...this course, I found Parties and Elections in Texas (chapter 21), Public Opinion (chapter 6), and Political Participation and Voting (chapter 8) to be the most interesting and informative. Parties and Elections in Texas Political parties play a major role in Texas politics. Approximately 91 percent of Texas voters either identify with or lean toward the Republican or the Democratic Party. Despite all of the complaints about parties, they perform roles that are critical to the operation of our democratic system and to the overall coordination and functioning of our political system. The most important function of parties in Texas is to provide a label under which candidates may run and voter may identify. The party label becomes the standard used in casting a ballot for a candidate. Parties recruit candidates, assist in getting out the vote, and helps to organize the government once officials have been elected. The organization of political parties in Texas can be somewhat complex. Texas does not have a system of party registration for voters. Texas parties conduct primaries to select each party’s candidates for office. The precinct chair heads the precinct convention and serves on the county executive committee. The county executive committee is responsible for running the county’s primary elections and planning the county convention. Conventions are held at the precinct, county, and state levels. Participation in Texas elections has changed over time. Texas...
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...nominating B. Organization at the National Level 1. convention 2. chairperson C. State and Local Organization 1. election, caucuses 2. wards Prereading and Vocabulary 2 1. should cut back on expensive government programs Sample definition: Conservatives believe in cutting costs and government programs. 2. came to vote Sample definition: The electorate is the group of people who are allowed to vote. 3. voted at the polling place, elementary school Sample definition: A precinct is a small area from which all the residents report to vote at one location. 4. wards 5. bipartisan 6. nominate 7. Liberals 8. resign CHAPTER 5 Section 1 Reading Comprehension 3 1. Answers for rankings will vary. Historical basis: The two-party system is rooted in the beginnings of the U.S., when the ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the first two parties. Tradition: Most Americans accept the idea of a two-party system simply because there has always been one. Electoral system: Since only one winner per office comes out of each election, voters have only two viable choices—the candidate of the party holding office or the candidate with the best chance of replacing the current officeholder. Voters tend to think of a vote for a minor party candidate as a wasted vote. Republicans and Democrats work together in a bipartisan way to write election laws to make it hard for a minor party or independent candidate to win elective office. Ideological consensus:...
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... Informative Speech Outline Topic: The importance of voting Type of Speech: issue Strategy for Presenting Content: Explanation General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform my audience the importance of voting. Thesis Statement: Voting is essential and should be exercised by everyone because one vote can make a difference. Introduction: How many people are registered to vote? How many people are registered to vote and have voted? This is the dilemma the United States is facing today. Many people are registered to vote, but choose not to vote. It is important to exercise your voting rights because the decision our government officials make can have a huge impact on our lives. Voting in any type of election, from local races to Presidential primaries, provides an important way to voice your opinions regarding elected leaders and overall policies. In addition, voting decides our future by electing officials who reflect your own views. Therefore, voting is essential and should be exercised by everyone because one vote can make a difference. The ability to vote is one of the most cherished Constitutional Rights that many have fought, marched, and died for over the centuries. 1. Many people do not realize that voting is so vital that it can even have an impact on your daily life. Voting is the best way to express your opinion silently and privately...
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...In recent years, it has been made apparent that voting rights are not being exercised by many Americans. This holds true for local, state, all the way to the presidential primary elections. Voting is something Americans are taught is a fundamental right of being a US citizen and it should be exercised extensively as it is part of the foundation of democracy. Historically, African Americans and women did not have the right to vote in the United States but they were fought for because voting is such an essential right. Why is it that people are not exercising this right which is so important to the future of the United States? In this essay, local voter turnout in the US, Canada, and the UK will be described and explained and then compared in...
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...Oprah, Obama, and the 2008 Democratic Primary Craig Garthwaite Department of Economics University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Vmail: 202-746-0990 Email: cgarthwaite@gmail.com Tim Moore Department of Economics University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Vmail: 301-442-1785 Email: moore@econ.umd.edu August 2008 Abstract Candidates in major political contests are commonly endorsed by other politicians, interest groups and celebrities. Prior to the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary, Barack Obama was endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, a celebrity with a proven track record of influencing her fans’ commercial decisions. In this paper, we use geographic differences in subscriptions to O! – The Oprah Magazine and the sale of books Winfrey recommended as part of Oprah's Book Club to assess whether her endorsement affected the Primary outcomes. We find her endorsement had a positive effect on the votes Obama received, increased the overall voter participation rate, and increased the number of contributions received by Obama. No connection is found between the measures of Oprah's influence and Obama's success in previous elections, nor with underlying local political preferences. Our results suggest that Winfrey’s endorsement was responsible for approximately 1,000,000 additional votes for Obama. JEL Classification Numbers: D7; D72 We are grateful to Bill Evans for his comments and guidance. We also would like to thank Kerwin Charles, Allan Drazen...
