Democracy Under Pressure

1. Democracy Under Pressure Chapters 9-11 Political Parties, Political Campaigns and Candidates, & Voting Behavior and Elections

2. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 2 Political Parties Chapter Theme: Do political parties still perform a useful role in the American democratic system? Political Party (major) In very general terms, a broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.

3. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 3 Political Parties Political Parties Channel public support for or against the government Help to mobilize the demands and supports that are fed into the system They provide a powerful means for the public’s voice to be heard

4. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 4 Political Parties Seven (7) vital functions of Political Parties: Manage the transfer of power, Offer a choice of rival candidates and programs to the voters, Serve as a bridge between government and people by helping to hold elected officials accountable to voters, Help recruit candidates for office, May serve to reconcile conflicting interest in society, Staff the government and help run it, and Link various branches and levels of government.

5. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 5 Political Parties Political Party preferences are influenced by: Tradition History The structure of the U.S. Electoral System And, the ideological patterns among the electorate.

6. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 6 Political Parties Electoral College The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president an vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives in Congress.

7. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 7 Political Parties Electoral College In most states, the candidate who receives the most popular vote wins all of the state’s electoral votes. Minor or 3rd parties have little chance in the nation’s two party system.

8. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 8 Political Parties Electoral College: Congress is composed of 435 House of Representatives members 100 Senators 535 +3 District of Columbia 538 total electoral votes 538 divided by 2 = 269 The candidate who reaches 270 electoral votes first wins the presidency

9. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 9 Political Parties Democrats and Republicans: Is there a difference?

10. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 10 Political Campaigns and Candidates Campaign Strategy Candidates aim for the Undecided voters One-third of voters are registered independents Campaign managers handle almost every aspect of the campaign

11. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 11 Political Campaigns and Candidates The Issues Candidates must develop a central theme for their campaign. Negative Campaigning Political campaigning in which the candidate appear to spend more time attacking each other than discussing policies and programs. attempts to discredit a candidate by personal attacks. Usually in radio and TV ads.

12. Chapter 9 - Political Parties 12 Political Campaigns and Candidates Bread and Butter Issues Peace and pocketbook Peace = is the country at war or in a military conflict? Pocketbook = how is the economy performing? Democrats associated with domestic prosperity Republicans associated with foreign policy success