Electing a Prez
An underlying principle in the Electoral college, a candidate gets all electors or none.
What is the "Winner take all" system
Parties perform vital functions in the election process which links citizens to elections and candidates. Name 3 of them.
What are mobilization of voters, educating voters, register voters, provide platforms, fundraising, etc.
Interest groups play a crucial role in elections and on voters. Name at least two ways they do this.
They advocate for issues and candidates, they use $ to fund campaigns via donations, they mobilize voters on issues, they educate voters and candidates on their issues, etc.
Money directly contributed to a candidate.
Hard money
A strange system of selecting candidates, only a few states use it, requires group participation and discussion.
What is a caucus?
What is the House of Reps?
Parties greatly impact the political process in Congress. Name at least two ways they do this.
Provide party leadership, organize into committees, form coalitions to push legislation, write legislation, etc.
Interest groups educate legislators, discuss issues with them, seek to influence rules, etc. This tactic is called...
Lobbying
As of 2002, soft money was banned, candidates had to "stand by their ad", hard money limits were increased, and limitations were placed on advertising prior to an election. Name the law and one team member must give their best "Stand by your ad" statement.
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (aka McCain-Feingold)
Each team choose one artist, and draw your best political cartoon criticizing one aspect of our election process. (Team may help suggest ideas)
Wow!
In the choosing of candidates for the general election, states use different systems to decide the winning candidate. Name at least two of them.
What are open primaries, closed primaries, caucases, semi-open primaries?
Parties have had to change and adapt over time. Explain two reasons why.
Campaigns have become focused on candidates, party appeal has changed/lessened with more unaffiliated voters, critical elections have realigned voters and platforms, DEalignment, etc.
Interest groups may influence the outcomes of court decisions by engaging in what practice
Litigation
Explain the relevant CASE FACTS of Citizens United v. FEC (2010).
BCRA law provision, Hilary the movie prior to the election, lawsuit to run their ad, denied--> goes to the SCOTUS
Senators and Representatives have an extremely high chance of being re-elected once in office. Name this phenomenon.
Incumbency Advantage
Faithless electors represent a potential argument against the Electoral College. Others argue this is irrelevant. Choose one perspective and make an argument for it.
Arguments? its undemocratic, electors aren't required to follow the pop. vote, Faithless electors have never impacted an election..
Third parties face a difficult challenge winning elections. Provide at least 3 reasons as to why.
Winner take all voting system, two-party system, major parties incorporate their platform, ballot access, media attention, fundraising, name recognition, etc
Iron triangles involve a relationship of policymaking and interaction between 3 entities. Name them, specifically!
Congressional Committees, Interest groups, and Bureaucratic Agencies
Does the BCRA provision violate free speech aka does political spending by corporations/groups (Not coordinated with candidates) count as free speech?
Campaigns and strategies have drastically changed over time. Describe two reasons as to why.
Hiring professional consultants, longer campaign cycles, rise in media costs, competitive fundraising and competition, changing society ideals/generational appeal
Name the presidents in timeline order from as far back as you can. The team with the longest streak wins. (write it down on the whiteboard)
Choose one other team. Count how many R's or D's you think are on the team. If you guess it, you get the points! If your wrong, next team gets to try. If no one gets it, the team chosen gets the points.
For fun! No Judgement zone here!
Interest groups face several problems when it comes to competition in policy making, specifically, the 'free-rider" problem. What does this mean and give an example.
When individuals benefit from interest group activity, but don't actually participate or donate money to the cause. (Ex. ACLU works towards increasing civil liberties rulings in court, that benefit all of us to some extent, but most of us never donate or support the group)
Choose two members of your group--act out a "debate" between two SCOTUS justices arguing over the ruling in Citizens United? (One majority opinion, one dissenting)
Was it good?
You lost the nomination to be the Democratic presidential candidate due to "superdelegate" influence. Give your most scathing speech (clean) criticizing the party convention and role of superdelegates in your loss.
Well done!