RESOLVING CONFLICT

1. RESOLVING CONFLICT Liberal v Conservative Political Parties – Function & Organization Political Parties – US Today Voting Elections Public Opinion, Interest Groups & Mass Media How a Bill Becomes a Law Executive Agencies

2. POLITICAL IDEOLOGYLIBERAL v CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL (LEFT) • Liberals feel the government has a responsibility to solve social problems. • Liberals think that the government must regulate business to protect society from harmful business practices. CONSERVATIVE (RIGHT) • Conservatives feel that the government should be less active. • Conservatives feel that government regulation tends to decrease productivity and harms the economy. There are various degrees of being liberal and conservative. Democrats tend to be mildly liberal, and Republicans are mildly conservative. Third parties offer a more radical move to right or left.

3. PARTY SYSTEMS • One PartySystem – A system in which there is only one major political party. The party runs the government. (Example – Communism; China, North Korea, Cuba) • Two Party System – A system in which two major political parties battle for control of the government. (Example – United States; Democrats & Republicans) • Multi-Party System – A system in which three or more political parties impact elections, and battle for control of the government. (Example – France, Germany, England)

4. History of Political Parties • Democratic-Republican Party– Thomas Jefferson – Wanted to limit the power of the federal government – more power to state government. • Federalist Party – Alexander Hamilton – Wanted a strong national government to protect people’s rights, and solve problems created by a weak government under the Articles of Confederation.

5. DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS • Democrats – Believe that the government must be active in solvingsocial problems.This generally leads to bigger government and increased taxes. • Republicans – Believe that problems will be solved by the government being less active, and letting people solve problems.

6. THIRD PARTIES • Parties that do not have enough following to compete and win elections on the national level. • Third Parties offer an alternative to major parties. They are important because if they gain support, the issues that are important to them will be recognized by the major parties. • There is no legal barrier to a third party becoming a major political party.

7. Political Party Organization Federal Level National committee in each state hold national convention. Delegates nominate candidates for President & VP State Level Each state has a committee or organization. Focus on state offices. (Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General) Local Level Precinct Organize volunteers Distribute Leaflets Register Voters ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES

8. 5 Functions of Political Parties • Campaigning for Candidates – help politicians get elected to office. • Informing Citizens – help citizens get information about issues, and how government operates. • Help Manage Government – appoint loyal members to certain jobs. • Linking Different Levels – provides a link between local, state, & federal government. • Watchdog – alert public of wrongdoing.

10. Public Opinion Forming Public Opinion (4) Sources of Public Opinion • Personal Background • Mass Media • Public Officials • Interest Groups The Mass Media • Print (newspapers, magazines) • Electronic (radio, television, internet) Interest Groups • Interest Group – organization that supports a particular issue. • PAC – political action committee. Raise $ to get candidates elected. • Lobbyist – person hired by interest group to provide info and influence politicians.

11. VOTING HISTORY • White Males 21 years of age or older (early US history) • Black Males (15th Amendment) • Females (19th Amendment) • 18 Years of Age (26th Amendment) REGISTERING TO VOTE • Where? – County Offices, DMV • What? – Proof of Citizenship, Address, & Age – Driver’s License or Birth Certificate QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE • 18 Years of age • Resident of state for a specific amount of time • Citizen of the US • States may deny if you have committed a serious crime • Cannot vote while in prison VOCABULARY • Polling Place – location where people vote • Precinct – a voting district (geographic area) • Ballot – list of candidates on which you vote • Returns – counting of ballots • Exit Poll – sample of voters and how they voted

12. Types of Elections • Primary Election – an election in which the political parties choose candidate for office to compete in the general election. • Direct Primary – election in which voters choose candidates for political part in general election. • Closed Primary – only registered members of political party can vote. • Open Primary – choose party, can only vote in one, do not have to be a registered member. • Plurality – most votes among those running wins. • Run-Off Primary – if majority is necessary, top (2) have a run-off • Petition – unaffiliated candidates must get on ballot by petition. (Ralph Nader)