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...Introduction In the show, The West Wing, President Bartlett says that decisions are made by individuals that show up to vote. That quote touches on one aspect of voting which is to choose elected leaders, however voting has many other functions than just choosing leaders. Voting gives a government legitimacy, holds elected officials accountable by placing them under threat of being voted out of office, and influence public policy decisions. Overall, voting is a key piece of the American political system because of the representative nature of the Constitutions and the notion that the people are the rightful masters of the government at all levels of power. Main Body Of all the functions, the connotation around elections is that they are for...
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...Voting Problem in America Voting Problem in America Numerous studies have been steered to support with observing for influences that will demonstration by public do not contribute in voting. It has remained a mounting difficulties with appropriate voters not registering and object their ballot. Over the decades, Americans have vanished trace with the antiquity of voting. Voting for in determinations supports in providing underpinning on why society do not participate in voting. Analyses provide tangible influences with why societies do not vote with illustration clusters support. Discovery of behaviors will show the unabridged development with the existing system supports with the American community. The 2008 elections enquiry provides awareness with the diverse motives from highest to lowest. Giving some understanding on the origin of the unruly and outcome resolutions to battle these problems. Examination can transform that are currently in domicile and assuring voting contributions on the ability to speak on the issues and distresses. Observing at other countries for potential solutions to the problem can be one riposte for the United States voting delinquent. Using tads and shards can support with altering he existing classification that does not work. Without transformation, the voting contribution will endure to diminish. The history behind the voting in America helps wonder why this pass civil liberty has fallen to many Americans waist side in today’s world. As America...
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...1. Summary: The Indian government has the power to acquire private land for public use (the philosophy of eminent domain). Land acquisition is a very important and absolutely necessary activity that every government must undertake, and it is absolutely imperative that the government have a clear, just and feasible policy regarding land acquisition that provides fair compensation to the parties affected by the acquisition. A land acquisition policy must be clear on the factors mentioned blow: 1. The definition of public use (or the type of projects that the policy is applicable for): In general, the definition includes strategic purposes (those relating to Defense), infrastructure projects for development of villages, etc. 2. What all kinds of land can be acquired and how much of it: In all cases, there are restrictions that the land acquisition must not impair historical or artistic monuments of importance or desecrate religious structures, graveyards, etc. Due to concerns pertaining to food safety, in India, restrictions are often imposed on the acquisition of irrigated multi crop lands. 3. Who the affected parties are (or who are to be compensated): Land owners are the most obvious affected parties (they are always considered among those to be compensated). But people depended on the land indirectly, like landless labourers working on the land and others who depend on the land for livelihood, are also affected, often adversely. 4. In what form the...
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...In today’s society voting in elections is an essential component of every form of democracy. Widespread involvement of citizens in political processes is the cornerstone of democracy. Voting should be viewed as a freedom, which consists of a certain amount of responsibility. When a person votes, voting makes a major impact on every piece of daily lives from free access to education to homeland security and financial solidity. When the people vote they are making their voices heard and expressing judgment on how they feel the government should function. The individuals who do not exercise their free right or franchise, by default they let others to make choices for them. Those citizens have to live with the judgment of the small minority...
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...Enter the Age of Internet Voting Voting has changed drastically since the beginning of humanity. Some of these changes have been for the better, and others have been fraudulent. The first form of voting originated in Ancient Athens where Greeks would use small balls to vote. A white ball would be cast in favor of a candidate or a topic and a black ball would be cast to vote against someone or something. This is where the term black balled came from (Glenco). Then a couple thousand or so years later came paper ballots, lever machines, punch cards, optical scans, and touch screens. The three most well known ways of voting are by optical scanners, punch cards, and touch screens. In which touch-screens are the most dominant in America Today. There have been major incidents with all of these machines that have caused doubt about whether the results are truly accurate or a miscalculation. The best way to solve this problem is to no longer use any by optical scanners, punch cards, or touch screens and make voting possible online. Internet voting seems like the most logical answer to the current problems faced by these machines and punch cards. It is also possible to have internet voting while ensuring that the votes are accurate. New voting technologies tend to emerge out of crises of confidence as seen prominently in the 2000 presidential election. We only rarely change systems and in response to a public anxiety that electoral results can no longer be trusted. There have...
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...freedom to speak out, assemble and associate, take part in public affairs, as well as having the ability to register as a candidate and campaign for election; by allowing these elements to occur. It is established on the credence that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision making process. However in both countries there are significant, almost insurmountable challenges that interdict a citizen’s ability to engage in and be represented in their respective political system. Popular participation in Australia is countenanced in a multitude of ways [Uphold] * Increase opportunities to vote, on and before, Election Day. In 2013 Election the Australian Electoral Commission undertook extensive remote area mobile polling services. Voting facilities were widely available. There were polling booths at airports (eg. For ‘fly in fly out’ workers to vote early and with convenience), postal votes and early voting at shopping centres and local government offices * Variety of political parties. In the 2013 Federal Election 54 different parties contested the available seats in the Federal Parliament. Individuals can join a political party and they can also form a political party and contest seats at the next election eg 2013 Clive Palmer and the formation of a new political (just before the election) being the Palmer United Party, which won seats in both the HOR and the Senator. There are no qualifications for being the Prime Minister apart from...
