2. WHAT IS THIS UNIT ABOUT?
This unit is about the how elections function in the United States. This
unit cover things such as PACs, interest groups, and how elections work.

3. VOCAB WORDS
• Amnesty- The idea of granting citizenship to all illegal
immigrants within a country
• Citizen- A person who has membership in a country either by
birth or naturalization
• Duty- Things that a citizen is required to do by law.
• Illegal Aliens- A person who resides in a country who is not a
citizen or going through the naturalization.
• Jury Duty- Serving temporarily in the judicial system by
deciding on court decisions.
• Naturalization- The process of becoming a citizen within a
country.

4. VOCAB WORDS CONT.
• Responsibility- Things that a citizen should do, but there
is no legal penalty for not doing.
• Selective Service- Program in which all American men
over the age of 17 must apply with the government to
participate in the draft.
• Caucus- A meeting of leaders in a political party to
narrow down the field of candidates.
• Closed Primary- Election to narrow down a field of
candidates in which voters can only vote for the party in
which they hold membership.
• Electoral College- Body of officials within a state that
votes to elect the President of the United States.

5. VOCAB WORDS CONT.
• Interest Group- Organizations of people with common
ideologies, occupations, or beliefs who work together to
influence legislation and political leaders.
• Multi Party System- Political system in which multiple
political parties share power.
• One Party System- Political system in which one leader or
political party has power.
• Open Primary- Election to narrow down a field of
candidates in which voters can vote for both political
parties.

6. VOCAB WORDS CONT.
• Political Party- Organization of people with shared
political ideologies who work to get candidates elected to
office.
• Propaganda- Media designed to influence people’s
thoughts and behaviors.
• Recall- A vote to remove an elected official from office
and hold another election.
• Referendum- A vote on state and local laws.
• Two Party System- Political system in which two political
parties share power.

7. CITIZENSHIP
Members of a nation are granted certain rights,
responsibilities and duties by the government. The
government helps it’s people by distributing resources and
providing order. In the early U. S voting was limited to
wealthy white males. Citizenship status breaks down to full
citizenship, immigrant (Going through naturalization), alien
(person in the country who is there to work or visit), illegal
aliens (people in a country without permission), and
refugees ( a person in a country because they are leaving
another country due to war, natural disaster, or political
persecution.)

8. NATURALIZATION PROCESS
• File a Declaration of Intention and begin the 5 year
waiting process (3 years if marrying an American citizen)
• File an Application of Naturalization
• Interview with an USCIS and pass a citizenship test
• Sworn in a court with oath of loyalty to U.S

9. RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Rights- Granted by Constitution (voting, practicing a
religion, hold elected office, have a fair trial, and other
rights in the Bill of Rights)
• Duties- Required by law (obeying laws, register for
Selective Service, serving in court as witness or juror,
attend school until 16, paying taxes, and others.)
• Responsibilities- Things you should do but aren’t
required to by law (Voting, participating in government,
respecting rights of others, being informed, and other
responsibilities.)

10. LIMITS ON NON-CITIZENS
• Can’t vote in political elections
• Can’t run for government
offices
• Can’t hold government jobs

11. WAYS TO LOSE CITIZENSHIP
• Become a citizen of another country (exception
is dual-citizenship)
• Serve in foreign military
• Threaten to overthrow U.S government

12. RANDOM
• The U.S is known as a “nation of immigrants”
because everyone has descended from an other
nation
• E Pluribus Unum- out of many one (Found on
U.S currency)

13. THEORIES OF INTEGRATION IN U.S
M E LT I N G P O T TOSSED SALAD
THEORY THEORY
The blending of Groups of people
cultures, races, and hold onto their own
ideas. unique culture while
still being one
nation.

14. VOTING REQUIREMENTS
• U.S Citizen
• 18 Years Old
• Must meet a instate registration
requirement (NC= 30 Days)
• Must register to vote

15. REASONS PEOPLE DO OR DON’T VOTE
People vote because: People don’t vote because:
• They feel a sense of • They are apathetic
duty (don’t care), have no
• They support a time, are sick or away
candidate from home, or are not
registered
• Want a voice in a
specific issue

16. ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Voters can request to
vote earlier with an
absentee ballot.

17. HOW A CANDIDATE RUNS FOR OFFICE
1. File form to run for office
2. Primary election is held within a political party to narrow
down to the best candidate to represent the party
3. Candidates from each party (and independent
candidates) will take part in the general election
All elections except for presidential are by popular vote.

18. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
The presidential election is held on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November and the winner is decided by
whoever gets the majority of electoral college votes.
1. Candidates need 270 out of 538 to win
2. It’s a winner-takes-all system for electoral votes in each
state
3. If no candidate gets majority the House of
Representatives will select the president.

19. PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE
• More populated states have more influence
• A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the
electoral vote
• Some people suggest that the electoral votes be split up
by the percentage of popular vote per state.

20. TYPES OF TICKETS
STRAIGHT TICKET SPLIT TICKET
Voting for all Voting for
candidates from candidates from
one party. different parties.

21. WAYS VOTERS INFLUENCE LEGISLATION
I N I T I AT I V E REFERENDUM
Proposed law Proposed law
starts by grass by the legislature
roots movement and then voted
and then voted on by
on by constituents.
constituents.

22. POLITICAL PARTIES
Political parties are groups of people with
similar political views and interests who try to
influence the outcome of an election. The first two
in America were the Federalists and the Anti-
Federalists. Since 1854 either the Republicans or
Democrats have been in power.

23. TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS
D E M O C R AT S REPUBLICANS
• Working class • Business people
• Catholics • Protestants
• Minorities • Those who are
• Union Members against a strong
central
• Belief in a strong
government
central
government

24. PURPOSES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
• Selecting and supporting a candidate
• Keep the public informed
• Act as a watchdog
• Give citizens a voice
• Get citizens involved.

25. SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL LABELS

26. EXPLANATION OF SCALE
Radicals want widespread and rapid change in political, social,
and economic systems and may resort to violence to achieve these goals.
Liberals call for gradual change in political systems and want government
involvement in this. Moderates share the views of both Liberals and
Conservatives. Conservatives favor keeping things the way they are and
are very cautious about change. Reactionaries want things to go back to
the way they were and will use extreme methods like repressive
government power to achieve goals. Candidates will often move to the
center of the scale during voting season to attract voters.

27. TYPES OF PARTY SYSTEMS
• One Party System- There is no confusion
over who is in charge but viewpoints are
ignored. (China)
• Two Party System- Provides stability and
continuity but sometimes minority
viewpoints are ignored. (U.S)
• Multi-Party System- Provides a broad range
of choices but it’s hard for one party to get
control so they form unstable coalitions.
(Japan, Israel, Italy)

28. TYPES OF THIRD PARTIES
• Single Issue (Prohibition Party in 1872)
• Political Beliefs (Socialist, Green, Libertarian,
and American reform parties)
• Single Candidate (George Wallace 1968, Ross
Perot in 1992 and 1996

29. PROBLEMS WITH THIRD PARTIES
There are quite a few problems with third
party candidates such as:
• Hard to get on the ballot
• Difficult to raise enough money to compete with
the Democrats and Republicans
• Voters think that they have no chance to win so
they don’t vote for them

30. CAMPAIGNS AND PROPAGANDA
Every few years billions of dollars are spent on
the presidential election and other offices at all
levels of governments. They can be funded
privately or publicly.

31. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Special interest groups have very narrow views
and influence elections by bringing issues or
concerns to the people and lawmakers, represent
the concerns of a specific group or support
candidates who support their views.

32. THEY CAN REPRESENT:
• A particular economic interest (American Medical
Association, American Bar Association, etc.)
• A particular ethnic, age, or gender group (National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
National Organization for Women, etc.)
• A specific cause (People for the Ethic Treatment od
Animals, National Rifle Association, etc.)
• A public interest (American Civil Liberties Union)

33. THEY CAN REPRESENT

34. PROPAGANDA
Propaganda is information and ideas
deliberately spread in order to affect
people’s opinions on a person, group, or
issue; it is delivered through various
media outlets.

35. TYPES OF PROPAGANDA
• Glittering Generalities- Use attractive but vague
words that make speeches and other forms of
communication sound good bit say nothing.
(Miss America Answers)
• Plain Folks- Make the voters feel that the
leaders are “just like them” and do the same
things the voters do.
• Bandwagon- Male it appear that many people
already have supported a candidate and that
these people are having fun and gaining a
significant advantage.

36. MORE TYPES OF PROPAGANDA
• Cardstacking- candidate lists accomplishments
and statistics that compare him/her favorably to
their opponent
• Name Calling- information deliberately
presented about the opponent that is
discrediting in nature.
• Transfer/ Symbol- candidate is shown with
symbols that make the candidate seem
patriotic.