4: Elections/Voter Behavior/Political Socialization
Objectives
1. Evaluate American elections in terms of the role of money, the role of the media, the
primary/caucus system, the Electoral College and incumbency advantage.
2. Describe the process by which people acquire their beliefs about politics.
Online Lessons
UC Open Access - Voting Behavior and Intensity (12)
UC Open Access - Financial Participation in Elections (13)
UC Open Access - Congressional Elections (14)
UC Open Access - Presidential Elections (15)
The Center for Responsive Politics - Tracks money in politics http://www.opensecrets.org
Common Cause - Public interest group devoted to cleaning up elections http://www.commoncause.org
Lawrence Lessig TED Talk on Campaign Finance
Explanation of the Electoral College
More Explanation of the Electoral College
Some Critiques of the Electoral College
National Popular Vote - Reform of Electoral College
The Primary and Caucus System (Khan Academy)
Explanation of the Electoral College (Khan Academy)
Explanation of the Problems of a Winner Take All Electoral System and the Spoiler Effect
Explanation of our system of presidential elections
Explanation of Instant Runoff Voting
Article about Partisan Segregation
NY Times: Do You Live in a Political Bubble?
11/6/18 General Election - Official Voter Information Guide
BallotPedia: Sample Ballot Lookup
Work at a polling place on election day
Comedy
Daily Show: frontloading makes some votes matter more than others
The Daily Show: the Electoral College and "swing states"
The Daily Show: Superdelegates
Stephen Colbert's take on the winner take all feature of the Electoral College
The Daily Show: Direct democracy in California
Daily Show: Iron Triangle: Simplot and the Two Headed Fish
Stephen Colbert on how partisanship can alter our thinking and lead to gridlock
Daily Show: Campaign Finance: McCutcheon Decision part 2
Colbert Report: Campaign Finance: McCutcheon Decision part 2