This document provides an overview of the US political system and process. It discusses political ideology, party systems, the history and organization of political parties in the US including Democrats, Republicans, and third parties. It also covers public opinion, interest groups, voting, elections, and how a bill becomes law. Key aspects of the legislative and executive branches are outlined as well, including the organization and functions of political parties, Congress, the presidency, and federal bureaucracy.

1. RESOLVING CONFLICT
• Liberal v Conservative
• Political Parties – Function & Organization
• Political Parties – US Today
• Voting
• Elections
• Public Opinion, Interest Groups & Mass Media
• How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. POLITICAL IDEOLOGY
LIBERAL v CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL (LEFT)
• Liberals feel the government
has a responsibility to solve
social problems.
• Liberals think that the
government must regulate
business to protect society
from harmful business
practices.
CONSERVATIVE (RIGHT)
• Conservatives feel that the
government should be less
active.
• Conservatives feel that
government regulation tends to
decrease productivity and
harms the economy.
There are various degrees of being liberal and conservative.
Democrats tend to be mildly liberal, and Republicans are
mildly conservative. Third parties offer a more radical move
to right or left.

3. PARTY SYSTEMS
• One Party System – A system in which there is only one
major political party. The party runs the government.
(Example – Communism; China, North Korea, Cuba)
• Two Party System – A system in which two major
political parties battle for control of the government.
(Example – United States; Democrats & Republicans)
• Multi-Party System – A system in which three or more
political parties impact elections, and battle for control
of the government. (Example – France, Germany,
England)

4. History of Political Parties
• Democratic-Republican Party – Thomas Jefferson –
Wanted to limit the power of the federal
government – more power to state government.
• Federalist Party – Alexander Hamilton – Wanted a
strong national government to protect people’s
rights, and solve problems created by a weak
government under the Articles of Confederation.

5. DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS
• Democrats – Believe that the government must be
active in solving social problems. This generally
leads to bigger government and increased taxes.
• Republicans – Believe that problems will be solved
by the government being less active, and letting
people solve problems.

6. THIRD PARTIES
• Parties that do not have enough following to
compete and win elections on the national level.
• Third Parties offer an alternative to major
parties. They are important because if they gain
support, the issues that are important to them will
be recognized by the major parties.
• There is no legal barrier to a third party becoming
a major political party.

7. ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Political
Party
Organization
Federal Level
National committee in
each state hold national
convention.
Delegates
nominate candidates for
President & VP
State Level
Each state has a
committee or
organization.
Focus on state offices.
(Governor, Lt. Governor,
Attorney General)
Local Level
Precinct
Organize volunteers
Distribute Leaflets
Register Voters

8. 5 Functions of Political Parties
• Campaigning for Candidates – help politicians get elected to
office.
• Informing Citizens – help citizens get information about
issues, and how government operates.
• Help Manage Government – appoint loyal members to certain
jobs.
• Linking Different Levels – provides a link between local,
state, & federal government.
• Watchdog – alert public of wrongdoing.

9. ISSUES Economy Education Foreign Policy Civil Rights Crime Environment
Republican
Supports free
market
competition.
Deregulation
and cutting
entitlement
spending.
Promote
school
choice/school
vouchers and
home
schooling.
Spread
Democracy.
Stop nuclear
armament.
Peace
through
strength.
Oppose
affirmative
action.
Oppose gay
marriage.
Tough on
criminals.
Limit gun
control
restrictions.
Believe the
government
puts too many
restrictions on
businesses
that are not
necessary.
Democrat
Increase taxes
to wealthy to
cut deficit.
Must limit
deficit to
stimulate
economy.
Oppose
vouchers.
Lower class
size, more
teachers.
Support
worldwide
coalitions and
multi-national
programs.
Support UN.
Support
affirmative
action.
Support civil
unions.
Oppose same
sex marriage
amendment.
Support
rehabilitation
over
punishment.
Support
increased gun
control.
Environment
over business.
Increased
regulation of
business to
protect the
environment.
Libertarian
100% free
market.
Oppose
government
regulation.
Privatize
public
schools.
Oppose
federal
government
involvement.
Military is
used for
protection
only.
Oppose
government
mandates.
Support
equality
including
marriage.
Decriminalize
drugs. Prison
should be for
violent
offenders.
Repeal drug
laws.
No government
regulation.
Green
Party
Community
based
economics.
Support locally
owned
business,
oppose
corporations.
State & Local
control of
education.
Increase $
to support
education &
provide equal
access.
Nonviolence –
military
should be
used as
absolute last
resort.
Support
equality
based on
race, gender,
etc…
Rehabilitation
Crime is a
result of lack
of
opportunity.
#1 issue.
Protection of
the
environment is
absolutely
vital to future
generations.

10. Public Opinion
Forming Public Opinion
(4) Sources of Public Opinion
• Personal Background
• Mass Media
• Public Officials
• Interest Groups
The Mass Media
• Print (newspapers, magazines)
• Electronic (radio, television, internet)
Interest Groups
• Interest Group – organization that supports a particular
issue.
• PAC – political action committee. Raise $ to get candidates
elected.
• Lobbyist – person hired by interest group to provide info and
influence politicians.

