Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics

1. Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics Unit III: Political Parties, Interest Groups & the Mass Media

2. Unit III: Essential Questions • Does the two-party system and the modern election process speak to the needs and political desires of the nation? • What effect do interest groups have on the American political system, and do they more promote or undermine democracy? • How has the media become so influential in US politics?

3. III.1 – Political Parties & the Two Party System • What are political parties and what role have they played in American politics?

5. III.1 Vocabulary - bolter parties- doctrinal parties- independent candidates- national convention- party de-alignment- party realignment- party era- party platform- political parties- single-issue parties- third parties- two-party system

6. III.1 – The Two-Party System

7. III.1 – Development of Political Parties • 1788-1817: Early Federal Period • 1817-1829: Era of “Good Feeling” • 1829-1854: Second Party Era (Jackson) • 1854-1877: Civil War / Reconstruction • 1877-1890: Gilded Age / Industrialization • 1890-1920: Progressive Era • 1932-1945: Depression / New Deal • 1945-1965: Civil Rights • 1965-Present: Modern Era

9. III.1 – The Two-Party System Jacksonian Democracy Andrew Jackson: “I have only two regrets: I didn't shoot Henry Clay and I didn't hang John C. Calhoun.” John C. Calhoun was his Vice President

11. III.2 –Congressional Elections & Apportionment - apportionment- coattails- congressional campaign committee- critical election- incumbent/incumbency- gerrymandering- lame duck- open seat- plurality election- redistricting- safe seat- sophomore surge

12. III.2 – Congressional Elections & Apportionment • House • 25 • 7 Years citizen • Live in state • Two year term • Population • Always popular vote • Senate • 30 • 9 Years citizen • Live in state • Six year term • 1/3 each cycle • Two per state • 17thAmendment

13. III.3 – Primaries & Party Conventions - blanket primary- caucus- closed primary- critical election- delegates- front-loading- general election- national convention- open primary- party platform- plurality election- post-convention bounce- primary- split ticket voting-superdelegates

14. III.4 – Campaign Commercials • Media • Mass Media • Broadcast Media • Horse-race journalism

15. III.5 – The Electoral College - blue states- critical election- electoral college- plurality election- red states- safe state- swing state- winner-take-all system • Essential Question: How does the electoral college affect presidential campaign strategies?

16. III.5 – Electoral College by the Numbers and Dates • Total Votes – 538 • Note: These are not the “electors”, it is simply where the numbers come from! • 435 House of Representatives (proportional) • 100 Senators (two per state) • 3 for Washington D.C. (23 Amendment) • Number needed to win – 270 • No majority = House picks President Senate picks Vice President

17. III.5 – Electoral College by the Numbers and Dates • Election Day • First Tuesday after first Monday in November • Electors Meet in States • First Monday after second Wednesday in Dec. • New Congress Sworn In • January 3, 2017 • Congress Counts Electors • January 6, 2017

18. III.5 – Why an Electoral College? • Why did the 'founders' decide on using the electoral college to choose the president? • How was the election of 2000 a test of the electoral college system? • What hope did the 'founders' have about the electoral college that was never realized? Why not?

19. III.5 – Elections with Issues • President = • Educated Man + • Political Knowledge + • Popular Vote + • Electoral Vote

20. III.5 – Elections with Issues • 1800 • Jefferson / Burr – electoral tie • HOR picks Jefferson • 1824 • JQ Adams – Electoral • Jackson - Popular • 1876* • RB Hayes –Electoral • Tilden – Popular • Contested results – Compromise of 1877 • 1888 • B. Harrison – Electoral • Cleveland - Popular • 2000 • GW Bush – Electoral • Gore - Popular • 2016 • Trump – Electoral • Clinton - Popular

21. III.6 – Divided Government • Divided Government • Presidency held by one party • One or both houses of Congress by the other • When? • Has been the norm since 1969 • Why? • Split ticket voting • Increasing number of Independent voters • Executive and Legislative branches elected separately

22. III.6 - Divided Government • Weaknesses • Political Gridlock • Partisan Bickering • Nixon resignation • Clinton impeachment • Strengths • Forces parties to work together • Can lead to more effective oversight of Executive Branch

23. III.7 – Campaign Finance, PACs & 527s 527 groupsBipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)Buckley v. Valeo (1976)Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)class actions suitsFederal Election Campaign Act (1971)free ridersMcConnell v. Federal Election Commission (2003)political action committees (PACs)soft moneysuper PACs

24. III.7 – Campaign Finance, PACs & 527s • Is money given to political campaigns a form of free speech? The Supreme Court says it is, and thus any limitations put on one's ability to donate to political candidates are difficult to set. Since the 1970s, campaign finance has played an increasingly important role in determining the success and failure of political candidates. Indeed, many argue that the candidate with the most money has the best chance at winning.

33. III.9 – The Mass Media blogblogospherebroadcast mediahorse-race journalismlinkage institutionmass mediamediumnew mediaprint mediapublic agendasound bite

34. III.9 – The Mass Media • Questions: • What is the role of the media in the American political system? • Are the television and mainstream print media biased? • How does the media help shape debate on the issues?