This document covers lessons on civic responsibility, including the electoral process, the two-party system, public opinion, media, interest groups, lobbyists, and responsible government. It discusses key aspects of each topic like the characteristics of a good candidate, the electoral college process, the effects and organization of the two-party system, how public opinion is formed and its characteristics, how interest groups and lobbyists try to influence legislation, and the role of political parties in creating a stable government.

1. MODULE 4
Civic Responsibility

2. Lesson 1 The Electoral Process:
Voting
 6 Characteristics of a good candidate (national)
 Self: Confidence, ambition and drive
 Scratch: money raised
 Staff: larger, better qualified staff with more money
 Skills: people skills, communicate with voters
 Stuff: natural talent, background good, media savvy
 Service: devotion to political service
 Run for President
1. Announce
2. Primary – by political party
3. Convention – party platform
4. General election – November (1st Tuesday after 1st Monday
5. Electoral college - December
6. Inauguration day – January 20th @noon.

3. Lesson 1: Voting
 Electoral College
 There are a total of 538 electoral votes
 Every states = their representation in Congress
 Texas has 34 (32 House/2 Senate)
 3 for District of Columbia
 435 members of the House + 100 Senators + 3 DC = 538
 270 electors needed to win the presidency
 http://www.270towin.com/

4. Lesson 2: Two Party System
 Effects of the Two Party System
 Continues because of the winner-take-all electoral system
 Works on a National Level
 Allows for stability in our government
 Local/state 3rd party candidates can win
 Independent means no party
 Party Organization
 National Party Organization
 DNC/RNC – raise money, organize get out the vote, put on the
conventions, create the party platform
 Elected officials – Congress
 Majority Leader, majority Whip
 Minority Leader, minority Whip
 Public
 Give money, vote, work for campaigns, can or are likely to change party
affiliation

5. Lesson 3: Public Opinion
 3 Levels
Opinions: changing/political questions
Attitudes : Beliefs about policy (abortion/death penalty
Values: fundamental beliefs, generally not changing
(life, liberty, pursuit of happiness/religion, etc.)
4 Characteristics of Public Opinion
Direction – what does majority think
Stability – has it changed or not (how fast)
Salience – how important is it (relevance,
care)
Strength – the intensity of publics views
Public divided into 3 groups:
Mass – 80% pays very little
attention
Attentive – 15-20% voices
concerns over
issues
Opinion makers 3-5% shape

6. Lesson 3: Media
 Media Forms
 TV, Radio (talk), Print (newspaper, magazines), Internet.
 Mass or Niche
 Educational/Entertainment
 Highbrow/Lowbrow
 Media Slant
 Controversy: hotly debated issue (abortion)
 Scandal: issues that raise moral or ethical outrage.
 Uniqueness: issues that are strange or unusual.
 Relevance: issues that have broad appeal and that relate to their
target audience.
 Personality: issues that involve interesting, unusual, or otherwise
fascinating people.
 Conflict: issues that involve some form of conflict between clearly
defined groups.
 Simplicity: issues that can be explained in a brief amount of time.

7. Lesson 4: Interest Groups
 Groups who share common interest
 People naturally join with those they agree
with
 Sources of Power
 Membership – larger more powerful (AARP 30 M)
 Mobilization – cohesive group (similar beliefs) move
them to action (prolife, MADD)
 Money – ability to hire legal rep, give to campaigns,
advertise
 Skills – provide credible information (reports, studies)
 Strategy – how to use the sources power
 Inside – influence elected officials directly

8. Lesson 5: Lobbyists
 Lobbyist : an attempt to influence legislation
 Got name from standing in the lobby of Congress
Building
 Work for an interest group
 Provide information to Congress/Public
 Inside contact –
 directly to elected officials, use their staff or other
members to have access or influence
 Outside contact –
 advertisement or information to public to influence
congress; Astroturf (fake public opinion)

9. Lesson 6: Responsible
Government
 Political parties – help create a stable system
 Adopt a platform (ideas/issues they stand on)
 Recruit candidates
 Inform people about platform
 Organize campaigns
 Hold political officials accountable (to platform)
 Organize the government
 Parliamentary system
 Better job of responding to the public
 No term time periods, if government is not doing what
public wants they can call for new elections
 Easily swayed by public opinion