Government_Ch9_info

=**Chapter 9 Participating in Government Background Information**=

**Political Parties:**
A political party is a group with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and influence policies. There are a few systems with regards to political parties. In a one-party system, the party is the government and no other parties can exist, such as in Communist nations as well as theocracies, such as in the Middle East where Islam rules. Multiparty systems have differing ideologies and usually form coalitions, which several parties combine forces to have a majority. America has a two-party system in which two major parties compete for power, even though we have several minor parties.

America did not have political parties when the Constitution first went in effect. Parties formed in Washington's 2nd term. Federalists wanted a strong central government and Democrat-Republicans for more state power. Under Andrew Jackson, the Democrat-Republicans split into Democrats who aligned with him and the National Republicans, or Whigs, who were against Jackson. The Whig Party died out when slavery became an issue. Republicans formed with the goal to end slavery.

Third parties often emerge and have several times in history. A single-issue party focuses on one major social issue, such as the Free Soil Party in the late 1840s that focused solely on stopping the spread of slavery and didn't address the other national issues. An ideological party focuses on change in society, such as the Socialist Party that focuses solely on setting up a socialist nation or the Libertarian Party that is the opposite of the Socialist Party and wants to see major reduction in the size of the government. A splinter party is one that splits from one of the major parties, such as Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Progressive Party, which split from the Republican Party in 1912 and split the vote with Taft allowing Wilson to win the presidency.

Good party organization needs dedicated party volunteers to bring the party's message to the public. Citizens are members of a party by declaring their party when registering to vote or citizens can register as an independent. The basic unit of voting is the precinct. Every four years there is a major national convention to gather the party members who are actively working to grow party support. Each party has a national chairman who manages daily party operations. The functions of parties are to recruit candidates to run for various offices, educate the public on party beliefs, operate the government or be the loyal opposition if the opposing party is in power, and look to reduce conflict within the party.

Political parties nominate candidates through the primary election process and finance campaigns. There are various ways candidates are selected. A caucus is a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates, which isn't done as much today especially on the national level. Today, primary elections choose who a party's nominee will be for any elected office. In a primary election, party members (voters) select people to run in the general election against the opposing party's nominees. Voters can petition or write-in candidates for offices as well. Primaries are seen clearly in presidential elections, but happen for each elected office. At the national convention, parties write the party platform, which is a statement of the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues. The nomination of the president and vice presidential candidates are announced here.

**Elections and Voting:**
Campaigns begin before conventions but really take off after especially for president. In terms of electing the president, there are 538 electoral votes. This number is based on the total number of representatives (435) plus senators (100) plus D.C. (3). A candidate needs over 50% of the electoral vote to win. This number is 270. Presidential candidates have to determine their campaign strategy and develop a campaign organization headed by a campaign manager who is responsible for the overall strategy. Television coverage is the main way people learn about the candidate. The Internet is also key and is growing and becoming more important and relevant than TV. In terms of financing a campaign, the law requires that there be public disclosure on campaign spending. Candidates have to provide the information on all campaign donations and revenue and where all campaign money is spent. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers federal election laws. Third parties can get some funding if they received at least 5% of the vote in the previous election. This is tough for third parties to get started. Political Action Committees (PACs) are established by interest groups to raise money and provide financial support to favored candidates or parties and limited to amount they can get and donate. There are limits to soft money, or contributions given directly to a party or individuals. Websites must be registered with the FEC to donate.

The right to vote has expanded over the decades. Suffrage is the term that means the right to vote. African-Americans were granted suffrage in the 15th amendment, although most Southern states developed ways to hinder their right to vote. The South had a poll tax, or amount to pay before voting, but this was outlawed by the 24th amendment. The South also gave literacy tests to vote, which was to disenfranchise African-Americans. It wasn't that African-Americans couldn't read, it's that many Southern states had African-Americans read Shakespeare or the like and explain what they read. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests. Women got the right to vote in the 19th amendment. The vote age was set at 18 in the 26th amendment, which came out of the Vietnam era since it was determined that if one was old enough to be drafted to go to war, then that person is old enough to vote.

There is a voter's handbook that explains the aspects of voting. The qualifications for everyone to vote is one must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of a state or D.C. Each states determine their registration. In registering to vote, a board of elections in each county conducts the registrations. Voters vote at their polling place in a precinct, which is the voting district. Electronic voting machines are used in PA. The U.S. uses what is called the Australian ballot guide, which is a ballot that is made at the government's expense, all candidates for office are listed, and marking the ballot/voting is done in secret or privately. Canvassing boards count the votes. There are special circumstances with voting. Absentee ballots are mailed to those who won't be able to go to their polling place on election day. There is assistance provided for those who are disabled. Ballots can be printed in a person's native language for those who don't speak or read English well.

