Section 1: Role of Political Parties

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Section 1 Role of Political Parties

• Political parties are organized groups that seek
  to have influence over government power by
  winning elections.

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Section 2 The U.S. Two-Party System

• 2 Major Parties
• Democratic Partybacks more government on
  behalf of disadvantaged groups
• Republican Partysupports less government
  intervention

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Section 3 The U.S. Two-Party System

• Role of third parties in the U.S. two-party
  system
• Third parties can impact elections by taking
  votes from the major parties.
• The biggest impact is forcing the major parties
  to address certain issues.

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Section 4 Political Parties and the Public Good

• Common criticisms of the U.S. two-party system
• overly influenced by special interests
• filled with self-serving office seekers
• too concerned with politicking
• too weak to be effective

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Section 4 Political Parties and the Public Good

• Benefits of the U.S. two-party system
• provide ready information about politics
• balance the political system by representing
  varied opinions
• discourage sudden shifts in political trends
• encourage political participation

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Section 1 Nominating Candidates

• Ways candidates may be nominated for an election
• self-announcement -convention
• Caucus - primary election -petition

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Section 1 Nominating Candidates

• Types of primaries held in states
• Direct election, winner determines candidate
• Closed-members of party allowed to vote
• Open- any voter can participate
• Run-off no majority, top two vote-getters
  compete
• Nonpartisan-all candidates appear on same ballot

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Section 2 Campaigns and Campaign Financing

• Changes in political campaigning today from early
  campaigning
• increased candidate visibility
• increased media involvement
• increased importance of polling
• increased spending

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Section 2 Campaigns and Campaign Financing

• How campaigns are financed
• party assistance
• political action committees (interest groups)
• private donors
• public funding
• personal financing

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Campaigns and Campaign Financing

• Campaign financing regulations
• financial disclosure where from and where spent
• contribution limits
• Soft moneysupporting parties, not candidates
• Hard moneysupporting candidates
• Donor limits no foreign donors, no labor unions

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Section 3 Elections and Voting

• Types of elections
• general
• special
• Local, state, and federal laws determine where,
  how, and when people vote
• Presidential Tuesday following the first Monday
  in Nov. every 4 years
• Congressional Tuesday following the first
  Monday in November even ed years

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Section 3 Elections and Voting

• Voting requirements
• Age 18 - 26th amendment
• Citizenship(natural born or naturalized)
• residence
• registration

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Section 3 Elections and Voting

• Influences on the way in which people vote
• party identification
• personal opinions about the issues
• a candidates record and image
• the voters personal background