Learning Targets: Write a response for each of these learning targets after reading the chapter.

I CAN …
  1. identify the most basic functions elections serve in a democratic society
  2. define legitimacy [Skip ahead and read about the debacle of the 2000 presidential election. To what degree did
this election have legitimacy? How does this compare to the 2016 election?]
  1. explain how initiatives and referendums function at the state level
  2. hypothesize how the Framers of the Constitution may have felt about the initiative process
[consider both the Federalist and Anti-federalist views]
  1. list specific examples of how suffrage been extended in American history
[question: Has it helped voter turnout percentages?]
  1. use pages 311-12 to make a snapshot of the person (demographically speaking) most likely to vote
  2. identify some reasons why American elections may actually discourage voter turnout
  3. explain the difference between policy voting and retrospective voting
[question: Which of these would you be most likely to use?]
  1. Contrast caucuses and primaries (advantages/disadvantages) as the two distinct nominating systems utilized by
the 50 states
  1. List at least FOUR common criticisms of the current nomination system
  2. Describe the purpose of a national party convention
  3. List the typical steps involved in organizing a campaign
  4. List the TWO basic goals of the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1974 (FECA), and explain how donors use unintended loopholes to get around the regulations
  5. Define the term PAC, and explain both positive and negative impacts they have on nominations/campaigns

Political Cartoons: Why are the following cartoons funny? Briefly explain the punch-line.

  1. voter turnout (left)
  1. Campaign Finance (right)

Controversial Response:write a well-developed paragraph explaining your opinion.
Read about the Motor Voter Act (309). Our textbook authors clearly want to emphasize the importance of voter turnout; it’s the lifeblood of a vibrant democratic society. Or is it? Consider this: perhaps instead of working so hard to make registration and voting easier, we should be working to make sure voting is sacred, accessible only to certain people. After all, are all votes (even those of people who don’t even know about the issues/candidates) really of equal value? Share your opinion on this matter.