Lecture #16 American Government; Campaigns, Elections, & Voting 1

1. WEEK #9 LECTURE #16
VOTING, CAMPAIGNS, &
ELECTIONS PART 1
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
PROFESSOR SHASTRI
FALL 2015

2. OUTLINE OF CAMPAIGNS, ELECTIONS, & VOTING PART 1
PART 1A) BASICS OF VOTING & ELECTIONS
PART 1B) VOTING & POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
PART 1C) FACTORS INFLUENCING VOTING BEHAVIOR
PART 1D) FINANCING FOR CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS

3. PART 1A) BASICS OF
VOTING & ELECTIONS

4. FOUNDING FATHERS’ INTENTIONS ON ELECTIONS &
VOTING
VOTING: THE POLITICAL MECHANISM THAT ENSURES THAT THE
MAJORITY WILL RULE
FOUNDERS DISTRUSTED PEOPLE’S JUDGMENT, PROVIDED
INSULATION BETWEEN NAT’L GOVT & PEOPLE
ELITES ELECTED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE HOUSE

5. “ELECTIONS AS INSTRUMENTS OF DEMOCRACY”
• SELECTION OF LEADERS
• POLICY DIRECTION
• INFORMING THE PUBLIC
• CONTAINING CONFLICT
• LEGITIMATION & SYSTEM STABILITY
• CITIZEN DEVELOPMENT (EFFICACY)

6. PART 1B) VOTING &
POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION

7. WHO VOTES? WHO DOESN’T?
GENERALLY LINEAR (CLEAR)
• EDUCATION
• INCOME/SES
• AGE
NOT AS LINEAR (UNCLEAR)
• RACE/ETHNICITY
• GENDER

8. RECENT AMENDMENTS/LAWS ON EXPANDING VOTING
RIGHTS
THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY COVERED
23RD AMENDMENT: PROVIDING 3 EV’S TO WASH DC, RIGHT
TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
26TH AMENDMENT: LOWERED AGE TO 18 IN ALL ELECTIONS
MOTOR VOTER LAW: LICENSE MEANS REGISTRATION
MATERIALS

9. WHY IS VOTER TURNOUT LOW IN AMERICA?
COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES
1) HIGH FREQUENCY OF ELECTIONS, THUS, SEEM LESS
IMPORTANT, 2) INCONVENIENCE, 3) NON-CUMPULSORY, 4)
FRANCHISE EXTENSION SHORT-TERM DECLINE, 5) LACK OF PR
DECLINE IN AMERICAN PARTICIPATION
1) LEGAL OBSTACLES, 2) EFFICACY, 3) GENERATIONAL CHANGES,
4) DECLINE IN SOCIAL CAPITAL, 5) RATIONAL CHOICE

10. NON-VOTING…A PROBLEM?
IT’S A PROBLEM: 1) SYMPTOM OF WEAK DEMOCRACY,
2) MAKES THE POWERFUL EVEN MORE SO
IT’S HAS SOME BENEFITS: 1) PRODUCES A MORE INFORMED
ELECTORATE, 2) IT’S A VOLUNTARY RIGHT, WHICH PEOPLE HAVE
OTHER PARTICIPATION: 1) PROTEST, 2) CAMPAIGN WORK, 3)
SOCIAL/POLITICAL CLUBS, 4) BLOGGING/INFO SPREADER

11. PART 1C) FACTORS
INFLUENCING VOTING
BEHAVIOR

12. PARTY IDENTIFICATION & IDEOLOGY
PARTY ID
• THE MOST SALIENT, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER LEVEL RACES
• PARTY IDERS DROPPING, YET PARTY VOTING HIGHER
OBAMA 2012: COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTORATE
IDEOLOGY
• MORE SALIENT AT FEDERAL LEVEL & REALIGNING
• CONSERVATIVES THE GOP; LIBERALS STRONG IN DEMS
CAREFUL TO CONFUSE INDEPENDENTS W/ MODERATES

13. RETROSPECTIVE & PROSPECTIVE VOTING
RETROSPECTIVE VOTING (FIORINA) (PG. 526):
• USUALLY STRONGER IN TERMS OF # OF VOTERS
• COUNTRY DIRECTION, ECONOMY, PREZ PERFORMANCE
PROSPECTIVE VOTING (PG. 526):
• REQUIRES MORE INFORMATION, ELITES/ACTIVISTS
• POLICIES TO BE ENACTED; VALUES TO BE EMPHASIZED?
EXPLANATION OF DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

14. THE CANDIDATE
• COMPETENCE, EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP SKILLS
• MORALITY, TRUSTWORTHINESS, DECISIVENESS
• COMMUNICATION, PERSONNA, LOOKS, CHARISMA
• COMPASSION, “CARES ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME”

15. DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES #1
• RELIGION: CATHOLICS, PROTESTANTS, JEWS, ETC.
• RELIGIOSITY: SECULAR & LEAST OBSERVANT GROUPS OF
RELIGIONS VS. MOST OBSERVANT GROUPS OF RELIGIONS
• AGE: USED TO BE CURVILINEAR, NOW LINEAR BECAUSE OF
“CULTURE WARS” YOUNGER VS. OLDER

16. DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES #2
• GENDER: WOMEN ARE FAR MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN MEN.
• RACE/ETHNICITY: BLACKS ARE THE MOST DEMOCRATIC,
WHITES LEAN REPUBLICAN (BUT THERE ARE WHITE VOTER
GROUPS THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC) HISPANICS/LATINOS &
ASIANS TRENDING DEMOCRATIC (SOME VARIATION)
• LOCATION: HIGH SALIENCE, GENERALLY:
URBAN, SUBURBAN, EXURBAN, RURAL

17. DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES #3
• SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS: WAS LINEAR AS LOWER-INCOME
VOTERS DEM & HIGHER GOP, BUT RELATIONSHIP NOW MURKY,
$$: PROFESSIONAL DEMS VS. CORPORATE GOP , WW-CLASS:
MAINLY GOP VS. UNION WWC DEM
• EDUCATION LEVEL: CURVILINEAR, HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUTS &
POST-GRADUATES MOST DEM, MIDDLE-EDUCATED MOST GOP

18. PART 1D) FINANCING FOR
CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS

19. TYPES OF $$ IN CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS
• GOVERNMENT MATCHING FUNDS (PG. 543)
• HARD MONEY (PG. 544) + THEN BECOMES PUBLIC INFO
• SOFT MONEY (PG. 544)
USAGE SM, ISSUE ADVOCACY ADS (PG. 544)
INDEP. CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES: POLITICAL DONATIONS THAT
PACS OR INDIVIDUALS SPEND TO SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS, BUT DO
NOT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THEM

20. REGULATING CAMPAIGN FINANCING
• FED ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT (1971): ESTABLISHED
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTED INDIVIDUAL
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
• FED ELECTION COMMISSION (FEC)
• BUCKLEY V. VALEO (1976)
• BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT OF 2002: 3 FUNCTIONS