The election process in the United States is very complex and has many different influences that affect this process tremendously. The United States greatly depends on political parties, interest groups, and media in the election process.
The role of the political parties is very important in elections. Political parties are groups of individuals who have similar interests and nominate candidates in order to win elections. Political parties also focus on controlling elections. There are three parts of a political party and each component is vital to their goal of controlling elections. First, there is the party organization. These are the party’s leaders. The role of the party organization is to select candidates, build platforms, and win
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An interest group is a group that shares a common opinion and political goal. They support candidates in exchange for the candidate supporting their cause. Interest groups often try to persuade public officials to explore their opinions and attitudes. Interest groups are known for having lobbyists. Lobbyists are individuals who represent their cause or client in government and Congress. They often propose laws, provide information to the government agencies, and serve as experts on issues that surround their clients or causes. Lobbyists are very educated and intelligent because it is very important that they know what they are talking about in order to achieve their goal. Personally, I think that lobbyists are important to our government and the election process because without them -- there would be little or no knowledge of the laws that these interest groups are proposing or specializing in. Many people believe that lobbyists are sleazy, filthy, and only after money-- but most are just trying to educate the public about certain issues and causes that they believe in. In fact, lobbying is a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution. (http://www.politicalmath.com/money/lobbying.php). Interest groups also have Political Action Committees (PAC). The PACs are known for raising money and then spending it on campaigns and elections. Having money often correlates with having power. This statement is the …show more content…
The role of the media is to report the goals and objectives of the political parties. This is crucial for candidates and parties because it is how most or all of their ideas are shown to the public. Media, such as social media, bring politicians and candidates closer to their potential voters and give them a closer, more personal relationship with the citizens of the state or country. However, despite the rapid growth of social media, the news and print media are still the leading and most important sources in political elections. (http://epthinktank.eu). Because social media is so relevant in our generation-- it is very important that the media is unbiased when reporting about politics because the media should not persuade the opinion of the
In a pluralist democracy like in the United States, interest groups have played a major role throughout the history through highly organized factions and are aimed at different levels of government. Lobbying is one of the tactics of the interest groups to aid their agenda through implementing new laws and regulations. "If you want to have your face in the light, you should have your back in the dark". Similarly, the influences of the interests groups and lobbyists have good and bad effects on the people and the society.
In November, many Americans will trek to their designated polling place to cast their vote for the next President of the United States. The U.S. government loves to preach that every vote matters, and that citizens should not take that responsibility lightly. During the presidential election cycle, states hold an open election in which all eligible citizens can participate. Citizens have the ability to vote for a distinct ‘ticket’, which consists of candidates for Vice President and President. Most Americans are relatively aware of this step in the voting process. What happens after this stage, though, is not as well tacit. It is at this point in the election process that the Electoral College begins to take effect. The Electoral College is used in the same manner for 48 states; with the exception of Maine and Nebraska. After each of the votes in these 48 states are tallied and counted, the major political party with a candidate who won the majority vote in any of those states is sanctioned to choose a panel of individuals who will cast the state’s real vote for President. The Electoral College comprises of these 538 electors. The number of electoral votes for a state is not solely based on population, they are allocated based on their representation in Congress. This means each state is given a minimum of 3 electoral votes (at least 1 representative and 2 senators) regardless of the population size in the state. American citizens cast their vote for President in November,
The Electoral College, unique to the United States, is where presidential electors from each state meet up after the popular election and cast ballots for the president and vice president (40). The Electoral College is essentially a compromise for the presidential election between the popular vote and the vote by congress. The United States election works through indirect elections; Americans go to the polls and voters will chose among slates of electors who are selected by the states party leadership. In the majority of states, the party candidate who obtains the popular vote will win all electoral college votes for that state, this is often called the “winner-take all” system. Electors in the Electoral College is comprised of 538 electors
Interest groups can be both bad and good for democracy. The interest groups are able to lobby to congress to help out different organizations. They basically work on a “you do a favor for me and I’ll do a favor for you later” basis. This gives the lobbyist an influence over congress. They can be bad for the democracy because too much influence and power can be a bad thing. The issue they are lobbying for may not be a good cause.
Interest groups are structured groups which try to influence government to adopt certain policies or measures. The responsibilities of an interest group can be never-ending. One of the main responsibilities of an interest group is giving the underrepresented a chance to speak out on issues they are passionate about. The Rainbow/Push Coalition is an interest group I believed I would be passionate about.
