STANDARD GOVT.6a
The student will apply social science skills to understand local, state, and national elections by
a) describing the nomination and election process, including the organization and evolving role of political parties;
Political parties are organized to win elections.
Party factions can control the election process by controlling candidate selection.
At each level of government, candidates for elective office are chosen using a variety of nominating methods.
Political parties have national, state, and local organizations.
Roles of political parties
• Select candidates
• Raise funds
• Conduct campaigns
• Identify important issues
• Monitor the party in power
Each major political party seeks to define itself in ways that win majority support while remaining committed to core principles.
The 2 major parties are coalitions of several factions & interest groups and recognize the importance of conducting campaigns that appeal to voters in the middle of the political spectrum, veering neither too far left nor too far right of the political center.
A third party could form to highlight single issues in a given election or provide a long-term forum for minority views.
Methods used by political parties to select candidates for national, state, and local offices include
• direct primary • caucus • nominating convention • petition.
The 2 major political parties use a national nominating convention to select presidential & vice-presidential candidates.
In Virginia, state and local party organizations determine which method of nomination will be used to select candidates. Once nominated, candidates campaign and go before the voters for election to office.
In Virginia, 17-year-olds can register and vote in special elections or participate in the nominating process if their 18th birthday is on or before the general election.
The student will apply social science skills to understand local, state, and national elections by
a) describing the nomination and election process, including the organization and evolving role of political parties;
Political parties are organized to win elections.
Party factions can control the election process by controlling candidate selection.
At each level of government, candidates for elective office are chosen using a variety of nominating methods.
Political parties have national, state, and local organizations.
Roles of political parties
• Select candidates
• Raise funds
• Conduct campaigns
• Identify important issues
• Monitor the party in power
Each major political party seeks to define itself in ways that win majority support while remaining committed to core principles.
The 2 major parties are coalitions of several factions & interest groups and recognize the importance of conducting campaigns that appeal to voters in the middle of the political spectrum, veering neither too far left nor too far right of the political center.
A third party could form to highlight single issues in a given election or provide a long-term forum for minority views.
Methods used by political parties to select candidates for national, state, and local offices include
• direct primary • caucus • nominating convention • petition.
The 2 major political parties use a national nominating convention to select presidential & vice-presidential candidates.
In Virginia, state and local party organizations determine which method of nomination will be used to select candidates. Once nominated, candidates campaign and go before the voters for election to office.
In Virginia, 17-year-olds can register and vote in special elections or participate in the nominating process if their 18th birthday is on or before the general election.
b) examining campaign funding and spending, including the impact of Supreme Court decisions, the nationalization of campaign financing, and the role of issue groups;
Candidates must appeal to an increasing number of independent voters to win elections.
Campaigning for political office is expensive. Recent laws and Supreme Court decisions have attempted to influence campaign financing.
Laws limit the amount individuals and groups may contribute to federal, state, and local candidates.
The Federal Election Campaign Act
Court cases impacting campaign financing
In state and local campaigns, campaign contributions received by a candidate are unlimited but must be reported.
Rising campaign costs require candidates to conduct extensive fundraising activities.
Increasingly, fundraising is done online.
Candidates must appeal to an increasing number of independent voters to win elections.
Campaigning for political office is expensive. Recent laws and Supreme Court decisions have attempted to influence campaign financing.
Laws limit the amount individuals and groups may contribute to federal, state, and local candidates.
The Federal Election Campaign Act
- Provides for a system of financing based on three principles:
- Public funding of presidential elections
- Limitations on the amounts presidential and congressional candidates may receive from contributors
- Public disclosure of the amounts candidates spend to get elected
- Legalized the creation of Political Action Committees (PACs)
Court cases impacting campaign financing
- Citizens United v. FEC: Deals with regulation of campaign financing by organizations; overturns portions of McCain-Feingold (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act)
- Emily’s List v. FEC: Challenges several Federal Election Commission regulations that restrict how nonprofits may spend and raise money to advance their preferred policy positions and candidates
- Free Speech v. FEC: Challenged the constitutionality of the Federal Election Commission’s regulations, policies, and practices determining when a communication is advocacy, and when it is solicitation
In state and local campaigns, campaign contributions received by a candidate are unlimited but must be reported.
Rising campaign costs require candidates to conduct extensive fundraising activities.
Increasingly, fundraising is done online.
c) analyzing the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, public opinion polls, social media, and digital communications on elections;
Media coverage, campaign advertising, public opinion polls, and Internet-based communications influence public opinions during a political campaign.
Influences on elections
Internet-based communications include
Media coverage, campaign advertising, public opinion polls, and Internet-based communications influence public opinions during a political campaign.
Influences on elections
- Mass media (including the Internet) influence public opinion.
- Campaign advertisements are used to persuade and/or mobilize the electorate.
- Polling is used to measure public attitudes, target ads, and refine campaign strategies.
Internet-based communications include
- campaign Web sites
- e-mail communications with voters
- use of social networking sites and blogging
- online grassroots organizing.
d) investigating and explaining the impact of reapportionment and redistricting on elections and governance;
Changes in population and resulting reapportionment have a political effect on legislative membership through national, state, and local elections
Terms to know
Reapportionment of congressional districts occurs after each census.
In Virginia, the General Assembly’s majority party redraws state and congressional districts. Some states have removed legislators completely or partially from the process (e.g., by using nonpartisan commissions).
Changes in population and resulting reapportionment have a political effect on legislative membership through national, state, and local elections
Terms to know
- reapportionment: Redistribution of the fixed number of seats in a legislative body (e.g., the 435 congressional seats)
- redistricting: Redrawing the boundaries of legislative districts
- gerrymandering: The process of redrawing district boundaries to benefit one political party or group of citizens
Reapportionment of congressional districts occurs after each census.
In Virginia, the General Assembly’s majority party redraws state and congressional districts. Some states have removed legislators completely or partially from the process (e.g., by using nonpartisan commissions).
e) describing how amendments have extended the right to vote;
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States have extended the right of suffrage.
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States that extended suffrage
- The 15th Amendment ensures the right to vote regardless of race.
- The 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote.
- The 23rd Amendment allows voters in Washington, D.C., to vote for the United States president and vice president.
- The 26th Amendment gives the right to vote to citizens 18 years old and older.
f) analyzing voter turnout in local, state, and national elections.
Analyzing trends among voter turnout provides data on the outcome of election results and potentially influences future campaigns.
Influences on voter turnout
Education, age, and income are important factors in predicting which citizens will vote.
More citizens vote in presidential elections than in state, local, and other national contests.
Voter turnout can be limited when voters believe their vote has little impact.
Voter apathy, dissatisfaction, and failure to meet voting requirements can contribute to a decline in voting.
Analyzing trends among voter turnout provides data on the outcome of election results and potentially influences future campaigns.
Influences on voter turnout
- Campaign issues
- Candidates
- Political efficacy
- Voter attitudes toward government
- Voter loyalty to political parties
- Competitive and noncompetitive races
Education, age, and income are important factors in predicting which citizens will vote.
More citizens vote in presidential elections than in state, local, and other national contests.
Voter turnout can be limited when voters believe their vote has little impact.
Voter apathy, dissatisfaction, and failure to meet voting requirements can contribute to a decline in voting.