Participation in the USA

1. Participation in the USA • List ways that citizens can participate in politics in the USA • Why do US citizens want to participate in Politics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7JBXja7SAY

2. Participation

3. Today we will… • Describe the different ways people can participate politically in the USA. • Investigate an Interest Group in the USA and describe what it does. • Explain why voter registration and turnout is so low in America. Success Criteria • I can describe the different ways people can participate politically in the USA. • I can investigate an Interest Group in the USA and describe what it does. • I can explain why voter registration and turnout is so low in America. • I can recall how to answer a National 5 style exam question.

4. Ways Citizens can Participate Voting - On election day people can participate by turning out to vote for the Presidential candidate of their choice. e.g. In federal elections, you vote for the President every 4 years and Congress every 2 years.

5. Ways Citizens can Participate Stand as candidates– Individuals stand as candidates as they will feel strongly about an issue within their local area/state. This often provides the motivation for US citizens to stand as candidates. For example they could stand for Congress or even President. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN_Mp9ZsVXA

6. Ways Citizens can Participate Join a political party – Democrats or Republicans Being a party member lets them take part in the primary elections where you can choose your preferred candidate for President. For example, Democrats tend to be supported by the poor, unemployed and ethnic minorities. Republicans are more closely linked to the rich, big business and the middle class.

7. Ways Citizens can Participate Campaigning - Party members can get involved in election campaigns by handing out leaflets, attending party rallies and fundraising. For example, a citizen could go door to door handing out leaflets in support of the Republican Party.

8. Ways Citizens can Participate Join a Pressure group or Interest Group– these are groups which share similar views about something For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) defends the right of American citizens to own and carry guns for self defence and sporting purposes. They are a powerful group with many supporters within government

9. Political Participation in the USA – Background Knowledge Before you can vote in the USA you must be registeredto vote. In the 2012 Presidential election 65% of the total population was registered to vote (less than that actually voted on the day). Black and Hispanic voters are less likely to register, although there has been an increase in recent years. Turnout is therefore quite low.

10. Exam Style Question • Remember to state which world power you are studying. • All real-life examples must be specific to that country • The question tells you how many times to “P.E.E” Citizens can participate in politics in a number of ways. Describe, in detail, two ways a citizen can participate in politics in a world power you have studied. 6

11. Question: Citizens of world powers have political rights. Describe, in detail, two political rights that the citizens have in the world power you have studied. In your answer you should state the world power you have studied. (6 Marks)

12. Describe, in detail, the purpose of two political institutions of the government of a world power you have studied. (6 marks) One branch of the USA government is the legislative branch.The legislative branch makes the laws for the entire country and it is commonly referred to as the Congress. The Congress is split into two different parts; The House of Representatives, which has 435 members and the Senate which has 100 members.In 2018, the Congress passed a law called the Natural Disasters Tax Relief law to help ordinary American citizens following natural disasters. • Judicial • Executive