Voting Rights in the US

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of delegates in a residential primary election?

To conduct the general election directly.

To decide who represents the party in the November general election. (correct)

To select candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties.

To register voters for the upcoming elections.

During which phase do local conventions take place?

During the electoral vote counting.

Before the caucus voting.

After the presidential preference primary. (correct)

At the time of the national election.

What happens in January after the electoral votes are cast?

The electoral votes are shipped to US Congress for counting. (correct)

The President is inaugurated.

States hold their own elections.

Campaign season begins.

Which event takes place first in the electoral process outlined?

Presidential preference primary Signup and view all the answers

What role do caucuses play in the delegate selection process?

They involve groups discussing and deciding on candidates for a party. Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct sequence of events for electing a president in the USA?

Primary elections, Conventions, Campaign season, November general elections, December electoral college election Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the main concern of American political parties?

Elections and votes Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of dealignment elections?

Voters become independent and stop supporting both major parties Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'winner take all' system imply in USA elections?

The candidate with the most votes, regardless of majority, wins Signup and view all the answers

Which political faction supports a powerful federal government?

Federalists Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes political parties outside the USA?

Majority vote required for election outcomes Signup and view all the answers

How do political parties influence new immigrants in the USA?

They assist immigrants, leading to their support Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the introduction of America's first political party?

The establishment of the Democratic-Republican party by Thomas Jefferson Signup and view all the answers

Which system promotes proportional representation in elections?

Coalition formation requirement Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Realignment election' refer to?

Temporary change in voting behavior between parties Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment granted women the right to vote in national elections?

19th amendment Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the primary purposes of the 15th amendment?

To prevent voting discrimination based on previous servitude Signup and view all the answers

Which voting obstacle was specifically aimed at African Americans?

Literacy tests Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a closed primary?

Only registered party members can vote Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a dual or run-off primary?

A second election held if no candidate receives a majority in the first Signup and view all the answers

What is one regulation concerning individual contributions to campaign financing?

$300 per candidate per election is the individual contribution limit Signup and view all the answers

What does the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) restrict?

Minors from contributing money to elections Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the drawing of district lines to hinder a specific group's voting power?

Racial gerrymandering Signup and view all the answers

What factor is most associated with lower voter turnout among Americans?

Lack of education Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to a type of governance characterized by a single authority where opposition and dissent are often suppressed?

Absolute dictatorship Signup and view all the answers

What were factions in early US democracy primarily built around?

Prominent politicians Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT associated with movements aimed at destroying democracy?

Well organized Signup and view all the answers

According to Robert Salisbury, what is one of the primary reasons people join interest groups?

Solidarity benefits Signup and view all the answers

What type of democracy is characterized by the electorate voting to select their representatives?

Ballot-box democracy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following systems includes a range of political groups working in a cooperative manner?

Interest groups Signup and view all the answers

What did James Madison argue about factions in Federalist Paper #10?

They can create regulations and enhance governance. Signup and view all the answers

According to Mancur Olson, what poses a threat to democracy through freeloading?

Large interest groups Signup and view all the answers

What role does the temporal party organization play in Texas politics?

Facilitates candidate nominations and campaigns Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of non-political groups in the context of decision-making?

They operate independently of political ideologies. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Voting in the US

Voting is a powerful tool that prevents dictatorship, empowers the people, and presents them with choices.
Historically, only white males had full voting rights in the US.
Several amendments have expanded voting rights over time:
- 14th Amendment (1868): Granted voting rights to 21-year-old male citizens (excluding Black males).
- 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited preventing any male from voting based on past servitude (slavery).
- 19th Amendment (1920): Granted women the right to vote in national elections.
- 24th Amendment (1964): Abolished the poll tax.
- 26th Amendment (1971): Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.

Voting Obstacles

African Americans faced significant obstacles to voting, including:
- Poll taxes
- Literacy tests
- Racial gerrymandering: Drawing district lines to ensure specific individuals or groups never win elections.
- White primaries: Conducted to allow a party to choose its representative candidate in an election.
- Lynching

Reasons for Low Voter Turnout

Common excuses include rain, childcare, and employer constraints.
Researched reasons for low voter turnout:
- Lack of education
- Age: Younger people tend to vote less.
- Religion
- Gender
- Race
- Income

Primary Elections

Offer voters the power to nominate a candidate to represent their party in a general election.
Types of primary elections:
- Open primary: Allows crossover voting or raiding elections.
- Closed primary: Requires voters to be registered members of the party (first-time voters/independents are excluded).
- Blanket primary: Allows voters to pick one candidate from each party on a single ballot.
- Dual or run-off primary:
  - First primary: Winner needs a majority of votes (50%+1) to win.
  - Second primary (run-off): Candidates with the highest voter percentage contest the election if no majority winner in the first primary.

Preparation for Elected Office

Candidates need:
- Money
- Charisma
- Good health
- Knowledge
- A team

Campaign Election Financing

FECA (Federal Election Campaign Act) regulates campaign finance:
- Minors, corporations, drug dealers, and foreigners cannot contribute.
- Limits individual and group contributions.
- Individuals:
  - $300 per candidate per election
  - $5,000 per election calendar year
  - $10,000 per state and local government political parties per calendar year
  - $41,300 per national political parties per calendar year
  - Overall limit: $123,900 per calendar year
- PACs:
  - $5,000 per candidate per election
  - $5,000 per PAC per calendar year
  - $5,000 per state and/or local government political parties per calendar year
  - $15,000 per national political parties per calendar year
- Example: A wealthy Republican, Mr. Rich, can contribute 66,000tosupportTrumpintwoelections(66,000 to support Trump in two elections (66,000tosupportTrumpintwoelections(3,300 per election).