What influences a voter? There are several major factors. The personal background of the voter is one. Voting trends seem to differ based on age, education, religion, racial or ethnic background. A second factor is loyalty to a political party. Some voters vote a straight-party ticket, or select all candidates in their party. Some voters are independent even though they may be registered with a specific political party. A third factor is that issues in campaigns. Many voters become informed through TV or the Internet. A candidate's image is important. Propaganda, or using ideas and information to influence, often influences opinion. A fourth factor is the profile of regulate voters and nonvoters. Those most likely to vote are more educated, middle to upper aged, and higher income.

**Interest Groups and Public Opinion:**
An interest group is a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government. In //The Federalist #10//, Madison said the Constitution would be a safeguard against abuses of interest groups (which they called factions). Interest groups have power. They support candidates running for office who favor their group's ideas. Groups are usually only concerned with a few issues. For example, interest groups that deal with either gun rights or gun control, usually don't take stances on issues like transportation laws. Interest groups attempt to bridge the gap between the citizens and government officials by sharing information with the group's members and showing government officials examples of public opinion. The stronger interest groups are more organized and have sufficient resources to have influence.

There are various aspects of interest groups. The leaders of an interest group unify its members and keep the members informed. People usually join the group to promote economic interests, individuals' beliefs, or to associate with those that have similar circumstances or opinions. Business groups promote the free enterprise system and include groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, and the National Association of Manufacturers. Labor groups promote workers, but have recently grown much more socialist in nature in terms of the leadership of labor groups (not necessarily the average workers) and include the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, United Mine Workers, and the Teamsters. Agricultural groups promote the farming sector and include the American Farm Bureau, the National Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, and the National Farmers Union. Professional groups include the American Bar Association for lawyers and the American Medical Association for those in the medical field. There are environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, which is the type of group that values the environment over humans. Public interest groups focus on a narrow group of people. Interest groups within government include the National Conference of State Legislators and the National Governors Association.

Lobbyists are those that represent interest groups and have direct contact with lawmakers and government leaders. Lobbyists provide policymakers with useful information and supports the interest group (that hired the lobbyist) in terms of the group's position on issues. Lobbyists meet personally with lawmakers to convince them of the group's position. Lobbyists often testify before congressional committees and may even help draft a bill. Interest groups always seek support. They use the mass media to inform the public. Groups urge members to contact government officials. Groups often compete for influence. They also act as watchdogs to be sure members aren't being harmed. Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations designed to collect money and provide financial support for a candidate. PACs are regulated by the Federal Election Commission. Interest groups will endorse the candidate that best supports the group's mission.

Public opinion includes the ideas and attitudes a significant number of people hold about government and political issues including attitudes that need communicated to the government. Political socialization is the process of how people learn political beliefs. People learn from family, school, peer groups, social characteristics (economic and social status), mass media, and government leaders. Political culture is a set of basic values and beliefs about a nation and its government that most citizens share. Ideologies can be broken down into two major categories. Liberals favor more government and that government should be actively involved in our lives. Conservatives favor smaller government with less involvement in our lives. Polls often measure public opinion.

**Mass Media:**
The media impacts the government as well as public opinion. A government news release is a story prepared by officials for the press members. During a news briefing an official explains a policy, decision, or action. A press conference involves the news media's questioning of a high-level government official. A leak is the release of secret information by anonymous government officials to the media. Candidates advertise in campaigns by use of the media. C-SPAN stands for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network and covers government proceedings including House and Senate debates and committee discussions and hearings. The media covers societal problems that leaders and citizens agree need government attention.

The 1st amendment guarantees freedom of the press but there are some government regulations. The print media is free from prior restraint, or government censorship of information before it is published. However, newspapers can't print information that is a lie that damages a person's reputation, which is libel. The press often fights for the right of access to information of government decisions. Shield laws protect reporters from having to reveal their sources. The FCC, or Federal Communications Commission, regulates the media/communication.

The Internet has made major changes in the way of reporting. The electronic media makes this aspect more widespread, interactive, and global in scope. There are web sites devoted to political issues though most are partisan, or the type that offers information that supports the site's point of view. THOMAS (Thomas.loc.gov) allows one to search bills in Congress. The Library of Congress updates what is happening daily. All governments at all levels have services and information online. Citizens can communicate with officials. Information can spread quickly. Grassroots web sites are often independent sites that support the site's favorite candidate. Citizens can volunteer, participate, have blogs, and of course vote. Offensive content can be difficult for Congress to regulate. Cyber crimes are newer crimes (with the growth of the information age) and the world is becoming more interconnected with the World Wide Web.

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