The Political Process

1. The Political Process SSCG 15 & 16

2. Standard Overview • SSCG16: Analyze the difference between involuntary and voluntary participation in civic life. • SSCG16a: Describe how and why citizens are required by law to pay taxes, serve on a jury, and register for military duty.

3. Involuntary Civic Participation • Civic duties include: • Obey the laws of the country, state, and local governments. • Pay taxes • Serving Jury Duty • Registering for the Selective Service if you are a male between 18-25

4. Standard Overview • SSCG16: Analyze the difference between involuntary and voluntary participation in civic life. • SSCG16b: Describe how citizens voluntarily and responsibly participate in the political process by voting, performing public service, being informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions.

5. Voluntary Civic Participation • Voting • In the U.S., this is not mandatory • 55% of voting age population cast ballots in 2016 • More people need to vote in order to get an accurate account of what people actually want.

6. Voluntary Civic Participation • Performing Public Service • Running for office • Volunteering in elections • Working for the public • Nurse • Teacher • Staying informed about current issues • Respecting each others opinion

7. Standard Overview • SSCG15: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections. • SSCG15a: Describe the historical development, organization, role, and constituencies of political parties.

8. Political Parties • A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and holding public office. • Partisanship is strong support of a party.

9. Political Parties • The United States has a two-party system, • The two dominant political parties are the Republicans and the Democrats. • The Republican Party tends to take a more conservative stance on issues • while the Democratic Party usually supports more liberal policy issues.

10. Republicans vs. Democrats On the Issues • Democrats support: • Gov. to solve issues • Regulations on businesses • Progressive tax system • Progressive societal structure • Limited military spending • Republicans support: • Limited government size • Fewer regulations on businesses • Lower taxes • Traditional societal structure / values • Big military

11. Standard Overview • SSCG15: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections. • SSCG15b: Describe the nomination and election process.

12. Nomination and Elections • Nomination means that a person is selected to run for public office • At the local level, people just self announce • At the national level for presidential candidates, the two major parties conduct their own state by state elections know as primaries

13. Nomination and Elections • After a winner has emerged from the primaries, a national convention is held for each party. • At the convention the… • Candidates are formally announced • Speeches are given by important members of the party in order to “bring the party together”. • A party platform is established • A platform is an outline of the parties basic principles and goals for the next 4 years.

14. Nomination and Elections • General elections are regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of officeholders. • States are in charge of elections • Each state must have… • A precinct is a voting district. The precincts are the smallest geographic units for the purpose of elections. • A ballot is the device by which a voter registers his or her choices in an election. Most ballots are cast electronically

15. Standard Overview • SSCG15: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections. • SSCG15c: Examine campaign funding and spending and the influence of special interest groups on elections.

16. Campaign Finance • Running for President costs billions. • Radio and television time • Professional campaign managers • Newspaper and online advertising, posters, bumper stickers • Office rental space, polling, mass mailings, websites, travel, etc.

17. Campaign Finance • Funding sources include: • Private donors – large and small • Candidates own resources • Political Action Committees • Independent groups that collect funds and campaign for individuals

18. Campaign Finance • A Super PAC makes expenditures in federal races for running campaign ads for or against a candidate. • Their messages specifically advocate for the election or defeat of a particular candidate. • There are no limits or restrictions on the use of funds spent by Super PACs.

19. Campaign Finance • Hard money - money raised and spent to elect Congressional and Presidential candidates. • Soft money refers to the funds given to party organizations for ‘party-building activities’, such as the recruitment of candidates, voter registration drives, and other efforts utilized to build party membership.

20. Campaign Finance • SSCG15: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections. • SSCG15d: Examine how recent policy changes and Supreme Court rulings have impacted the campaign finance process.

21. Campaign Finance Regulation • BCRA of 2002 - congressional act that regulates the financing of political campaigns. • $2700 to individual candidates • $5000 to PACs

22. Campaign Finance Regulation • Citizens United vs. FEC (2010) – supreme court ruling that gave corporations, labor unions, etc. the right to spend an unlimited amount on “communications” • An individual or group can buy as much air time as they like.

23. Standard Overview • SSCG15: Demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections. • SSCG15e: Analyze the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, and public opinion polls.

24. Political Influence • Media includes any type of mass communication, such as the Internet, television, newspapers, and radio. They effect the political landscape in three ways: • Influencing the political opinion of voters • Determining the behavior of candidates • Setting the public agenda

25. Political Influence • Campaign advertising in politics is designed to influence voter behavior. • Radio, TV, Newspapers, Magazines, etc. • Social Media – “Fake News”

26. Political Influence • Public opinion polls are human research surveys often used in politics. • Polls can be via telephone, online, or in person. • Results guide future campaigning and advertising activities. • May rely on polling results to help make a decision.