by candidates in last 5 weeks before election (2004)

$ represent $1 million spent by candidates in last 5 weeks before election (2004)

Digital Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)

Digital Image courtesy of http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/11/01/163632378/a-campaign-map-morphed-by-money

Proposed Reforms

District Plan Electoral college on district level (not state) Still could win electoral and lose popular vote Gerrymandering would be more prevalent

Proportional Plan Split states electoral vote according to % of popular vote Strengthen minor parties (don’t need entire state)

Direct Popular Election Voters directly elect President Small states would “lose power”

Electors for electoral college vote for whomever wins the popular vote Effective once 270 votes worth of states adopt this method




LEARNING TARGET: STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICAL BELIEFS ARE FORMED, EVOLVE AND THE...

Documents

Transcript of LEARNING TARGET: STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICAL BELIEFS ARE FORMED, EVOLVE AND THE...