Voting and Interest Groups

1
Voting and Interest Groups

• Let your voice be heard.

2
Eligibility Requirements

• 18 years old, resident of the state for a
  specific time period, citizen of the United
  States.
• Once registered a person is assigned to a
  district.
• You can only vote once.

3
Gathering information

• Newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.
• Political parties.
• It is important to learn the issues and the
  candidates stand on them.

4
People that do not vote

• Electorate People eligible to vote.
• People in mental hospitals, people convicted of
  serious crimes, and people who do not meet state
  requirements can not vote.
• The registration obstacle is not really a problem
  because states allow people to register when they
  renew their drivers license.
• Apathy Lack of interest.

5
Nominating Candidates

• Caucus Meeting of party members.
• Nominating Convention Delegates are chosen by
  party members to select the candidate.
• Primary elections Registered voters choose the
  candidate.
• Open Party membership not required to vote.
• Closed Only registered party members may vote.

6
Presidential Candidates

• Chosen at the National Convention.
• States choose delegates to attend the convention
  according to population.
• The chosen candidate chooses a running mate for
  VP. (Ticket)

7
Campaigning

• It is important to create a positive image for a
  candidate.
• Propaganda Attempt to promote a person or idea.
• Television is used a lot to familiarize the
  American public with issues.
• Canvassing Going thorough neighborhoods asking
  for support.

8
Financing Campaigns

• Political Action Committees (PACs) Fund raising
  organizations.
• Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax payers
  check a box on tax forms.
• Political parties hold elaborate dinners to raise
  money.
• Individual donors contribute money.

9
Public Opinion

• Opinions of a group of people about a person or
  issue.
• Age, gender, income, hobbies, race, religion, and
  occupation play a role.
• The nations economic system is also important in
  public opinion.
• The mass media is a strong influence.
• Interest group People who share a similar point
  of view.

10
Determining Public Opinion

• Election results are one way, but they are not
  always reliable.
• Public Opinion polls are the most accurate way.
• Pollsters People who take polls.
• Pollsters use random samples, questioning a
  variety of people to get results.
• Loaded questions Biased questions asked to get
  a certain response.

11
Interest group

• Strength in numbers.
• Sometimes called pressure groups because they try
  and pressure the government into making
  decisions.
• Bias One-sided point of view.

12
Types of interest groups

• The most common type are economic groups.
• Business Organizations Interested in trade
  relationships.
• Industrial and trade Represent certain types of
  businesses.
• Labor unions Interested in the rights of
  workers.
• Professional associations Represent different
  professions.
• There are groups for ethnic, age and gender.
• There are groups that focus on specific causes.

13
Functions of interest groups

• Bring issues to the public and lawmakers.
• Support candidates who favor their goals.

14
Lobbies

• Lobby Try to get government officials to
  support a groups goals.
• Lobbyists are people that try and gain support.
• Spend a lot of time researching issues in order
  to persuade lawmakers. They are frequently
  invited to speak in congressional committees.
• They try and arouse public opinion encouraging
  the public to communicate with elected leaders.

15
Regulation

• Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) All
  lobbies must register with federal and state
  governments and report all expenditures.
• All regulation laws have been relatively
  ineffective.