American Federal Government

Chapter 8: Campaigns & Elections

Uniqueness of the American System

• Many offices to fill• Low voter turnout

o 2004, 60% of eligible • Weak political parties• Parliament

o Few officeso Elected form governmento High voter turnout

Getting Involved

• Voting is not the only way• Donating• Volunteering• Working in a campaign• Interest group

organizations• High income/education

Why Vote?

• Imposes burden• One vote doesn't affect

outcome• Civic duty

Who Participates?

• High education vs. low• Older more than young• Men more than women• Overall, whites more than

blacks• Rates of participation

(outside voting) upo Writing a lettero Making a demando Demonstratingo Activists tend to get

message across better

The Right To Vote

• Early: Taxpayer/landowner• Jackson: most white males• All races: 15th Amendment & Voting Rights Act • Women: 19th Amendment• 18 year olds: 26th Amendment• Direct election of Senators: 17th Amendment

Blacks' Suffrage

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/voting-rights-act-signed/6x5aj92 http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5962-civil-rights-marching-in-alabama-video.htm?page=20&sort=date

Women's Suffrage

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/10330-the-progressive-era-suffrage-video.htm

Giving The Vote To 18 Year Olds

• Debate began WWII, continued through Vietnam• Oregon v. Mitchell - Congress can regulate voting age

in federal elections• 1971

Voting Publicly

• Before 20th century, voted publicly without pre-registering

Australian Ballot

• Printed ballot• Distributed by govt• Cast in private booth

Who Is Eligible?

• Voting-Age Population (VAP)o From censuso Everyone over 18/21

• Voting-Eligible Population (VEP) o Excludes prisoners, felons, aliens

How Bad Is American Turnout?

• 53% of voting age population• 87% of registered voters• Registration is an issue

o Burden on citizeno Re-register when moveo "Get out the vote" probably ineffective

Types of Elections

• General Election• Primary Election

o Open (choose one party)o Blanket (mixed)o Closed (your affiliation)o Runoff (some states, if no

majority)• Presidential Primary

o Delegate selectiono Delegate selection with

advisory presidential preference

o Delegate selection with binding preference

The Personal Campaign

• Temporary staff• Individual campaigns• Reward followers with jobs• Media - build personal

image• Slate doesn't make sense• Candidates often don't

identify with a party openly• Can win a primary without

party supporto Michele Bachmann

Earlier and Earlier...

• Presidential elections• Primaries move earlier• Begin campaign 2 years

ahead• Money, endurance

Molding the Message

• Primaries - get activist supporters mobilized

• General election - move to the center

• Positive or negative?• Running on a record

o How successful?o Economy

Getting Airtime

• Getting on TV is a major goalo Debates o Paid ads (spots)o Interviews or news

(visuals) More credible Something new Scheduling

Attack Ads

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/outrageous-campaign-ads/932564/Sep-17-2010_11-24-am/

Tuning Out

• People often tune out media or see what they want (selective attention)

• Reinforce existing beliefs• May not change beliefs• Spots - more information

Do Campaigns Work?

• Decision usually made after primary

• Campaigns aimed at undecided voters

• Based on polls• Make most difference when:

o Low-visibility officeo Primaries with many

candidateso Ignored by media

Voting on Issues• Would you vote for or against someone based on

their stance on a single issue?• Happens most in primaries

How To Get Elected President

• Count on your party• Be magnetic, take charge

and dignified• Campaign against a great

economy (incumbent) or terrible (upstart)

• Retrospective voting

Barack Obama's DNC Speech Highlights

RNC Highlights

What Doesn't Matter So Much?

• The VP• Media• Candidate Issues• Religion• Party affiliation is strong -

the brand speaks for the candidate

Getting Elected To Congress

• Districts usually have strong affiliation• Redistricting • Personal appearances

o Incumbent

Realignment• Big shift in party support based on changing issues• Party could dissolve• Voters shift support• Red vs. Blue States (Counties) • Party decay (Split ticket)

Party Loyalty

• Most loyal Democrats:o 1. Blacko 2. Jewisho 3. Some Hispanics

•  Most loyal Republicans: o 1. Business/

professionalso 2. Sometimes farmers

Group Discussion

Group 1: Discuss the American voting system and participation in political parties and voting.  

Group 2: What is the difference between a primary and an election? How does the system work in the case of a Presidential election? Group 3: Discuss how politicians are elected in America. How well does the system work? What do politicians need to be able to do well?Group 4: What creates party loyalty? What do you see in your own life?