Chapter 10: Campaigns and Elections

Study Plan

In this chapter, we will:

• examine the place of elections in American political life. We will first discuss some of the formal aspects of electoral participation in the United States. These include types of elections, the ways that election winners are determined, electoral districts, the ballot, and the electoral college. As we shall see, all of these factors affect the type and level of influence that citizens have through the electoral process.
• see how election campaigns are conducted in the United States. The campaign for any political office consists of a number of steps. Election campaigns are also becoming increasingly expensive to wage.
• assess the various factors that influence voters’ decisions. Despite the growing importance of money spent on election campaigns, voters still decide the outcomes.
• turn to the issue of money and elections. Raising campaign funds is now a crucial factor for winning. Although attempts to reform campaign finance have been made, the money keeps pouring in. As we will see, this development produces a clash between liberty and equality.

As you work through the below assignments, don't forget to generate a Progress Report. Fill out the sections you have completed and send a copy to your email account.

Organize

1. Follow this Study Plan to access your chapter assignments.
2. Print out the Chapter Outline and bring it to lecture to help structure your note-taking and check-off topics covered in class.
3. Access Quiz+! The results of this chapter quiz create a Custom Study Plan that links you directly to materials that will assist your pre-exam review.

Learn

1. Read Chapter 10 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Read the Chapter Review of Chapter 10. Note any material you have difficulty remembering from the text.
3. Master the key terms for this chapter by working through the deck of Flashcards.

Connect

1. Explore the Interactive Politics Simulation and the questions that follow.
2. Complete the You Decide Exercise after reading the Policy Debate box in Chapter 10 of your textbook or ebook.
3. Answer the Questions for Discussion and Thought and articulate your own point of view on the chapter's material.
4. Complete the What Government Does Exercises to understand the structure of American government and how it affects your life in a direct way.
5. Complete the Get Involved Exercise to see how you can use what you have learned in this chapter to effect change in politics and policy.
6. Watch the Video Exercises for this chapter and answer the accompanying questions.
7. Mobilize for political action with Mobilize.org!

Links

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