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...Can the Integrity of Voting be Raised by Requiring ID? Election Day is an exciting time for our country. Whether it is a presidential election or a state election, Election Day allows a normal citizen to feel like he or she can help how our country or state moves forward. Voting is a fundamental part of our democratic process. Voter fraud claims are not new to the election process. However, in the last decade, the outcry of fraud and unfair voting practices has spread like wildfire. Voter ID laws should be put into effect to help eliminate fraud and protect the integrity of our democracy. By requiring voters to have ID, it will preserve voting rights that have been fought over for years. Women finally won the right to vote nationwide in 1920. Although people of color were granted the right to vote in the Constitution in 1869, they were seldom allowed to vote. This right was finally put into effect with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The right to vote is not a privilege that can be given and taken at will. However, there are legal stipulations to this right. Certain convicted felons lose their right to vote based on their crimes. People who are living in American that are not born or naturalized do not have the right to vote. But, how do we ensure this right to vote is upheld in an ethical and legal way? Requiring all voters to show a valid ID when registering to vote and voting would help ensure this process. Requiring ID to vote will also help prevent, and...
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...countries? INTRODUCTION Voter turnout is the rate by which people vote in elections. The simplest way to calculate a given election's turnout rate is to compare the actual number of voters with the voting-age population. “Voter turnout in the United States is among the worlds’ lowest.” (E.S. 371) The graph below taken from an article written for the Huffington Post in 2012, illustrates how poor United States voter turnout has been as compared to other industrialized nations. Our voter turnout is less than half of the turnout in Belgium and Australia for example and it is getting worse. "Starting in the early 60's, the proportion of the population that turns out to vote in the U.S. steadily decreased, to the point where only slightly more than half the electorate voted in presidential elections in the last three decades of the 20th century" (E.S. 370) [pic] Although there are several factors that contribute to low voter turnout in the United States, three factors appear to have the most direct influence. • Voter Registration and Voting Processes in the United States make it more difficult to vote as compared to other nations. • The Decline of Social Capital in the United States • The decline in the strength of our political parties has contributed to voter apathy Voter Registration, the Voting Process and the Electoral System Our registration and voting processes are difficult and inconvenient and we are asked to vote too frequently...
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...THE INTRODUCTION OF SMART CARD READERS AND THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA Alli usman THE INTRODUCTION OF SMART CARD READERS AND THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA: An Annotated Bibliography ACE Project (n.d.) Elections and Technology. Available at http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/et/et10. Accessed 16, June, 2015 ACE Project is high-level web-based proprietary project management software developed by a Canadian company Web systems Inc. based in Quebec City, Canada. The introduction of information and communications technologies (ICT) into the electoral process is generating both interest and concern among voters, as well as practitioners across the globe. Most electoral management bodies (EMBs) around the world use new technologies with the aim of improving the electoral process. These technologies range from the use of basic office automation tools such as word processing and spreadsheets to more sophisticated data processing tools, such as data base management systems, optical scanning and geographic information systems. Alvarez, R. M. and Hall, T. E. (2008) Electronic Elections: The Perils and Promises of Digital Democracy. Princeton; Princeton University Press Elections by nature are fraught with risk. Michael Alvarez and Thad Hall fully examine the range of past methods and the new technologies that have been created to try to minimize risk and accurately reflect...
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...Electronic Voting for Global Vote for Rights by Children International – Tabaco is joining at the World Children’s Prize. It is an education program for all children. Their goal is to become more humane world, where children’s rights are respected by all. And there will be a new way of voting and to make voting process faster and easier. More than 2000 youth ages 12 – 18 yrs. Old are going to vote, first they will have their registration of the participant, next followed by voting process by Electronic Voting, in this way we are going to minimize and lessen the step by step process of voting. Objective of the Study: In this proposal I would like to make the voting process easier, also all the youth can vote in a specific date, minimize the time and lessen the step by step process. First the youths need to register to know how many youth participate in the activity. Next they are going to have their line for the voting. There are 11 computers available to use in voting. The facilitators are going to assist and help to become the voting process is organize, after they vote facilitator put an indelible ink to their fingertip so recognize whose already voted. And lastly the voter can go home. Specific Objective: * To have a new process of voting by means of electronic voting. * To help the staff and facilitator to make the voting process easier and faster. * To open the mind and give the youth an idea to the new way of voting by means of electronic voting. Scope...
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