Government Government Final ReviewFinal Review

Who is Who in Who is Who in Government?Government?

Local GovernmentLocal Government– Erie County Executive = Chris Erie County Executive = Chris

CollinsCollins– Mayor of Kenmore = Pat MangMayor of Kenmore = Pat Mang– Town of Ton. Supervisor = Anthony Town of Ton. Supervisor = Anthony

CaruanaCaruana State GovernmentState Government

– David Patterson = GovernorDavid Patterson = Governor– Robin Schimminger = AssemblymanRobin Schimminger = Assemblyman

Who is Who in Who is Who in Government?Government?

National GovernmentNational Government– John Roberts = Supreme Court Chief John Roberts = Supreme Court Chief

JusticeJustice– Nancy Pelosi = Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi = Speaker of the House– Hillary Clinton = Secretary of StateHillary Clinton = Secretary of State

Primary ElectionPrimary Election

a method by which a political party a method by which a political party chooses its nominees for public officechooses its nominees for public office

winners of primary elections run winners of primary elections run against nominees of other parties in against nominees of other parties in the general electionthe general election

unique U.S. institution, born in the era unique U.S. institution, born in the era of political reform at the beginning of of political reform at the beginning of the 20th centurythe 20th century

**choice is private****choice is private**

CaucusesCaucuses

The word "caucus" means: "to gather The word "caucus" means: "to gather together and make a great noise."together and make a great noise."

series of party meetings where there is series of party meetings where there is much debatemuch debate

At each level, party members vote for At each level, party members vote for delegates who will take their opinions delegates who will take their opinions on the choice of presidential candidate on the choice of presidential candidate forward to the next levelforward to the next level

**choice is public****choice is public**

The ElectorateThe Electorate

The electorate refers to the The electorate refers to the eligible voting population in a eligible voting population in a country.country.

Any US citizen, 18 years of age Any US citizen, 18 years of age with no felonies, is allowed to with no felonies, is allowed to vote as long as they are vote as long as they are registered. registered.

Who is Who is mostmost likely to likely to vote?vote? Higher education level (*best Higher education level (*best

indicator*)indicator*) Higher incomeHigher income Older (the elderly)Older (the elderly) Married (influenced by spouse)Married (influenced by spouse) WhiteWhite SuburbsSuburbs

Who is Who is leastleast likely to likely to vote?vote? Lower education levelLower education level Lower incomeLower income YoungerYounger SingleSingle MinorityMinority Rural AreasRural Areas

VotingVoting

Voting in presidential elections is the Voting in presidential elections is the most common form of political activitymost common form of political activity

However, many people don’t vote. However, many people don’t vote. Why?Why?– Too busyToo busy– Don’t careDon’t care– My vote doesn’t countMy vote doesn’t count– Issues don’t concern meIssues don’t concern me– LazyLazy

Political SpectrumPolitical Spectrum

LiberalsLiberals ModeratesModerates Conservatives Conservatives

* Most people are moderates (in * Most people are moderates (in the middle)the middle)

What is a political What is a political party?party? An organized group who share An organized group who share

common beliefs, who work common beliefs, who work together to:together to:– Win electionsWin elections– Control governmentControl government– Set public policySet public policy

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

George Washington and the George Washington and the Founders of the Constitution Founders of the Constitution believed that political parties believed that political parties were:were:– InevitableInevitable– A danger to the nationA danger to the nation

Democratic Platform Democratic Platform IdeasIdeas

Social equalitySocial equality Government involvement in the Government involvement in the

lives of the peoplelives of the people Funded programsFunded programs Protect resources and Protect resources and

environmentenvironment

Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

Types of PeopleTypes of People– Blacks Blacks – LatinosLatinos– Labor unionsLabor unions– ImmigrantsImmigrants– Little educationLittle education– JewsJews– LiberalsLiberals– MinoritiesMinorities

RegionRegion– Urban areasUrban areas– NortheastNortheast– West Coast West Coast

(California)(California)

Party SymbolsParty Symbols

The Donkey represents the The Donkey represents the Democrats.Democrats.

President Andrew Jackson was President Andrew Jackson was depicted as a “Jackass.”depicted as a “Jackass.”

Republican Platform Republican Platform IdeasIdeas

Family valuesFamily values Religion (schoolprayer is OK)Religion (schoolprayer is OK) Less Gov’t involvementLess Gov’t involvement Wealthy/prosperous economy Wealthy/prosperous economy

more important than the more important than the environmentenvironment

Republican PartyRepublican Party

Types of PeopleTypes of People– WASPsWASPs– EducatedEducated– BusinessesBusinesses– Professional Professional

groupsgroups– WealthyWealthy– ConservativesConservatives

RegionRegion– SuburbsSuburbs– WestWest– MidwestMidwest– Rural areasRural areas– SouthSouth

Party SymbolsParty Symbols

The Elephant represents the The Elephant represents the Republicans.Republicans.

Why? Ulysses S. Grant was Why? Ulysses S. Grant was portrayed as a marching portrayed as a marching elephant.elephant.

What is the Solid What is the Solid South?South? Southern States strictly vote for Southern States strictly vote for

the same partythe same party

The Civil WarThe Civil War

Just after the Civil War, the Solid Just after the Civil War, the Solid South voted overwhelmingly South voted overwhelmingly Democratic because the focus of Democratic because the focus of the Republican Party was the the Republican Party was the issue of anti-slavery (slavery issue of anti-slavery (slavery existed in the South and was existed in the South and was eventually outlawed).eventually outlawed).

What is Realignment?What is Realignment?

A long term shift in voting A long term shift in voting patterns from one party to patterns from one party to anotheranother– The Solid South!The Solid South!