During this Presidential election season, voters will try to ensure that their votes have the most impact in the election. The U.S. Constitution declares that an Electoral College will elect the President of the United States, and that the various states will determine how those Electoral College votes will be allocated.
Every year Americans are given the right to vote for the people they feel will best support the government and help America. Voting is very important in the United States and without it, we wouldn’t be considered a representative republic. Americans vote by using a system named the electoral college. The Electoral College is a system where the people vote for the person they feel should win. The state tallies all of the votes made by the people living in the state and finds which candidate got the majority of votes. Then the state as a whole will vote for the candidate with the majority. Even if one candidate gets 51% of votes and the other gets 49% the candidate with 51% of the votes gets 100% of the state’s votes. The Electoral College is
The Electoral College’s system is a complex process. There are a certain number of Electors in each state. The Electors of every state are nominated by political parties, then on Election
They are composed of individuals who share a common interest. As a coalition of individuals, special interest groups try to influence elected officials to vote, or to write legislation in favor of a specific issue. In order to accomplish their goals, special interest groups lobby. In order to lobby, interest groups hire professional lobbyists to argue for their point to sympathetic members of Congress. In the past, special interest group leaders or lobbyists of the interest groups would have to wine and dine with members of Congress, or hold rallies in town halls, gymnasiums, or even sports arenas to get support from the people.
With much of the country upset over the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, protests have erupted around the country to protest the election. The protests have also turned against the Republican and Democratic party because of the numerous scandals that have rocked both parties. As a member of congress, you are assigned to the newly formed Election Review Committee. Your task is to write a 750 word critical review that objectively analyzes the presidential election process and present your conclusions to the rest of congress based upon that review.
Due to the flaws in the Presidental Election Process, the process lacks characertistics to truly be named as a democratic system. The unequal representation, the lack of attention and voice of minorities and lack of honesty and accuracy of mass media influencing the decision of voters causes the presidental election system to be less democratic. In order for the Presidental Election system to possess more characteristics of a democracy, it needs to center issues towards minorities in caucuses, conventions and debates. Also, campaigns needs to provide unbiased polls and educate potential voters in a more ethical manner.
The election process in the United States can be overwhelming and confusing. Firstly, how a citizen can be eligible to become a Presidential candidate? What are the requirements or the qualifications that a person needs to be a candidate? With that in mind, the candidates get to sponsor for their electoral campaigns from what type of funds and from whom? People need to know the type of character that a candidate demonstrates. America has become very demanding. There are a lot of things that consume our lives and we are not giving enough importance to the Elections Process. The U.S. Census found that only 47 percent of eligible adults with family incomes of less than $20,000 a year voted in the 2012 presidential election, compared to 80 percent of those whose earnings exceeded $100,000. Overall, only 19 percent of likely voters come from families with incomes of less than $30,000 a year, even though that same group comprises 46 percent of nonvoters. Americans should get more involved in the election process for our democracy to continue because only a certain part of the population vote and get involved in the process. The United States is a hectic place to live; many people say they are too busy to wait in line to vote. A survey executed by the California Voter Foundation (CVF) found, that there are 6.4 million Californians who are eligible but unregistered to vote. As well, 28% of infrequent voters and 23% of those unregistered said they do
I remember learning about the whole process of voting when I was in elementary school back when cavemen walked the earth. My great grandmother taught me that the Democrats helped people, but Republicans were smart. I doubt if she would feel the same about Republicans today. In Puerto Rico she became a republican only because the party promised her a job if she joined the Republican Party. When she moved to New York although she followed politics on television by watching the Spanish language channels she never voted. In those days between the 1950s and up until 1970s Puerto Ricans were invisible when it came to any political agenda. There were no drives to get them to the polling places and voting materials were not offered in Spanish.
The United States election system operates under a political context. Every policy that shapes the economic outcome of a people has the effect of being politically manipulated. Through out this passage I will introduce you to the cause and effects of the way our election system is set up. American elections are design to provide democracy to the people. However, this democracy is often questioned by the counter attacks that is brought forth by certain elements that at times seems to be self created. Political theories suggest that elections are inspired by the need of one to control and manage resources. This plays heavily on the perception of the public as the essential need of survival is predicated on the performance of political
Elections and electoral systems aim at converting the popular will expressed as votes into choices between candidates of political parties for political offices in the executive and legislature. The electoral system therefore reflects itself in the party system and the structure of governmental representation. This association between elections, parties and government takes different forms. Ideal electoral systems should comprise of competition, effective government, and fair representation along with free and fair voting.