11. VOTING
HISTORY
• White Males 21 years of age or
older (early US history)
• Black Males (15th
Amendment)
• Females (19th
Amendment)
• 18 Years of Age (26th
Amendment)
REGISTERING TO VOTE
• Where? – County Offices, DMV
• What? – Proof of Citizenship,
Address, & Age – Driver’s License
or Birth Certificate
QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE
• 18 Years of age
• Resident of state for a specific
amount of time
• Citizen of the US
• States may deny if you have
committed a serious crime
• Cannot vote while in prison
VOCABULARY
• Polling Place – location where
people vote
• Precinct – a voting district
(geographic area)
• Ballot – list of candidates on which
you vote
• Returns – counting of ballots
• Exit Poll – sample of voters and
how they voted

12. • Primary Election – an election in which the political
parties choose candidate for office to compete in
the general election.
• Direct Primary – election in which voters choose candidates
for political part in general election.
• Closed Primary – only registered members of political party
can vote.
• Open Primary – choose party, can only vote in one, do not
have to be a registered member.
• Plurality – most votes among those running wins.
• Run-Off Primary – if majority is necessary, top (2) have a
run-off
• Petition – unaffiliated candidates must get on ballot by
petition. (Ralph Nader)
Types of Elections

13. ELECTIONS
ELECTION PROCESS
• Declare Intent to Run for
Office
• Primary Election
• General Election
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
• Primary Election
• General Election
• Electoral College
CAMPAIGNS
• Canvassing – going door to door
getting info out about candidates
• Endorsements – using celebrities
& other politicians to gain support
• Advertising & Image Molding –
using television, newspaper, radio,
internet to portray candidate a
particular way
CAMPAIGN FINANCING
• Public Financing – Presidential
Election Campaign Fund - $3 on
tax form. 3rd
party candidate are
eligible if they receive 5% of vote
in previous election.
• Private Funding – Individual
Citizens, Party Organizations,
Corporations, Special Interest
Groups, PACs, Soft Money

14. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

15. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 1: Proposing a Law
• Bill – a proposed law (must be passed)
• Sponsor – a person in Congress that introduces a
bill
• Senate – bills are introduced in the morning session
• House of Representatives – bills are placed in a
hopper; (wooden box for bills)

16. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 2: Committee Consideration
• Bills are assigned to a certain committee by the
presiding officer of each house; (House – Speaker;
Senate – Majority Leader)
• Committee will study the bill, and eventually must
take action
• The purpose of committees is to serve as a filter,
strengthen, or disregard needless legislation.

17. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 2 continued: Committee Action
1. Pigeonholing – practice of killing a bill by refusing to pass
out of committee. (Bill is dead unless discharge petition in
the House)
2. Mark/Amend – change all or parts of the bill. Committee
can delete, add, reword, or rewrite the bill.
3. Report out of committee favorably – committee will
recommend that the bill be passed.
4. Report out of committee unfavorably – committee does not
want to take responsibility for killing the bill, but does not
want the bill to be passed.
Bypassing Committee
• Discharge Petition (House of Reps Only) – needs 218
signatures; committee pigeonholes a bill majority want
passed.

18. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 3: Floor Action/Debate
1. Rules of Debate
• House – one bill at a time; discussion must be
relevant to the bill
• Senate – more leisurely; fewer members, 3 to 4
bills at a time, unlimited speaking time
• Filibuster – tactic by a member of the Senate in
which they try to block the passage of a bill by
monopolizing time.
• Cloture – measure to stop filibuster; 1/6 must
ask; 3/5 must vote for motion.

19. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 3: Floor Action/Debate (continued)
2. Voting
• After debate, the house will conduct a vote. In this step,
a majority vote is necessary to pass.
• If there is no majority, the bill is dead.
Once the bill has passed one house of Congress, it must be sent
to the other, and go through the same process.
Issues the may occur in the other House
1. Bill is changed by the committee studying the bill. If this
occurs and the house passes the bill, it must be sent to a
conference committee.
2. Conference Committee – made up of members of both
houses. They will iron out differences in the bill, and then
send the bill back to both houses to vote again.

20. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 4: Presidential Action
• A bill will be sent to the President if it has
passed both houses of Congress by a majority
vote, and it is the exact bill in both houses.
The president has 10 days to act on the bill
once the President receives the bill.
Presidential Action – (10 days to Act)
1) Sign the bill – becomes law.
2) Hold the bill for 10 days.
• If Congress adjourns in 10 days, the bill is
dead. (pocket veto)
• If Congress stays in session, the bill will pass
without signature.
3) Veto – the president rejects the bill.
(Presidential check over Congress)

21. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Step 5: Congress – Override the Veto
• Congress has the authority to override a
presidential veto. If the President vetoes a bill,
it goes back to Congress.
• A bill that has been vetoed, must be passed by
2/3 majority of both houses to become law. If
not it is dead.
• Congressional Check over the President.

22. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
ORGANIZATION - PYRAMID
President
Vice President
Cabinet
Federal Bureaucracy
PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION
• People that work closest with the President.
• Includes… (VP, Cabinet, Executive Office of the President)
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• Largest Branch of Government – Carries out government.
• Must take laws that are created, turn into action.

23. FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
3 BASIC TASKS
1. Turn laws into action
2. Day-to-Day Operation of the federal government
3. Regulate Activities
EXECUTIVE OFFICE of the PRESIDENT
1. White House Office
2. Office of Management & Budget
3. National Security Council
4. Council of Economic Advisors
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
1. Executive Agencies – NASA
2. Government Corporations – USPS
3. Regulatory Boards & Commissions – FDA, EPA

24. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
(CABINET)
Help President fulfill duties.