Function of Political Parties

1. Recruiting and nominating candidates 2. Educating the electorate about campaign issues 3. Helping candidates win elections 4. Monitoring actions of officeholders

1. Organize to win elections 2. Influence public policies 3. Reflect both liberal and conservative views 4. Define themselves in a way that wins majority support by appealing to the political center

Believing the government should get involved more in the lives of the people to help in all ways possible.

Believing that the government should play a more limited role in the lives of the people.

Stated in the party platforms and reflected in campaigning

1. Introduce new ideas and/or press for a particular issue 2. Often revolve around a political personality (example: Theodore Roosevelt)

1. Separating fact from opinion 2. Detecting bias 3. Evaluating sources 4. Identifying propaganda

The communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

The term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective, ideology or result, especially when the tendency interferes with the ability to be impartial, unprejudiced, or objective. In other words, bias is generally seen as 'one-sided'.

1. Identifying candidates 2. Emphasizing selected issues 3. Writing editorials, creating political cartoons, publishing op-ed pieces 3. Broadcasting different points of view

1. Require candidates to conduct extensive fund-raising activities 2. Limit opportunities to run for public office (the rich vs. the poor) 3. Give 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

Candidates pick up ideas held by Special Interest groups to gain their support and....their money.

1. Rising campaign costs have led to efforts to reform campaign finance laws 2. Limits exist on the amount individuals may contribute to political candidates and campaigns

Voter Registration and Participation

Qualifications to register to vote in Virginia.

With a application that can be mailed in or in person at the registrar's office, at the Division of Motor Vehicles, or at other designated sites.

So the government has time to process all of the votes.

Factors in predicting which citizen will vote.

1. Lack of interest 2. Failure to register 3. Apathy, "...It doesn't matter what happens, so why should I vote!"

The percentage of voters who participate in presidential elections is usually greater than the percentage of voters who participate in state and local elections. Every vote is important!!

1. A slate of electors for each state is chosen by popular vote. *Most states have a winner-takes-all system That means whomever gets more than 50% of the votes gets all . of the votes! 2. The electors meet to vote for President and Vice President. 3. The winner-take-all system leads to the targeting of large states for campaigning, although candidates must pay attention to small states whose electoral votes may make the difference in tight elections.

Example of the Electoral College Process

Electoral College Process