Seth LeRoy

Alicia Andrade
Ms.Ramos
AP Government
Pd 5B and 6S
16 October 2015
LO 3.A.1: Explain the core American beliefs, values, and norms
that define the relationship between citizens and government and
citizens with each other.
The core American beliefs are based on individualism and
equality of opportunity. Equality of opportunity is the belief that
everyone should have an equal opportunity. Individualism is not
dependent on the government, thus allowing them to be
independent and free. Equality of opportunity will have more
government intervene on the economic side, while individualism
will have more of a conservative approach, being free and less
government intervene. Government is supposed to regulate the
citizens and the citizens are supposed to in a way regulate the
government, which is demonstrated by voting for elections,
midterms, etc.
LO 3.A.2: Evaluate the influence of various factors in political
attitudes and socialization.
Political socialization has many influences, such as family
(1st) and school (2nd), which are direct influences. Educators that
teach politics allow the educated to question policies and the
government, which does not mean rejection. Media has an
indirect influence on an individual.
LO 4.A.1: Evaluate the impact that public opinion and scientific
polling have on elections and policy debates.
Public opinion affects elections because elections and policy
debates want to satisfy the majority of the peoples
opinion/concerns. Scientific polling affects the decision making
process during policy debates. Majoritarian does what the
majority wants for public policy. Pluralists recognize that
subgroups within the public to express opinions on specific
matters. Requires that government institutions allow free
expression of opinions.
LO 3.A.3: Analyze the relationship between 21st century
globalization and American political, social and cultural values.
By America being built off of immigrants and some obtaining
the American Dream, America has globalized itself. Politically,
socially, and culturally, America is diverse and has to be more
accepting of different ideas and cultures because of the different
ethnicities.

LO 3.B.1: Analyze how political culture influences the formation,

goals, and implementation of public policy.
Public policy is supposed to better the people, which is done
by voting and hearing the voices of the people. The government
has to make the best decisions from the public opinion of the
people, if not a reelection could take place.
LO 3.C.1: Compare how political ideologies vary on the role of
government in regulating the marketplace.
Liberals/Democrats will typically want more government
intervene because they desire equality of opportunity.
Republicans will typically want less government intervene
because they desire freedom over equality. It is important to look
at that the more educated people are, the higher chance they
have of being conservative because educated means higher
income. People who are less fortunate will typically be liberal.
LO 3.C.2: Compare how political ideologies vary with regard to
the role of government in addressing social issues.
Liberals/Democrats tend to have more open minds than
conservatives/ Republicans. Economically democrats will want
more government intervene with economics for equal
opportunity, but socially more freedom. Conservatives are more
traditional and socially, they tend to be more religious so passing
same sex laws might be difficult with conservatives.
LO 4.D.1: Summarize the voting rights protections in the
Constitution and in legislation.
15th amendment - prohibited the states from denying the
right to vote on account of race color or previous condition of
servitude. Smith v Allwright determines that laws preventing
blacks from voting in primary elections were unconstitutional.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 - (follows Bloody Sunday) suspended
discriminatory voting tests. Harper v Virginia State Board of
Elections determines that state poll taxes are unconstitutional .
19th amendment - women are given the right to vote in 1919.
ratified in 1920. 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18
(1971).
LO 4.D.2: Analyze the roles that individual choice and state laws
play in voter turnout in elections.
Voting is affected by individual choice because voters will
vote for the candidate that will best serve their interests. Voting

laws that affected voter turnout was the Voting Rights Act of
1965.
LO 4.D.3: Analyze U.S. voter turnout and compare it with that in
other democracies.
Voter turnouts are terrible compared to other countries. This
could be a possible loss of faith for the government or uneducated
people not willing to vote. The US compared to other people in
the world have more freedoms and it is very sad that american
citizens do not take advantages of their privileges.
LO 4.D.4: Explain the factors that influence voter choices.
Those who vote are affected by religion, education,
occupation, age, race, or gender. Older people will tend to vote
for counterparts while the young will seek self interests. Females
will vote on social issues more than men (liberal side). Religious
people will probably seek the traditional view on issues.
LO 4.D.5: Compare different models of voting behavior.
Primary election- preliminary election conducted within a
political party to select candidates who will run for public office in
a subsequent election. Closed primaries - primary election in
which voters must declare their party affiliation before they are
give the primary ballot containing that partys potential
nominees. Open primaries - primary election in which voters need
not declare their party affiliation and can choose one partys
primary ballot to take into the voting booth. Modified closed
primary - a primary election that allows individual state parties to
decide whether they permit independents to vote in their
primaries and for which offices. Modified open primary- primary
election that entitles independent voters to vote in a partys
primary. Presidential primary - special primary election used to
select delegates to attend the partys national convention which
in turn nominates the presidential candidate Caucus/convention method used to select delegates to attend a partys national
convention. generally a local meeting selects delegates for a
count-level meeting, which in turn selects delegates for a higher
level meeting, the process culminates in a state convention that
actually selects the national convention delegates. Front loading state's practice of moving delegate selection primaries and

caucuses earlier in the calendar year to gain media and candidate

attention