Realignment of the Realignment of the SouthSouth The Solid South realigned in the The Solid South realigned in the

1950s-1960s to the Republican Party1950s-1960s to the Republican Party Southerners believed Democrats Southerners believed Democrats

were becoming too liberal, supporting were becoming too liberal, supporting the Civil Rights Movementthe Civil Rights Movement

Southern White voters now vote for Southern White voters now vote for RepublicansRepublicans

Straight Party TicketStraight Party Ticket

Voting for all the candidates of Voting for all the candidates of one partyone party– Ex) I voted for all the Democratic Ex) I voted for all the Democratic

candidates in the last electioncandidates in the last election

Split TicketSplit Ticket

Vote cast on one ballot for Vote cast on one ballot for candidates of two or more candidates of two or more different political partiesdifferent political parties– Ex) Voting for a Democratic Ex) Voting for a Democratic

President, a Republican President, a Republican Congressman, and an Independent Congressman, and an Independent legislatorlegislator

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

The Electoral College influences The Electoral College influences candidates to campaign in the candidates to campaign in the states with the most electoral votes states with the most electoral votes (states with largest population). (states with largest population).

California, Texas, & New York have California, Texas, & New York have the most number of electoral votes.the most number of electoral votes.

Other “showdown states” include Other “showdown states” include Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.

Third PartiesThird Parties

In the U.S., we have a two-party In the U.S., we have a two-party system, yet several third parties system, yet several third parties have emerged throughout time.have emerged throughout time.

Although third parties do not have Although third parties do not have much power in elections, they serve much power in elections, they serve a greater purpose:a greater purpose:– they discuss issues and concerns that they discuss issues and concerns that

the two main parties would otherwise the two main parties would otherwise ignore!ignore!

Why do politicians Why do politicians need money?need money? To campaign To campaign To set up ads (photo-ops, To set up ads (photo-ops,

commercials)commercials) To hold dinnersTo hold dinners To travel to states (hold rallies)To travel to states (hold rallies) To educate votersTo educate voters

Soft MoneySoft Money

Soft money refers to Soft money refers to unlimitedunlimited donations to the donations to the political political partiesparties for the purpose of for the purpose of party-party-buildingbuilding activities. activities.

Most recently given to 527 groups Most recently given to 527 groups without any real limitswithout any real limits

Hard MoneyHard Money

Hard money refers to money Hard money refers to money donated to a specific political donated to a specific political candidate.candidate.

Regulated to $1,000 a year per Regulated to $1,000 a year per candidatecandidate

Political Action Political Action Committees (PACs)Committees (PACs) Set up by an interest groupSet up by an interest group Their main function is to raise and Their main function is to raise and

contribute funds to a candidate contribute funds to a candidate Given to the candidate that Given to the candidate that

appears to agree with the beliefs appears to agree with the beliefs of their interest groupof their interest group

EX) MADD will give $ to a EX) MADD will give $ to a candidate that promises stricter candidate that promises stricter DWI lawsDWI laws

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Influence the political process by:Influence the political process by:– Appealing to public opinionAppealing to public opinion– Lobbying (lobbyists provide info to Lobbying (lobbyists provide info to

legislators and the public)legislators and the public)– Contributing $ to candidatesContributing $ to candidates

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Most IG’s in Washington, DC Most IG’s in Washington, DC represent corporations and represent corporations and businessesbusinesses

Allow individuals to speak in a Allow individuals to speak in a louder, combined voicelouder, combined voice

People join IG’s because they feel People join IG’s because they feel strongly about the goal the IG is strongly about the goal the IG is trying to achievetrying to achieve

The MediaThe Media

Decides what issues to focus on, thus Decides what issues to focus on, thus affecting which issues the public affecting which issues the public thinks are importantthinks are important

The media also has 4 major The media also has 4 major functions:functions:

– InformsInforms– EntertainsEntertains– InvestigatesInvestigates– AdvertisesAdvertises

Impact of the MediaImpact of the Media

PositivesPositives– CompetitionCompetition– Gain appealGain appeal– Make profitMake profit

NegativesNegatives– SensationalismSensationalism– Too critical of Too critical of

gov’t gov’t – Too invasiveToo invasive

The MediaThe Media

Free MediaFree Media– Hillary Clinton appears on the Hillary Clinton appears on the

Tonight Show with Jay LenoTonight Show with Jay Leno– Hillary Clinton attends a rally in Hillary Clinton attends a rally in

downtown Buffalo – all local news downtown Buffalo – all local news stations cover the storystations cover the story

*No control over what is shown in the *No control over what is shown in the mediamedia

The MediaThe Media

Paid MediaPaid Media– Barack Obama pays for a TV Barack Obama pays for a TV

commercial promoting himself as commercial promoting himself as the best Democratic Presidential the best Democratic Presidential candidate for the 2008 election.candidate for the 2008 election.

*Can control what is seen/heard*Can control what is seen/heard

Media as the EliteMedia as the Elite

The Media is sometimes called The Media is sometimes called the “4the “4thth Branch of Government” Branch of Government”

The media acts as a “lens” and The media acts as a “lens” and has the power to:has the power to:– Present a candidate as good or evilPresent a candidate as good or evil– Ignore a candidateIgnore a candidate– Distort our perception of candidatesDistort our perception of candidates

Other Things to Other Things to Study…Study… Pillars of DemocracyPillars of Democracy Bill of Rights & Important AmendmentsBill of Rights & Important Amendments

– 1st Amendment1st Amendment– 10th Amendment10th Amendment– 14th Amendment14th Amendment– 15th Amendment15th Amendment– 19th Amendment19th Amendment– 26th Amendment26th Amendment

GOOD LUCK!!GOOD LUCK!!