Name Class Period UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CHAPTERS 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 CHAPTER 5 POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 5 Section 1: Parties and What They Do Political Parties, essential to democratic government, shape the way government works and perform important functions. Answer the following questions by reading Chapter 5 section 1. What is a political party? FINISH THIS CHART GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Functions of Political Parties FUNCTIONS EXPLANATION NOMINATE CANDIDATES INFORM & INSPIRE VOTERS Inform people about and stimulate interest in public affairs. ENSURE CANDIDATE QUALITY (The Bonding Agent) Try to ensure that candidates and officeholders are qualified and of good character. HELP GOVERN ACT AS WATCHDOGS Operate on partisan lines in Congress and State legislatures. Chapter 5 Section 2: The Two-Party System The United States two-party system is a result of history; several factors have helped maintain it over time.
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 2 GRAPHIC REPRESENATION: Factors Behind a Two-Party System History: Two parties have been around since the ratification of the Constitution. Describe how single-member districts promote the twoparty system: (make sure your description includes the word plurality) Consensus: Americans generally agree on key matters. American Two-Party System Tradition: That's the way it's always been. Elections: Single member districts and election laws discourage minor parties. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Two-Party System in American History The United States two major political parties have a history of alternating control of government. GRAPHIC SUMMARY: POLITICAL PARTIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY. Note: This timeline shows generalities of power. For example it doesn t show the presidents who are considered to be in the Whig political party. 1789 1860 1950 70 90 2010 Federalists Anti-Federalists; Democrats Republicans D R D R D R D R D 1800 1932 60 80 2000 Use the timeline above to answer this question. Describe how power has shifted since the mid 1900 s.
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 3 FINISH THIS CHART OF VOCABULARY TERMS: INCUMBENT FACTIONS ELECTORATE SECTIONALISM Devotion to the interests of one region. Chapter 5 Section 4: The Minor Parties Many minor parties have been active in American politics, and at times they have had important effects on elections and issues. Answer the following questions using chapter 5 section 4. What is the way minor parties contribute to the United States? Why would a major party dislike a splinter party? How is an ideological party different from a single issue party? After reading chapter 5 section 4, use your personal opinion to answer this question: If you were going to join a minor party, which one would it be and why?
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 4 Chapter 5 Section 5: Party Organization The structure of the major parties is decentralized; their different parts work together mostly during national elections. FINISH THIS CHART: GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: NATIONAL PARTY MACHINERY TERMS OR WHEN MECHANISM ROLE IS TAKES PLACE Every 4 th year, the National summer before Convention presidential election. National Committee Between conventions Mainly prepares for the next National Convention. National Chairperson Congressional Campaign For a four-year term Two years, during a term of Congress Work to re-elect incumbents and to unseat the other party s incumbents in each house. Answer the following questions using the chart above and chapter 5 section 5. What does the national committee do? Why do you think political parties focus on congressional campaigns? What are the two factors that contribute to the decentralization of the parties? (Page 138) CHAPTER 6 VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR Chapter 6 Section 1: The Right to Vote The United States expanded its electorate through the elimination of restrictions on voting qualifications. Answer the following questions using chapter 6 section. What is suffrage? What is the electorate?
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 5 GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: The Expansion of Voting Rights SPECIFIC LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LEGAL LAW DOCUMENTATION -States cannot violate any part of the Constitution when they set suffrage requirements. CONSTITUTION -States cannot have different qualifications for voting in State and federal elections. 15 TH AMENDMENT (1870) States cannot use race to determine who can vote. 19 TH AMENDMENT (1920) States cannot require people to be male to vote. 24 TH AMENDMENT (1964) States cannot use the payment of taxes to determine who can vote. 26 TH AMENDMENT (1971) States cannot require people to be older than 18 to vote. Answer the following questions using the chart above. Which Amendment gave women the right to vote? What did the 24 th Amendment do? Are there currently any States in which you cannot vote until you are 19? Chapter 6 Section 2: Voter Qualifications While all States have requirements for voting, most of those used to disenfranchise certain groups have been eliminated over time. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: How States Decide Who Can Vote VOTER QUALIFICATIONS STATUS U.S. Citizenship State Residence Required by all States. Most States require 10-50 days. (Average of 30 days) Age All States require a minimum age of 18. Voter Registration Mental Competency Criminal Record Signing up with local election officials (Required in 49 States) No State allows voting rights to anyone in a mental institution or legally considered mentally incompetent. Most States deny voting rights to anyone convicted of a serious crime.
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 6 Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 6 Section 2. Some can be answered by using the previous chart. What or who decides on voter qualifications? What is voter registration? Why do we have it? Chart Skill: Name two groups of citizens who are denied the right to vote in most States. Chart Super- Skill: How many states do not require Voter Registration? Chapter 6 Section 3: Suffrage and Civil Rights Civil Rights laws came about to protect Americans from being disenfranchised because of race. This cartoon depicts Bluto beating up Popeye. Until Popeye eats his spinach and the tables are turned Bluto Popeye Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 6 Section 3. (Read this section and think about why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is important) Which character represents the 15 th Amendment (African Americans voting)? What represents the Voting Rights Act of 1965? Which character represents the South?