13. ELECTIONS ELECTION PROCESS • Declare Intent to Run for Office • Primary Election • General Election PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION • Primary Election • General Election • Electoral College CAMPAIGNS • Canvassing – going door to door getting info out about candidates • Endorsements – using celebrities & other politicians to gain support • Advertising & Image Molding – using television, newspaper, radio, internet to portray candidate a particular way CAMPAIGN FINANCING • Public Financing – Presidential Election Campaign Fund - $3 on tax form. 3rd party candidate are eligible if they receive 5% of vote in previous election. • Private Funding – Individual Citizens, Party Organizations, Corporations, Special Interest Groups, PACs, Soft Money

14. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

15. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 1: Proposing a Law • Bill – a proposed law (must be passed) • Sponsor – a person in Congress that introduces a bill • Senate – bills are introduced in the morning session • House of Representatives – bills are placed in a hopper; (wooden box for bills)

16. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 2: Committee Consideration • Bills are assigned to a certain committee by the presiding officer of each house; (House – Speaker; Senate – Majority Leader) • Committee will study the bill, and eventually must take action • The purpose of committees is to serve as a filter, strengthen, or disregard needless legislation.

17. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 2 continued: Committee Action • Pigeonholing – practice of killing a bill by refusing to pass out of committee. (Bill is dead unless discharge petition in the House) • Mark/Amend – change all or parts of the bill. Committee can delete, add, reword, or rewrite the bill. • Report out of committee favorably – committee will recommend that the bill be passed. • Report out of committee unfavorably – committee does not want to take responsibility for killing the bill, but does not want the bill to be passed. Bypassing Committee • Discharge Petition (House of Reps Only) – needs 218 signatures; committee pigeonholes a bill majority want passed.

18. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 3: Floor Action/Debate • Rules of Debate • House – one bill at a time; discussion must be relevant to the bill • Senate – more leisurely; fewer members, 3 to 4 bills at a time, unlimited speaking time • Filibuster – tactic by a member of the Senate in which they try to block the passage of a bill by monopolizing time. • Cloture – measure to stop filibuster; 1/6 must ask; 3/5 must vote for motion.

19. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 3: Floor Action/Debate (continued) 2. Voting • After debate, the house will conduct a vote. In this step, a majority vote is necessary to pass. • If there is no majority, the bill is dead. Once the bill has passed one house of Congress, it must be sent to the other, and go through the same process. Issues the may occur in the other House • Bill is changed by the committee studying the bill. If this occurs and the house passes the bill, it must be sent to a conference committee. • Conference Committee – made up of members of both houses. They will iron out differences in the bill, and then send the bill back to both houses to vote again.

20. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 4: Presidential Action • A bill will be sent to the President if it has passed both houses of Congress by a majority vote, and it is the exact bill in both houses. The president has 10 days to act on the bill once the President receives the bill. Presidential Action – (10 days to Act) • Sign the bill – becomes law. • Hold the bill for 10 days. • If Congress adjourns in 10 days, the bill is dead. (pocket veto) • If Congress stays in session, the bill will pass without signature. 3) Veto – the president rejects the bill. (Presidential check over Congress)

21. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Step 5: Congress – Override the Veto • Congress has the authority to override a presidential veto. If the President vetoes a bill, it goes back to Congress. • A bill that has been vetoed, must be passed by 2/3 majority of both houses to become law. If not it is dead. • Congressional Check over the President.

22. EXECUTIVE BRANCH ORGANIZATION - PYRAMID President Vice President Cabinet Federal Bureaucracy PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION • People that work closest with the President. • Includes… (VP, Cabinet, Executive Office of the President) EXECUTIVE BRANCH • Largest Branch of Government – Carries out government. • Must take laws that are created, turn into action.

23. FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY 3 BASIC TASKS • Turn laws into action • Day-to-Day Operation of the federal government • Regulate Activities EXECUTIVE OFFICE of the PRESIDENT • White House Office • Office of Management & Budget • National Security Council • Council of Economic Advisors INDEPENDENTAGENCIES • Executive Agencies – NASA • Government Corporations – USPS • Regulatory Boards & Commissions – FDA, EPA

24. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS(CABINET)Help President fulfill duties.