Starter Questions (1 paragraph response)…

First, let me say that the postings for the Current Events wiki look good. I am waiting to make comments until later this weekend when you have responded to your classmates postings. 

. Now for the starter... You need to write an answer to only one starter. (1) If you watched Romney's speech last night, take a copy of "Analysis: Romney Speech...". Either refute that article OR provide your own evaluation of the speech. (2) If you didn't, please take a copy of Clint Eastwood articles (1 & 2)

When celebrity endorsements are promoted, what risks do the politician and celebrity face? How is that risk different from an endorsement agreement between a celebrity and corporation?

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

By Mr. MiguelAcademy of Our Lady of Guam

Overview

What the founders were thinking when they established a role for elections, and the potential roles that elections can play in a democracy

Americans’ ambivalence about the vote and the reasons that only about half of the citizenry even bother to exercise what is supposed to be a precious right

How voters go about making decisions, and how this in turn influences the character of presidential elections

The organizational and strategic aspects of running for the presidency

What election means for citizens

Consider this...

Was the United States in a constitutional crisis in the 2000 Florida election?

Had the will of the people been thwarted?

Could the new president – whoever it may be – govern effectively under such dim circumstances?

Are elections a state matter? Should they be turned over to the national government?

Is the electoral college merely an arcane institution that needs to be replaced?

The Founder’s Intentions

The Function of Elections

Selection of Leaders

Policy Direction

Citizen Development

Informing the Public

Containing Conflict

Legitimization and System Stability

Selection of Leaders

John Stuart Mill

“the natural tendency of representative government…is toward collective mediocrity; and this tendency is increased by all reductions and extensions of the franchise, their effect being to place the principal power in the hands of classes more and more below the highest level of instruction in the community”

The Truth?

Process scares off candidates

Elections ONLY ensure the leader chosen = most popular on ballot

Policy Direction

We do note vote on policies

How responsive are they to our interests?

*elections speed up the process by which changes in public preferences are translated into policy

Citizen Development

Passive -> Active

Political efficacy: citizens feelings of effectiveness in political affairs

Informing the Public

Containing Conflict

Legitimization and System Stability

Exercising the Right to Vote in America

Age

Gender

Income

Education

Race and Ethnicity

Summary: Wealthy, college-

educated, older whites voted at a rate of 95% in 2004

whereas poor, young, minority group members who went no further than high school estimated at 54%

Who votes and who doesn’t?

Why Don’t People Vote?

Legal Obstacles

Attitude Changes

Voter Mobilization

Decrease in Social Connectedness

Generational Changes

The Rational Nonvoter

Legal Obstacles

Registration

Quantity of Elections

National Elections to be held on a Tuesday

Why no changes?

Why Don’t People Vote?

Legal Obstacles

Attitude Changes Psychological

orientation Partisanship

Voter Mobilization Ineffectiveness;

negativity

Decrease in Social Connectedness

Generational Changes

The Rational Nonvoter

Decrease in Social Connectedness

Generational Changes

The Rational Non-voter

Why does anyone vote?

Definition: the benefits of an action outweigh the costs

Is that true of voting?

What are the benefits?

Does Non-Voting Matter

Question

Would election outcomes would be different if nonvoters were to participate? Do higher levels of nonvoting indicate that democracy is not healthy?

Consequences for…

Election Outcomes More support for

democrats?

Democracy Non-voting can

influence the stability and legitimacy of democratic government

Sometimes, as little as 25% of eligible electorate may have voted for the winner

Essential Questions

Are we being properly representative?

Why are the voting turnout rates so low?

How can we fix it? Is it necessary to fix it?

How the Voter Decides

Partisanship and Social Group Membership

Gender, Race, and Ethnicity

Issues and Policy

The Candidates

Partisanship and Group Membership

Party Identification Usually stable and long term Carries from one election to another Strong direct influence on voting decisions

Unusual conditions can prompt change JFK in 1960s

Gender, Race, and Ethnicity

Unclear

Gender Gap Women tend to support Dem. Married women = more conservative than single

women

African Americans Since Civil Rights movement – 90% Democrat

Ethnicity = less predictive than race as it differs from state to stae

Issues and Policy

Ideal Citizen: Well informed, highly attentive, analytial, casitng votes for the candidate who BEST represents their preferred policy solutions

BUT, we know…Americans generally do not fit this model

Role of Issues People are busy People know where they stand on issues Media is not as substantive as it should be

Issues and Policy

Prospective Voting

PV = voters base their decisions on what will happen in the future if they vote for a candidate

Retrospective Voting

RV = casting votes as signs of approval or to signal their desire for change

Voters decide partly on what candidates promise to do and partly on what incumbents have done

Candidates

Public Image

Stance on issues

Other qualities Obama

Experience – 54% McCain Theme – 54% Obama Temperament - 55% Obama Optimism – 62% Obama

Summary: voters come to a conclusion through a mix of partisan considerations, membership in

social groups, policy information, and candidate image