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 7 Chapter 6 Section 4: Voter Behavior While low voter turnout is a serious problem, many factors influence the Americans who do vote. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Factors Influencing Voter Behavior SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS -Income -Religion -Occupation -Ethnicity -Education -Region of residence -Gender -Age -Family VOTER BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS -Party Identification -Perception of candidates -Perception of issues Answer the following questions by using the graph above. What are the two types of factors that influence voting behavior? List five sociological factors that influence voting behavior. AFTER READING CHAPTER 6 SECTION 4: FILL IN THE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE CHART BELOW TO COMPARE SOME FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE WHETHER PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. *Many people disagree with generalizations. FACTORS DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN INCOME/OCCUPATION EDUCATION GENDER/AGE RELIGION ETHNICITY GEOGRAPHY -Lower Status -Lower Income -Catholics -Jews -Many Southern States -Big Cities -Higher Status -Higher Income -Men -Older Maine, Vermont, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota; suburbs.
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 8 CHAPTER 7 THE ELECTORAL PROCESS Chapter 7 Section 1: The Nominating Process The nominating process is a key part of an election because it narrows the field of possible candidates. FINISH THE CHART BELOW *Candidates in most states are now nominated in direct primaries. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Ways to Nominate Candidates NOMINATING METHOD Self-Announcement Caucus Convention HOW IT WORKS A person declares him or herself to be a candidate. A group of like-minded people meet to select candidates. A political party s members meet to select candidates. Direct Primary Closed Primary Open Primary Petition A Candidate gets a certain number of qualified voters to sign a petition. Local Caucuses District Conventions Presidential Primaries State Conventions National Conventions CAMPAIGN Chapter 7 Section 2: Elections The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life.
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 9 GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Election Procedures THE BASICS OF ELECTION OF PROCEDURE Elections are largely governed by State law. Aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law. Voting takes place in voting districts called precincts. Within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places. A ballot is used to register a person s vote. Most States use a form of the Australian ballot either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot. Answer the following questions by using the graph above. What are voting districts called? What is used to register a person s vote? Which division of government controls most aspects of the elections? What determines the dates of national elections? Chapter 7 Section 3: Money & Elections The use of money, a needed campaign resource that poses a variety of problems, is regulated in today s elections. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Political Campaign Money individuals families private contributions candidates Political Campaig n Money PAC's (Political Action Committee) Federal Election Commission regulates federal elections does not regulate soft money public Subsidies State treasuries does regulate hard money Federal treasury
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 10 Answer the following questions by using the graph on previous page. Who gives public subsidies to campaigns? What is a PAC? What type of money does the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulate? What are the two basic sources that candidates draw their money from? CHAPTER 8 MASS MEDIA & PUBLIC OPINION Chapter 8 Section 1: The Formation of Public Opinion Several factors, including family and education, help to shape a person s opinions about public affairs. Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 8 Section 1 What is Public Opinion? What are public affairs? GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Factors That Shape Public Opinion occupation historic events race opinion leaders education peer groups family PUBLIC OPINION mass media
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 11 Chapter 8 Section 2: Measuring Public Opinion Of the methods, for measuring public opinion, polls are the most effective. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Measuring Public Opinion election results Indicators of Public Opinion interest groups media Public Opinion personal contacts Accurate Measures of Public Opinion scientific polling random sampling quota sampling Answer the following question by using the graph above. List the four indicators of public opinion. Chapter 8 Section 3: The Mass Media The media are our most important source of political information. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: The Mass Media television radio MASS MEDIA newspapers magazines books other media films internet social networks
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 12 Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 8 Section 3 A is a means of communication; media is the words plural. The Media plays a large role in setting Public Agenda. What is Public Agenda? What are sound bites? CHAPTER 9 INTEREST GROUPS Chapter 9 Section 1: The Nature of Interest Groups Interest groups offer Americans an important means of influencing U.S. public policy. Answer the following question: What is an interest Group? GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Are Interest Groups Good or Bad? INTEREST GROUPS Positives 1. helps stimulate interest in public affairs 2. are based on shared views; not shared geography 3. provide information to government 4. keep tabs on government 5. can limit each other s extremes Negatives 1. can have more influence than they deserve 2. difficult to figure out how many people they represent 3. some do not represent the views of all the people for whom they claim to speak 4. some engage in dishonest behavior Use the chart and your personal opinion to answer this question: Do you think interest groups are helpful to the United States?
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 13 Chapter 9 Section 2: Types of Interest Groups Interest groups are formed around many issues, such as public interest and economics. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Types of Interest Groups PURPOSE EXAMPLE to promote business American Bankers Association to organize labor Fraternal Order of Police to protect agricultural interests National Farmers Union to promote professions American Medical Association to promote social programs Veterans of Foreign Wars for religious purposes American Jewish Congress for the public good League of Women Voters Use the chart and your personal opinion to answer this question by writing a small paragraph. What type of interest group would help you the most?
Am Gov UNIT 3 MAIN IDEA PACKET: Political Behavior Page 14 Chapter 9 Section 3: Interest Groups at Work Interest groups use propaganda, form political action committees, and engage lobbyists in order to influence public opinion. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Techniques Used by Interest Groups PROPAGANDA persuasive techniques aimed at influencing individual and group behaviors to create certain beliefs. Techniques Used by Interest Groups to Achieve Their Goals LOBBYING bringing pressure to bear on all aspects of the making of public policy PACs political action committees that work for or against political candidates and may make campaign contributions. After reading Chapter 9 Section 3 and looking at the chart above, Answer this question: When Interest Groups are Lobbying, what exactly are they doing?