Unit 4B: Political Parties & Influencing Government

Chapters 9 & 11

We now turn our attention to the largest of interest groups: political parties. Encompassing the majority of issues that matter to the people, political parties attempt appease as many people as possible in order to earn the votes of the people in order to control the House of Representatives, Senate, and the White House. Important to the politicans is knowing how the people feel about the public issues, and therefore, obtaining accurate data is important to making sure that the members of government can answer the cries of the people.

Study Tools

Online Textbook Resources

These pages contain the links to the online content for student practice. It includes Chapter Overviews, Web Activities, Self-Check Quizzes, ePuzzles and Games, Vocabulary Flashcards, Charts in Motion (to accompany diagrams in the textbook), and Interactive Graphic Organizers.

• Chapter 9 Student Center: Political Parties and Politics
• Chapter 11 Student Center: Influencing Government

Vocabulary

Link to Quizlet! Vocabulary is the key to understanding any subject. Once you can break down the barrier of language the ideas and concepts are wide open. Here you can find the vocabulary for the unit to practice by using online flash cards and by practicing online generated vocabulary quizzes.

• Unit 4B Vocabulary Quiz on Quizlet

When you get to the Quizlet Quiz page, you can adjust what type of quiz to take by using the check boxes on the right.

Slide Shows

The slideshows are best viewed full screen. Slideshows will be blocked until AFTER the homework is due to encourage students to read the required sections of the textbook.

Development of Political Parties

This slideshow gives a brief (VERY Brief) history of political parties in the United States.

Role of Political Parties

Demonstrating a wide range of concepts, this slideshow describes the structure of political parties from the national organization down to the grassroots.

Primary Elections

In the United States the election process process when one begins to consider the primary election, general elections, or special election. This presentation attempts to give the basic on the primary process.

Campaign Finance

Presentation to go with section 10.3. Includes a recent history of campaign finance laws from Federal Elections Campaign Act (1971) through Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Mass Media & Interest Groups

Overview of the roles of the Mass Media and Interest Groups in Politics

Videos

Video Link: Annenberg Media - Learner.org

• The Constitution: That Delicate Balance - "Campaign Spending"

  Nearly 1 hour, this video is an interview of many members of Congress about thier understanding and feeling about Federal Election Campaign Act, campaign finance, and influence by outside groups. (from 1984)

• Democracy in America - "Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents"

  To get to this program, in the windown that open, scroll down to the title "12. Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents" and click the "VoD" icon on the right.

  From the website: "This program shows how political parties perform important functions that link the public to the institutions of American government. Parties create coalitions of citizens who share political goals, elect candidates to public office to achieve those goals, and organize the legislative and executive branches of government."

• Democracy in America - "Public Opinion: Voice of the People"

  Nearly 30 minutes, this video analyzes how current events affect public opinion, how public opinion is measured, and why understanding public opinion is important for government.

• Democracy in America - "Interest Groups: Organizing to Influence"

  Nearly 30 minutes, this program shows how America's large number of corporate, citizen-action, and grass-roots interest groups enhance our representative process by giving citizens a role in shaping policy agendas.

Links

Political Parties

• New York Times 2008 Election Information

  Nicely organized website that shows a wealth of information about the candidates, including primaries, electoral votes, polls, and more. Although some of this information could pertain to Unit 3, it also shows important information about political parties' platforms and primary election results from 2008.

• Republican National Committee (GOP)

  This is the website of the "Grand Old Party" - the Republican Party. On this website you will discover the Republicans' position on the major issues facing America today as well as their plans for government.

• 2008 Republican Primaries

  Very well organized website that demonstrates the primary elections for the Republican party leading up to the 2008 Presidential election. It illustrates the distribution delegates for the selection of the candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election.

• 2012 Republican Primaries

  Another good job by the New York Times (NYT) breaking down each state's primaries and the victors in each state. I prefer the way they set it up for the 2008 primaries because it clearly illustrated the number of delegates each state had up for grabs where as the 2012 coverage is not as clear. But overall, still well organized.

• Democratic National Committee

  This is the website of the Democrat Party. On this website you will discover the Democrats' position on the major issues as well as their plans for government.

• 2008 Democratic Primaries

  Very well organized website that demonstrates the primary elections for the Democrat party leading up to the 2008 Presidential election. It illustrates the distribution delegates for the selection of the candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election.

• Libertarian Party

  The Libertarian Party is the only "third party" that is on the ballot in North Carolina. On this website you will discover the Libertarians' position on the major issues as well as their plans for government.

• Green Party

  Although this party does not iusually make it onto the ballot in North Carolina, it consistently makes news nation wide. On this website you will discover the Green Party's position on the major issues as well as their plans for government.

Campaign Finance

• Federal Campaign Finance Laws

  From the FEC Website: "The FEC administers and enforces provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act, Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act and Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. This page provides access not only to those statutes, but also to other documents relevant to federal campaign finance legislation."

• Buckley v. Valeo

  The first Supreme Court Case to challenge the Federal Electgions Campaign Act. Explain how this case helped clarify the FECA.

• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA or McCain-Feingold Act)

  From the FEC Website: "n March 27, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), Public Law No. 107-155. The BCRA contains many substantial and technical changes to the federal campaign finance law."

• McConnell v. Federal Elections Commission

  The first test of McCain-Feingold.

• Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission

  This is the most recent major Supreme Court case dealing with limits on Campaign Finance and Contributions. Describe the case and and tell what changes the decision has made for campaign finance.

Public Opinion

• Gallup Polling

  From Gallup: "Gallup has studied human nature and behavior for more than 70 years. Gallup's reputation for delivering relevant, timely, and visionary research on what people around the world think and feel is the cornerstone of the organization. Gallup employs many of the world's leading scientists in management, economics, psychology, and sociology, and our consultants assist leaders in identifying and monitoring behavioral economic indicators worldwide."

  A popular poll to view is the Presidential Approval Rating.

Mass Media

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

  From the FCC Website: "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions."

• The Living Room Candidate

  A very good website. It includes television political advertisements going back as far as 1952! It even has the infamous Peace Little Girl (Daisy) ad from the Johnson campaign of 1964.

Copyright M. Caggia 2016