Ch' 7 Voting and Elections

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Ch. 7 Voting and Elections

• Civic Participation

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Warm-up

• Why do we have nominations before elections?
• Are they necessary? Why or why not?

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Vote Batman and Robin in 04

• Trusted friends, trusted by heroes.
• They fought for Gotham, and now theyll fight for
  your rights.

• Paid for by the Justice League of America

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Section 1 Objectives

• Discuss citizens responsibilities in preparing
  to vote
• Identify who votes in a typical presidential
  election, and list three reasons why some people
  do not vote.

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Section 1 Vocabulary

• electorate- people who are eligible to vote.
• literacy test- a test that proved a voter could
  read, write, and understand public issues.
• apathy- a lack of interest (in politics)

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Requirements

• To vote a person must
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Live in a state for a specified time
• Be registered to vote

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Preparing to Vote

• Voters must
• Know candidates and issues thru media.
• Political parties also provide voters with info.
• Reasons for voting
• Citizens choose leaders
• People get a voice in government

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Factors that Limit Voting

• Some people are not allowed to vote
• Inmates, non-residents, and people who are away
  during elections.
• Forgetting to register to vote
• Racial discrimination
• Literacy tests
• Apathy

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Section 2 Objectives

• Describe the three procedures for nominating
  candidates for public office.
• Identify three important campaign tools used in
  running for office.
• Discuss sources of private and public funds for
  financing election campaigns.

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Section 2 Vocabulary

• caucus- a meeting of party members to conduct
  business.
• primary election- an election where party members
  nominate candidates.
• propaganda- promoting a person or idea.
• canvassing- a campaign on the neighborhood level
• PAC- groups that pool money from unions,
  corporations, or special interest groups.

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Nominating Candidates

• States use party conventions, caucuses, or
  primary elections
• Caucuses usually used on local level, but also
  used on state level.
• Conventions- people select delegates, who vote
  for candidates

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Primary Elections

• Closed primary- only declared party members can
  vote within their party.
• Open primary- voters dont have to pre-register
  with a party.
• Allows opposition to vote for weaker opponents

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Nominating Presidential Candidates

• Primaries last from February to June.
• States send delegates to convention to nominate
  presidential candidate.
• Candidate selects a running mate as Vice
  President.
• They run as the ticket.

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Running for Office

• Campaign organizations promote candidates thru
• Endorsements- famous persons support
• Creating an image
• TV ads
• canvassing

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Funding Campaigns

• Private funds come from individual donors or PACs
  (Political Action Committees)
• Public funds come from Presidential Election
  Campaign Fund
• Both parties get funds

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Close

• What are 3 requirements people need to meet in
  order to vote?
• Do you think these are necessary?
• Why or Why not?

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Homework

• p. 170 Ch. 7 Section 1 Review
• p. 177 Ch. 7 Section 2 Review
• Campaign posters- due Mon. Feb. 23

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Warm-up

• Read the following statement
• Voters in all states should hold presidential
  primaries on the same day.
• Do you agree or disagree and why?

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Section 3 Objectives

• Identify 3 methods of casting votes at the polls.
• Describe the difference between presidential
  elections and other general elections.
• Identify and describe the 2 types of special
  elections.

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Section 3 Vocabulary

• polling places- where votes are cast.
• straight ticket- voting for all the candidates of
  one party.
• split ticket- voting for candidates of different
  parties.
• exit poll- a survey asking people how they voted.
• popular vote- votes cast directly by the people.

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Section 3 Vocabulary

• Electoral vote- Electoral College's votes cast.
• initiative- a method when citizens propose laws.
• proposition- a petition asking for a new law.
• referendum- an election where voters
  approve/disapprove of a new law.
• recall- election where voters can remove an
  official from a position.

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Casting Votes

• 3 ways to cast votes
• computerized machine, mechanical machine, or
  paper ballot.
• Absentee ballots- used by voters who cant vote
  at polling places on election day.

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Counting Votes

• Media uses exit polls to predict election
  results.

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Electoral College

• Used in presidential elections
• Popular vote selects electors
• Electors vote for president in winner take all
  system.
• of electors set by congressional
  representation. (538 total)
• Need 270 to win
• DE has 3

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Problems w/ Electoral College

• Large states have too much power.
• Candidate can win popular vote, but still lose
  electoral vote.
• Changes to Electoral system requires a
  constitutional amendment.

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Close

• Copy answer the following question
• What did the sketches say about
• Al Gore George Bush
• And Bill Clinton

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Homework

• p. 183 Ch. 7 Section 3
• Study for section 3 Quiz on Friday

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Warm-up

• Why did the Constitutions writers create the
  Electoral College?