L 12 CE 5 Vocabulary

CE 5 Vocabulary

 _Two Party System: a system of government that is

controlled by two major political parties

 Public Policy: government response to public issues

 Liberal : tolerant of different views and standards of

behavior in others (democrats)

 _Conservative_: in favor of preserving the traditional values

and customs and against abrupt change (republicans)

 Majority : most of the people

 _Party Platform: a statement of a party’s official stand on

major public issues.

 Campaign : a series of events, including rallies and

speeches that are intended to persuade voters to vote for a
particular person or party.

 _Third Party_: a major political party that operates for a

limited time in opposition to the two main parties.

R 12
SOL 5a What roles do political parties play in the American political
process?
Functions of political parties:

Recruit and nominate

candidates.

Educate the electorate about campaign

issues.

Helping candidates win elections.

Monitor actions of officeholders.

Summary: Political parties play a key role in elections and provide opportunities
for citizens to participate in the political process.

R 13
SOL 5b
How are the major political parties similar, and how do they differ?

How are political parties similar?

 Organize to win elections
 Influence public policies
 Reflect both liberal and conservative views
 Define themselves in a way to win the majority support of voters by appealing
to the political center (people with moderate views)

How are political parties different?

 Party platform (what they stand for)
 Campaign strategies (how they try to win votes)

What are third parties?

 Groups that introduce new ideas or press for particular issues.
 They often revolve around political personalities (ex. Theodore Roosevelt)
 They rarely win major elections (like presidential), but they play an important
part and can affect the outcome of elections.

Summary: A two party system characterizes the American _process . Although

third parties rarely win elections they play an important role in political
process

R 14
Political Party Functions / Similarities / Difference worksheet

5c Choices and the Media R 15

How do _citizens__ make informed choices in _elections__?

_Strategies__ for evaluating campaign __speeches_, _literature_, and

advertisements for _accuracy_:
1. Separate fact from opinion

2. Detect bias (favoritism)

3. Evaluate sources

4. Identifying propaganda

Summary: Voters _evaluate_ information presented in _political__

_campaigns__ to make reasoned choices among _candidates__.

How does the _media__ play a role in the _political__ process?

Mass _media_ role in _elections_:

1. Identifying candidates

2. Emphasizing selected issues

3. Writing editorials, creating political cartoons, publishing op-ed pieces

4. Broadcasting different points of view

Summary: The _media_ plays an important role in the _political_ process.

SOL 5d Rising Cost of Campaigning R 16

How has the rising _cost_ of getting _elected changed _campaigning_
for public office?

Rising Campaign Costs……..

1. Require _candidates_ to conduct extensive _fund_-_raising_
activities.

2. _Limits_ opportunities to run for _public_ office.

3. Gives an _advantage_ to wealthy individuals who run for _office_.

4. Encourage the development of _Political_ _Action_ _Committees_

(PACS)

5. Give issue-oriented _special_ _interest_ groups increased

influence.

Campaign Finance Reform…

_Rising_ campaign costs have led to efforts to _reform__ campaign
_finance_ laws.

Limits have been placed on the amount _individuals_ may _contribute_

to political _candidates_ and campaigns.

Summary
Running for political office is expensive $$$$

R 17 -- SOL 5e Voting Registration and Participation

What factors influence voter turnout & registration?

1. __AGE___
2. _INCOME__
3. _EDUCATION__

Why do Citizens fail to vote?

1. _LACK_ of interest in candidates & issues.

2. _FAILURE_ to register.
3. Belief that their vote does not count or will have no impact.
4. No time or too busy.

What are the requirements for Voter Registration in Virginia?

Qualifications to register to vote in Virginia:

1. Citizen of the _UNITED _ _STATES_

2. _RESIDENT_ of Virginia and the voting _PRECINCT_ they will
vote at
3. _18_ years of _AGE_ by the day of the general election

How to register to vote in Virginia

1. In _PERSON_ at the registrar’s office, at the Division of _MOTOR_
Vehicles (_DMV_). Or at designated sites.
2. By mail-in _APPLICATION__
3. _ONLINE_

Voter _REGISTRATION_ is closed _22_ days before elections!!!

The percentage of voters who participate in presidential elections is usually
greater then the percentage of voters who participate in state and local
elections.

Every _VOTE_ is _IMPORTANT_!!!!!!!!!!

The _NUMBER_ of citizens who register and _VOTE_ is related to how

_IMPORTANT_ election _ISSUES_ are to citizens.

Voting Rights Amendments & Legislation:

 _15_ th Amendment – African Americans (men) the right to vote
 _19_ th Amendment- Women’s suffrage (voting rights)
 _23_ rd Amendment- DC gets the presidential vote (electoral)
 _24_ th amendment-abolishes the poll tax
 _26_ th Amendment-right to vote set to age 18
 Voting Rights Act of 1965- prohibits racial discrimination in voting

Students can participate in the democratic process by:

 Participating in campaigns
 Participating in classroom and online simulations.

Vocabulary:
primary election: an election in which members of a party choose candidates
for a governmental position

general election: an election in which voters make final decisions about

candidates and issues

precinct: a small electoral district of a city or town

registrar: somebody who is responsible for keeping official records

SOL 5f – Electoral College R 18

Question: How is the electoral college used to select the President
& Vice President of the United States of America?
Vocabulary:
 Electoral college: a select group of people chosen to elect the
President and Vice President of the U.S.
 Popular vote: people’s vote
 electors: people who promise to cast votes for the candidate
selected by voters
 winner-take-all system: everything given to the winner,
nothing to the loser
 Congressional Representation: the number of members to
Congress (House of Representatives: based on population and
Senate: two per state)

Electoral College Process

1. The slate of electors for each state is

chosen by popular vote

2. Most states have a winner- take – all

system.

3. The electors meet to vote for President and Vice-President.

**The winner-take-all system leads to targeting of larger (more)

populated states for campaigning, although candidates must pay
attention to smaller (less) populated states whose electoral votes
may make the difference in tight election**

The number of electors of each state is based on the size of the

state’s congressional representation which is based on the state’s
population.

**The requirement for a _majority_ vote to win in the electoral

college favors a two-party system.**

Summary: The _electoral college_ process is used to select the

President and Vice President of the United States.