Examples of Countries:  China, Cuba

Examples of government: Dicatorship

Result: No real choice is allowed, votin is a sham

Examples of countries:  U.S.A.  and U.K.

Examples of government: Democracy

Result: Gives a choice, both parties ususally are moderate.

Examples of countries:  Italy, France

Examples of government: Democracy

Result: Many choices, including some with extreme views.

Political parties have different views, but they all do certain things, such as:

Recruiting (finding) and nominating candidates to run for public office.

Helping their candidates to win elections.

Educating the public about current issues.

Monitoring (acting as a watchdog) what officeholders from other parties are doing.

The government is the most important source of progress and greater equality.  The government should do more to help all people have a good life.  Free health care, day care for children, public housing, and good welfare benefits are just some of the things the government should provide.

  Political spectrum:

 Most Republicans

Similarities of Political Parties

1. They organize and work hard to win elections.

2. They try to influence public policy (laws).

3. They include both liberal and conservative views.

4. They try to appeal to the political center to win a 

     majority of voters.

Political Parties how they differ

Republicans

Republicans usually favor policies for the center to the right.

On the line under the Republicans write Conservative.

Political Parties: How they differ

Democrats

Democrats usually favor policies from the center to the left.

On the line under the Democrats write Liberal.

1. They introduce new ideas.

2. They bring wider attention to specific public issues.

3. They rarely win beg elections

4. Republican Party was a third party when it formed

    in the 1850's as an anti-slavery party.

5. The Progressive of Bull Moose Party formed around

    Theodor Roosevelt.

Strategies for making informed choices

 Here are three ways to evaluate what you see and 

 hear during on election campaign.

2.  Evaluate sources.

3.  Identify propaganda and bias.

What are facts?

  Facts can be proven with evidence.

        group.

Propaganda is false or misleading information

repeated over and over in the hope that voters will       be fooled into believing it.

Bias is consistently favoring one side of an issue,

while ignoring the facts that support the other side.

The mass media includes newspapers, radio, TV, and all other large scale means of public communication.

1.  Identifies candidates and reports their stand on the

     issues.

2.  Emphasizes selected issues with more news

     coverage.

3.  Publishes editorials, political cartoons, and "op-ed"

     commentary.

4.  Broadcasts different points of view and runs political

     ads.

1.  Candidates must focus first on fund-raising.

2.  It limits opportunities to run for office.

3.  Wealthy candidates may have a big advantage.

4.  It gives special interest groups more influence.

5.  It encourages the growth of PACs (Political Action

    Committees).

1.  Citizen of the United States

2.  Resident of Virginia

3.  Resident of your precinct

4.  18 years old by the day of the general election

1.  In person at the registrar’s office

2.  By mail application

3.  At the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) office

During a presidential election year.

The more education a person has, the more likely it is he or she will vote.

Older people are the more likely to vote than younger people.

People with higher incomes are more likely to bote than those with lower incomes.

Lack of interest

1.  Apathy

2. Not registerd

What is the definition for Campaign?

 The organized effort by a candidate to win support in 

 an election.

Laws that try to limit how much money an individual, an organization, or a company can donate to a candidate.  These laws attempt to make sure no one can “buy” an election.

What is the definition for Canvass?

To go door to door handing out information and asking people which candidate they support.

What it the definition for Editorial?

In a newspaper, a short essay that gives the newspaper publisher’s or top editors’ view of a public issue.  An editorial can focus public attention on an important issue, and often gets public officials to act.

What is the definition for Electoral College?

The group, as described in the Constitution,  that actually casts the votes that select the President and Vice President.  The members are from each state are chosen by the public according to how votes in that state are cast in the November election.

What is the definition for Interest group?

On organization of people with an interest in a particular public issue.  Interest groups play a big role in politics because they can bring attention, money, and votes to public issues.

What is the definition of an Independent voter?

 Voters who do not support a particular political party.

Political views that favor a large role for the government in promoting greater equality of conditions in society.  Liberals believe the government should create extensive social welfare programs to help meet the needs of citizens.  Liberals today tend to be members of the Democratic Party.

What is the definition of Media?

The term for all forms of communications including radio, TV, newspapers, books, magazines, the Internet, recordings and movies, etc.

What is the definition of a Moderate?

In politics, people who fall in the middle range of the liberal and conservative split.

What is the definition for nominate?

 To name candidates to run for public office.

What is the definition for a  Nominating Convention?

A large meeting held by a political party to officially pick the party’s candidate for a public office.  Often they are held in July or August before the November election.

What is the definition for Open Primaries?

A primary in which voters do not need to declare a party before voting, but they may note in only one party’s primary.

What is the definition for Closed Primaries?

A primary in which a voter must be registered as a party member and may vote only in that party’s primary.

What is the definition of Op-Ed pieces?

Commentary essays run in a newspaper usually on the page facing the editorial page.  Means opinion - editorial

What is the definition for PACS?

Political Action Committees are the large organized interest groups that take an active part in campaigns and elections.

What is the definiton of a Platform?

The statement of the party’s official stand on major public issues.

What it the definiton for a Political party?

An organization of citizens who wish to influence and control the government by getting their members elected to office.

What is the definition of a Political spectrum?

 An imaginary line stretching from the liberal (or left wing) to conservative (or right wing)  along which political views can be placed.

What is the definition of a Primary election?

An election in which members of a political party vote to help select the party’s candidate.  A primary election is typically held 6-12 months before the general election in November.

What is the definition of Propaganda?

Information, usually false or misleading, that is deliberately repeated over and over in an attempt to influence votes or public opinion on an issue. 

What are six major types of propaganda used today? 

1.  just plain folks   

2.  glittering generalities

3.  transfer/symbol      

4.  name calling

5.  card stacking 

6.  bandwagon

What is the definition of Simulation?

A “play acting” version of a real activity, such as an election or trial, often done so the participants can gain practice.

What is the definition of a Third party?

In a two-party system, the smaller “extra” political parties. While third parties rarely win big national elections, they can influence politics by focusing

attention on specific issues.

What is the definition of a Two party system?

A political system with two main political parties, as in the United States.  Smaller “third parties” may exist, but have much less influence than the major parties.

What is the definition for Registration?

The process of signing up to be a voter.

What is the defintion of Electors?

People who promise to cast votes for the candidate selected by the voters.

What is the definition of a Plank?

Position statements on each specific issue in a party’s platform.

What is the definition of a Voter?

An American citizen, who is at least 18 years of age, is registered to vote and does so.

What is the definition of a Straight Ticket?

 A ballot cast for all the candidates in one party.

What is the definition of a Split Ticket?

The practice of voting for candidates of more than oen party on the same ballot.

What is the definition of a Conservative?

Political views that favor traditional ideas about individual responsibility, family life, and business freedom.  Conservative generally believe the role of the government and especially federal government social programs should be limited.