1.MAKE SURE YOUR

COMMERCIAL IS READY!

 

First 5

1. A QUASI -FREE MARKET MODEL THAT SAYS SOME IDEAS AND BELIEFS WILL FLOURISH AND OTHERS FAIL BASED ON FREE CHOICE

2. THIS MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS GENERATES PUBLIC OPINION

 

Marketplace of Ideas & Elections

Marketplace of Ideas 

Before the 19th century the strata of society were deeply divided, caused by a lack of usable roads lack of effective communication media (illiteracy) lack of a common language Class differences that affected languages, religion,

experiences

Marketplace of Ideas 

During the 19th century the Western world begins to establish this marketplace establishes a single national language (US efforts to

teach immigrants English)

establishes widespread literacy (compulsory education)

building of roads, railroads, and telegraphs (cell phones ??)

legal protection for free expression of ideas

Marketplace of Ideas 

This “marketplace of ideas” has created certain fundamental values in the US: Equality of opportunity Individual freedom – limited role for government Democracy

We see less of a commitment to these values elsewhere. Why? Never had a feudal aristocracy Never had strong Socialist movements

Elections

Why do we want voting?

promotes accountability of leaders

is an institution of legitimization

safety valve for social discontent

offers groups protection against governmental abuse

How do we encourage voting?

Laws ensure the public notification of location, date and the registration process

Civic education either through student government or curriculum that encourages voting but not direct participation (i.e. protests)

Party system that assists with registration, civic education and party machines

party loyalty creates a reason to vote

How does the government control elections?

1. electoral composition

voting requirements - property, race, gender, age, etc…

registration requirements - must register before election as a way to limit fraud

because it requires an abstract commitment to voting – the more educated tend to vote, meaning the poor and

less educated vote less often

How does the government control elections?

2. Translating voters choice into electoral impact

a) Criteria for winning majority - 50% + 1

plurality - greatest # of votes (mostly used in the US) helps larger, more powerful groups

proportional - parties awarded seats based on % of  votes helps smaller, weaker groups, but creates coalition

governments that can be unstable

How does the government control elections?

b) electoral districts (in the US House) The number of representatives is set at 435 in 1910

(originally one for every 30,000 people as described as the minimum ratio in Article One, Section Two, Clause Three)  now roughly one seat for every 700,000

The process for allocating seats is: Census - Constitutionally required every 10 years Reapportionment - Seats reallocated based upon

shifting population Redistricting -- State legislatures draw boundaries 

How does the government control elections?

Baker v Carr (1962) (Chief Justice Earl Warren)

Supreme Court says the courts can intervene in redistricting issues

Reynolds v Sims (1964) (Chief Justice Earl Warren)

established "one man, one vote" that required that each individual had to be weighted the same in terms of legislative representation  (i.e. that districts have to be the same population size)

under the Equal Protection Clause

These two rulings mean that that court appeals are now almost always the fourth step in redrawing House districts 

How does the government control elections?

Another wrinkle in redistricting is  gerrymandering (mass. Gov. Elbridge Gerry) - manipulating districts to try to influence outcome The South used gerrymandering in the 60s and 70s to

deny African American officials office the practice of “cracking” would divide African American

communities into different districts as an effort to limit African American representatives

In response we see the rise of “benign gerrymandering” as an effort to increase minority representation -- a 1982 amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 actually requires it, when possible

Gerrymandering Cases

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Court rules that white voters had standing to sue if

voting boundaries were so “bizarre” as to be explained only by the effort to ensure the election of minority representatives

Miller v. Johnson (1995) If race was a “predominant factor” in the drawing of

district lines then it is presumptively constitutionalBush v. Vera and Shaw v. Hunt

struck down boundaries that put too much emphasis on race

Electoral College

c) Insulating decision-making processes The Electoral College (538 electors, 270 (i.e. a majority)

or above to win) Each state gets the number of electors equal to its # or

reps and senators Voters actually casting ballots for a state of electors

Most states it is all or nothing In Maine and Nebraska it is divided (by congressional

districts and senate votes for statewide winners) It’s left up to the house if no majority emerges

Electoral College

Can be undemocratic Calif Oregon 54 votes 7 votes 5,000 lead for A 10,000 lead for B

Can favor rural states Alaska California 626,932 people 33,871,648 3 votes 54 votes 208,977 people per vote 627,259 people per vote

May actually favor minority groups in urban settings

Frequency of elections

Frequency of elections Senate – only 1/3 is elected at a time

Size of electoral districts Local issues rule in the House State issue rule in the Senate National issues rule in the White House

Ballot issues Party ballot – lists only candidates from that party (or straight ticket)

does not allow for a “split ticket” Australian Ballot – lists candidates by position being sought

administered by the state and allows for “split tickets” means fewer “clean sweeps”

PowerPoint Product

Need to include, but not limited to the following” 6 terms Quotes 5 pictures Charts Chapter outline

Monday November 7, 2011

First 5: Read the 18-4:Geography & The Panama Canal Answer the questions based on the map and reading