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Participation in the USA

Learn how US citizens participate in politics, from voting to joining parties and interest groups. Explore reasons behind low voter turnout and the significance of involvement in the USA.

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Participation in the USA

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  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

  13. Participation in the USA 1. Name the US politician 2. Name 3 ways US citizens can participate in the USA? 3. How many Supreme court justices sit in the Supreme Court 4. How many representatives sit in Congress? 5. Name the two main Political Parties in the USA 6. Which party does Donald Trump represent? 7. What does voter turnout mean?

  14. Learning • Describethe different ways people can participate politically in the USA. • Explain why voter registration and turnout is so low in America. Success • I can explainwhy voter registration and turnout is so low in America. • I can recall information about participation in the USA and create a revision poster. Today • Class discussion. • Note-taking. • Video-clips. • Poster task.

  15. Many people are happy with the way the government is run. In some rural areas it might be difficult to get to the polling station. Why is voter registration so low? The registration procedure can be complicated. Some groups feel that voting is a waste of time- Hilary Clinton won the popular vote but not the state vote!!! Some citizens are illegal immigrants and not qualify to vote.

  16. Voter turnout Voter turnout is the % of the electorate (who are registered to vote) who cast their vote on election day. This is significant ally affected by whether or not it is a Presidential election year. The turnout is always higher in Presidential election years than it is for mid term elections. The TV coverage of the election of a President obviously increases voter awareness and interest. There is significantly less interest in only electing a Congressman/ woman or State officials.

  17. Low turnout in US elections – Why? • Numerous elections are held for many different posts and people can be put off voting because it happens so often. For example; City/county elections, state elections, federal elections (mid terms & Presidential) • The registration form can be long and complicated and it, itself, can be a barrier to voting especially if certain groups are not well educated enough e.g. Blacks and Hispanics.

  18. Low turnout in US elections – Why? • The ballot paper is often long and complicated and some voters might find it confusing, especially if they don’t have a decent level of education. • Voter Apathy- A lot of people believe that voting will not change their lives and so they don’t vote e.g. Many blacks and Hispanics live in poor areas e.g. ghettoes with poor schools and housing. They may feel that voting makes no difference.

  19. Low turnout in US elections – Why? • Many Hispanics are illegal immigrants and so do not qualify, under the constitution, to vote. • TV coverage may affect turnout. When the polling stations are closing in the Eastern states like New York people are still going to vote in western states like California because they are at least 5 hours behind. If TV stations announce that one side is going to win easily, those voters in the west may decide not to bother voting as the see the result as already decided.

  20. Low turnout in US elections – Why? 7. Many states have recently introduced restrictive voting regulations that stop many groups, particularly those from ethnic minorities, the poor and the elderly from voting. Wisconsin Voter ID laws (introduced 2016)

  21. As of May 2017, the states pictured in red above have restrictive voting practices in place. They include: Arizona, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Ohio, Indiana and New Hampshire.

  22. Task You are going to create a revision poster which focuses participation in the USA. Your poster must include: • Minimum of 4 ways US citizens can participate- must include relevant examples. • An explanation of Voter turnout • Minimum of 4 reasons which give posisble explanations as to why voter turnout is so low. The more details you can add the more beneficial for your prelim!!

  23. Why is low voter turnout be seen as undemocratic?

  24. Interest groups in the USA

  25. Interest Groups in the USA • Another way that Americans can participate in US politics is by joining an Interest Group. • Interest groups try to use their influence to persuade the public to put pressure on politicians either to change or not to change the law. • Interest groups use many methods to get their views heard.

  26. Methods used by Interest Groups • Telephone campaigns– this is where supporters of the interest group phone people to influence them to sign petitions, write to the President etc. • Mailing Campaigns – The Interest Group will write letters or send emails to get people to join and support them.

  27. Methods used by Interest Groups • Websites- that will give interested people details of what the interest group stands for and its campaigns. • Leaflets– will be handed out to members of the public to inform them who the group are, what they stand for, campaigns they are involved in and how the public can get involved.

  28. Methods used by Interest Groups • Campaign rallies, meetings and demonstrations– these attract publicity as the groups go out and march on the streets. The media come along and cover the story and give publicity to the Interest Group. This spreads the message of what they stand for. • Lobby Politicians– This is where members of the Interest groups will go to the State or Federal Government and speak directly to the politicians. Some Interest Groups give money to politicians so that the will support the group once they are elected.

  29. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – Aims to advance the interests of the over 50s in issues such as healthcare and pensions.

  30. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA • Americans for Immigration Control (AIC)– Aims to reduce immigration to the USA, to deport illegal immigrants and to end all public programmes that help non-citizens. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5RTOiSZFI4– “Americans take action” clip by the Americans for Immigration Control group • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-TY51N3Yyo– “Borders out of control” by the Americans for Immigration Control group

  31. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Works to promote individual rights for freedom in the USA.

  32. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA • National Council of la Raza– Aims to reduce discrimination against Hispanics.

  33. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA • National Rifle Association (NRA)– aims to support the right of citizens to own guns and to block attempts to reduce gun control in the USA. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SAWeR6l-cs– brief history of the NRA • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJo2xlmT29I– NRA advert • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdt6Jj64TVU– why is the NRA so powerful?

  34. Examples of Interest Groups in the USA • Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) – Aims to reduce death and injury caused by gun availability.

  35. Exam Style Question The methods used by citizen groups to influence governments are varied Describe, in detail, two methods used by citizen groups to influence the government in a world power you have studied. 6 • 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”

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