Government Final Review

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Government Final Review
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Who is Who in Government?

• Local Government
• Erie County Executive Chris Collins
• Mayor of Kenmore Pat Mang
• Town of Ton. Supervisor Anthony Caruana
• State Government
• David Patterson Governor
• Robin Schimminger Assemblyman

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Who is Who in Government?

• National Government
• John Roberts Supreme Court Chief Justice
• Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House
• Hillary Clinton Secretary of State

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Primary Election

• a method by which a political party chooses its
  nominees for public office
• winners of primary elections run against nominees
  of other parties in the general election
• unique U.S. institution, born in the era of
  political reform at the beginning of the 20th
  century
• choice is private

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Caucuses

• The word "caucus" means "to gather together and
  make a great noise."
• series of party meetings where there is much
  debate
• At each level, party members vote for delegates
  who will take their opinions on the choice of
  presidential candidate forward to the next level
• choice is public

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The Electorate

• The electorate refers to the eligible voting
  population in a country.
• Any US citizen, 18 years of age with no felonies,
  is allowed to vote as long as they are
  registered.

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Who is most likely to vote?

• Higher education level (best indicator)
• Higher income
• Older (the elderly)
• Married (influenced by spouse)
• White
• Suburbs

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Who is least likely to vote?

• Lower education level
• Lower income
• Younger
• Single
• Minority
• Rural Areas

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Voting

• Voting in presidential elections is the most
  common form of political activity
• However, many people dont vote. Why?
• Too busy
• Dont care
• My vote doesnt count
• Issues dont concern me
• Lazy

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Political Spectrum

• Liberals Moderates Conservatives
• Most people are moderates (in the middle)

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What is a political party?

• An organized group who share common beliefs, who
  work together to
• Win elections
• Control government
• Set public policy

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Political Parties

• George Washington and the Founders of the
  Constitution believed that political parties
  were
• Inevitable
• A danger to the nation

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Democratic Platform Ideas

• Social equality
• Government involvement in the lives of the people
• Funded programs
• Protect resources and environment

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Democratic Party

• Types of People
• Blacks
• Latinos
• Labor unions
• Immigrants
• Little education
• Jews
• Liberals
• Minorities

• Region
• Urban areas
• Northeast
• West Coast (California)

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Party Symbols

• The Donkey represents the Democrats.
• President Andrew Jackson was depicted as a
  Jackass.

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Republican Platform Ideas

• Family values
• Religion (schoolprayer is OK)
• Less Govt involvement
• Wealthy/prosperous economy more important than
  the environment

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Republican Party

• Types of People
• WASPs
• Educated
• Businesses
• Professional groups
• Wealthy
• Conservatives

• Region
• Suburbs
• West
• Midwest
• Rural areas
• South

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Party Symbols

• The Elephant represents the Republicans.
• Why? Ulysses S. Grant was portrayed as a
  marching elephant.

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What is the Solid South?

• Southern States strictly vote for the same party

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The Civil War

• Just after the Civil War, the Solid South voted
  overwhelmingly Democratic because the focus of
  the Republican Party was the issue of
  anti-slavery (slavery existed in the South and
  was eventually outlawed).

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What is Realignment?

• A long term shift in voting patterns from one
  party to another
• The Solid South!

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Realignment of the South

• The Solid South realigned in the 1950s-1960s to
  the Republican Party
• Southerners believed Democrats were becoming too
  liberal, supporting the Civil Rights Movement
• Southern White voters now vote for Republicans

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Straight Party Ticket

• Voting for all the candidates of one party
• Ex) I voted for all the Democratic candidates in
  the last election

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Split Ticket

• Vote cast on one ballot for candidates of two or
  more different political parties
• Ex) Voting for a Democratic President, a
  Republican Congressman, and an Independent
  legislator

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The Electoral College

• The Electoral College influences candidates to
  campaign in the states with the most electoral
  votes (states with largest population).
• California, Texas, New York have the most
  number of electoral votes.
• Other showdown states include Pennsylvania,
  Ohio, and Florida.

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Third Parties

• In the U.S., we have a two-party system, yet
  several third parties have emerged throughout
  time.
• Although third parties do not have much power in
  elections, they serve a greater purpose
• they discuss issues and concerns that the two
  main parties would otherwise ignore!

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Why do politicians need money?

• To campaign
• To set up ads (photo-ops, commercials)
• To hold dinners
• To travel to states (hold rallies)
• To educate voters

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Soft Money

• Soft money refers to unlimited donations to the
  political parties for the purpose of
  party-building activities.
• Most recently given to 527 groups without any
  real limits

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Hard Money

• Hard money refers to money donated to a specific
  political candidate.
• Regulated to 1,000 a year per candidate

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Political Action Committees (PACs)

• Set up by an interest group
• Their main function is to raise and contribute
  funds to a candidate
• Given to the candidate that appears to agree with
  the beliefs of their interest group
• EX) MADD will give to a candidate that promises
  stricter DWI laws

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Interest Groups

• Influence the political process by
• Appealing to public opinion
• Lobbying (lobbyists provide info to legislators
  and the public)
• Contributing to candidates

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Interest Groups

• Most IGs in Washington, DC represent
  corporations and businesses
• Allow individuals to speak in a louder, combined
  voice
• People join IGs because they feel strongly about
  the goal the IG is trying to achieve

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The Media

• Decides what issues to focus on, thus affecting
  which issues the public thinks are important
• The media also has 4 major functions
• Informs
• Entertains
• Investigates
• Advertises

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Impact of the Media

• Positives
• Competition
• Gain appeal
• Make profit

• Negatives
• Sensationalism
• Too critical of govt
• Too invasive

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The Media

• Free Media
• Hillary Clinton appears on the Tonight Show with
  Jay Leno
• Hillary Clinton attends a rally in downtown
  Buffalo all local news stations cover the story
• No control over what is shown in the media

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The Media

• Paid Media
• Barack Obama pays for a TV commercial promoting
  himself as the best Democratic Presidential
  candidate for the 2008 election.
• Can control what is seen/heard

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Media as the Elite

• The Media is sometimes called the 4th Branch of
  Government
• The media acts as a lens and has the power to
• Present a candidate as good or evil
• Ignore a candidate
• Distort our perception of candidates

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Other Things to Study

• Pillars of Democracy
• Bill of Rights Important Amendments
• 1st Amendment
• 10th Amendment
• 14th Amendment
• 15th Amendment
• 19th Amendment
• 26th Amendment
• GOOD LUCK!!