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Unit 6 Part 5

Unit 6 Part 5. Gerrymandering, Political Parties, etc. Gerrymandering. Gerrymandering : To divide an area into a voting district so as to give an unfair advantage to one political party over another. . The story…. In 1812 Elbridge Gerry was the governor of Massachusetts.

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Unit 6 Part 5

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  1. Unit 6 Part 5 Gerrymandering, Political Parties, etc.

  2. Gerrymandering • Gerrymandering: To divide an area into a voting district so as to give an unfair advantage to one political party over another.

  3. The story…. • In 1812 Elbridge Gerry was the governor of Massachusetts. • He was up for re-election in 1812 • He knew that he could not win the way the district lines were drew through out his state. • So… he re-drew the lines to have an advantage and win the election • He did this through “cracking” and “Packing” the districts. • Gilbert Stuart created the cartoon - putting Gerry and mander together – (gerry his last name and mander from salamander)

  4. Cracking vs. Packing • “Packing”: Drawing district lines to “pack” votes in one district to favor that political party • “Cracking”: Drawing district lines to divide or “cracking” a concentration of votes of one political party – to win

  5. Democrat Vs. Republican • Basics: How much government involvement do you like? • Democrats: More government involvement. Government provides more stuff; states have less control. More Liberal (like change) • Republicans: Less government involvement. You provide for yourself; states have more control. More conservative (likes things traditional, the way they are/were)

  6. Who does congress represent? • Constituents – anyone who is represented… • ALL OF US

  7. Congress set up.. The house

  8. Congress set up.. The Senate

  9. Control of the floor! • Filibuster – Legislative tactic to stall the legislative process. A senator holds the floor by continually talking. As long as they stay in the chamber and talk they can prevent anything else from happening. • from a Dutch word meaning "pirate" -- became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill. • Cloture: developed to stop a filibuster. Requires a 3/5 majority vote (60 senators).

  10. Congressional Budget Office - CBO – Provides financial experts to help congress establish a budget year to year. • General Accounting Office – GAO – Study an agencies spending. • Government Printing Office – GPO – Prints everything congress and Washington needs • Library of Congress – Holds all the important books, legal documents, and important American historical items. Holds over 100 million items.

  11. Library of congress

  12. Inside the Library of Congress

  13. Interest Groups and Lobbyists • Interest Group: An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy – without running for office • Many types of Interest Groups: labor unions, doctors, education, environmental… • Serria Club – Environment • Green Peace - Environment • Planned Parenthood - Abortion • National Right to Life - Abortion • Mothers Against Drunk Driving – Alcohol • PETA – animal rights

  14. Interest Groups and Lobbyists • Lobbyists: Representatives of interest groups. • Lobbyists try to convince members of Congress to support policies favored by the groups they represent

  15. Political Action Committees • Political Action Committees (PAC’s): political fund-raising organizations established by corporations, labor unions, and other special interest groups. • PACs uses its funds to support lawmakers who favor the PAC’s positions on issues

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