Political Parties

Organizations with well-defined ideologies that represent a coalition of interests with legal rights and legitimacy to place candidates on the ballot.
Coalition of interests: Groups within the political party.
American political parties tend to be pragmatic rather than ideological. Their primary focus is on elections and votes.
Ideology: A set of opinions used to define the purpose of a group.
Ideological political parties are common in countries like Europe, India, Pakistan, and Israel, with strict rules, laws, guidelines, and sometimes even religious affiliations.

Gubernatorial Elections

Elections for the office of Governor.

Two Major Political Factions (Early US History)

Federalists: Advocated for a powerful federal government.
Anti-Federalists: Favored power remaining with the states.

Party Evolution in the US

1800: Thomas Jefferson established the first political party, the Democratic-Republican Party.
1824: The Democratic-Republican party nominated John Quincy Adams, while Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William Crawford ran as independent candidates.

Electing a US President

Process involves:
- Primary elections
- Conventions
- Campaign season
- November general elections
- December electoral college election
- January: Congress counts electoral college votes (270 needed to win).

Historical Political Parties in the US

Jacksonian Democrats
Whigs Party
Anti-Masonic Party
Democrats
North (Republican Party):
- North Democratic Party
- North Whigs Party
- North Anti-Masonic Party
- North Democratic-Republican Party
South (Democratic Party):
- South Democratic Party
- South Whigs Party
- South Anti-Masonic Party
- South Democratic-Republican Party

Texas Democrats

The Texas Democratic Party experienced a split into:
- Liberal Democrats
- Conservative Democrats

Tea Party/Movement Conservatives

A faction of very conservative Republicans generally opposed to compromise on their principles.

US Elections

Winner-take-all system: The candidate with the most votes wins the election, even if they don't receive a majority.

Political Socialization

The influence of family and environment on a person's political views.

Elections Outside the US

Proportional representation election system: Votes are allocated to parties based on the percentage of votes they receive.
Coalition government: Formed when no party wins a majority of votes, the two top candidates form a coalition.

Factors Contributing to Political Party Power

Control over money through PACs.
Control over candidate nominations (currently control half the nominations).
Control over issues through media.
Assistance to new immigrants (immigrants tend to support the party that helped them upon arrival).

Dealignment Election

Voters abandon traditional party affiliations and become independent voters.
Considered permanent.

Realignment Election

Voters switch from one major party to another.
Not permanent.

Group Dynamics in Politics

Different combinations of decision-makers (DM), political parties (PPS), political interest groups (PIGS), and non-political groups (NPGS) lead to different political outcomes:
- VSD (Very Stable Democracy): DM + PPS + PIGS + NPGS = VSD (Contemporary America).
- FSD (Fairly Stable Democracy): DM + PPS + NPGS = FSD (Europe and multi-party democracies).
- BD (Benevolent Dictatorship): DM + NPGS + PP = BD (Venezuela, Cuba, China).
- CHAOS: DM + NPGS = CHAOS (Early US democracy).
- AD (Absolute Dictatorship): DM - PPS - PIGS - NPGS = AD (China, North Korea, Russia).

Groups in US Democracy

Factions:
- Existed in early US democracy.
- Formed around prominent politicians to compete for power.
- Allowed the use of weapons.
- Example: Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr.
- Federalist Paper #10 (written by James Madison) argued that factions are natural, require regulation, and can be managed by a republic.
Movements:
- Groups of individuals who distrust democracy and seek to destroy it through radical or revolutionary methods.
- Characteristics:
  - Episodic
  - Focus on emotional issues
  - Cross-section of society
  - Transcend geographical boundaries
  - Not well organized
  - Utilize unorthodox methods.
- Examples: Civil rights movement, Occupy Wall Street, January 6th/Antifa/Proud Boys.
Interest Groups:
- Individuals who come together to peacefully persuade lawmakers to make decisions beneficial to their members.
- Characteristics:
  - Peaceful (low-level protests)
  - Lobbying (persuading lawmakers)
  - Court actions (arbitrations)
  - Well organized
  - Support candidates financially
  - Act as democracy's watchdog.

Republic

Forms of government:
- Representative democracy
- Laissez-faire democracy
- Ballot-box democracy
- People's power democracy
- Indirect democracy

Reasons People Join Political Groups

James Madison: Federalist Paper #10 (factions are natural).
Mancur Olson: The Logic of Collective Action (two types of groups: small groups with private goods and services, and large groups with government-provided free services that can lead to freeloading).
Robert Salisbury: The Exchange Theory of Interest Groups (people join for material benefits, purposive benefits, or solidary benefits).
David Truman: The Governmental Process (people join groups to prevent or address future problems).
Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America (Americans join groups due to their liberal constitution).

Texas Political Party Organization

Divided into two groups:
- Permanent party organization: Officials and offices responsible for day-to-day operations.
- Temporal party organization: Candidates announce their desire for office, leading to:
  - Presidential preference primary: Delegates are selected.
  - Caucus: Groups discuss and select candidates.
  - Party Conventions:
    - Local conventions (select delegates for state convention)
    - State conventions (select delegates for national convention)
    - Federal conventions (select president).
- Campaign season
- December: Electors vote directly for the presidential candidate.
- January: Electoral votes are counted in a joint session of Congress, and the candidate with 270 electoral votes becomes president.

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Description

Explore the evolution of voting rights in the United States through key amendments and their impacts. This quiz will also highlight the obstacles faced by African Americans in exercising their voting rights. Test your knowledge about this crucial aspect of American democracy.