U.S. Government

Unit 3 Politcal Party Notes

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Political Parties Notes

General Terms

Political Party:               a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office

                                    p.109                                                              

Party Platform:              Written declaration of principles and policy positions of a political party.

 

Plank:                           One issue highlighted in the platform

 

Coalition:                      A union of many people of diverse interests who have come together to get their candidates elected.  This is an extremely diverse group demographically

 

Plurality :                      Largest number of votes cast in an election.  This is not always a majority of all votes

Electorate:                    Potential voting population

 

Voting Protection

Amendments prohibit limiting the vote in the following ways or the following reasons

15th                               due to your race, color or previous condition of servitude

17th                              If you vote in State elections you vote in Federal

19th                              If you’re a women

24th                              Outlaws poll tax

26th                              If your 18 years of age or older

 

You must reside in the State and district in which you are voting

 

 

 

Voting Rights Act 1965:  Made the 15th amendment a reality.  This act applies to all elections.  It has been extended three times, 1970, 1975, 1982.  It outlawed state poll tax laws.  And suspended literacy test or similar devices.  Federal officers are now given power to register voters and oversee the process

 

Civil Rights Act 1964:  Outlaws discrimination in job related areas, voting rights, forbidding registration requirements that are unfair or discriminatory.  But Selma Alabama showed ist shortcomings.  Dr. King led a voter registration drive which  was met by local gov. interference and citizen harassment.

 

 

 

 

 

Voter Behavior p. 143

p.145

p.147

 

Suffrage or Franchise: The right to vote

 

Party identification:            Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Third parties, independents

 

Straight Ticket voting

 

Gerrymandering:            Essex County Massachusetts 1812 redistricting by Gov. Elbridge Gerry to favor Democratic Republicans.  Federalist newspaper editor said it looks like a salamander or a Gerrymander.  Drawing electoral district lines to benefit a particular party

 

Nominating Process

Convention:                  Through convention and more useful now is the primary system

Closed Primary:             It is only open to party members in nominating the Presidential candidate

Open primary:              Any qualified voter may vote in nominating the Presidential candidate

Self- announcement:             write in candidate

 

Campaign Contributions

FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW:
New Contribution Limits

On Nov. 6, 2002, the day after the 2002 midterm elections, a new set of campaign finance laws went into effect. Known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), the law is considered the most sweeping change of the U.S. campaign finance system in a quarter-century. The crux of the law, which was sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Reps. Chris Shays (R-Ct.) and Marty Meehan (D-Mass.), is a ban on soft money to the national political parties. The law also increases the contribution limits for individuals giving to federal candidates and political parties (details below). For more on the new law, click here. For a look at the hard money requirements for different types of communications, use this table, which summarizes the rules for communications paid for by individuals, political parties, corporations and labor organizations.

 

To any candidate committee (per election1)

To any national party committee (per year)

To any PAC, state/local party, or other political committee (per year)

Aggregate total

Individual can give2:

Old law:
$1,000

$20,000

$5,000

$25,000 per year

New law:
$2,000, subject to aggregate limit
3

 

$25,000 per party committee, subject to aggregate limit

 

 

$10,000 to each state or local party committee (Levin funds)4

$5,000 to  each PAC or other political committee, subject to aggregate limit

 

 

$95,000 per two-year election cycle as follows:

· $37,500 per cycle to candidates; and

· $57,500 per cycle to all national party committees and PACs (of which no more than $37,500 per cycle can go to PACs)

Multicandidate committee can give5:

Old law:
$5,000

$15,000

$5,000

No limit

New law:
Same

Same

Same

Same

Other political committee can give:

Old law:
$1,000

$20,000

$5,000

No limit

New law:
Same

Same

Same

Same

 

 

Special interest :            The answer to not having a party that fully follows your views.  These groups make up one issue within the party.  Ie. Teachers, Black Americans and  Pro-life

 

PAC:                            Political arm of special interest groups trying to influence public policy

                                    Ie. NEA