LECTURE 6

Lecture Notes Chapter 6:

Review of Chapter 5:

MAJORITY of Votes: IS, 50% + one more vote.

PLURALITY of Votes: IS, the most votes regardless of the number.

PRIMARY ELECTION: IS, an election that allows the political parties to get behind "one best candidate" prior to the General Election.

"OPEN" PRIMARY: IS, open to the non-party members

"CLOSED" PRIMARY: IS, closed to non-party members

PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION: IS, WHEN YOU AND I GO TO VOTE FOR A PARTY or SLATE OF ELECTORS, WE DO NOT VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE!

ELECTORAL COLLEGE: IS, a group of individuals (538) elected from each separate state, and the District of Columbia, who will choose -by vote- the President and Vice President of the United States .

Remember, though there are no absolutes in political science, it is of the "highest unlikelihood "that a third party candidate will ever win the Presidency!

CHAPTER 6-

AHHHHHHH, You're going to love me here! I don't usually even go over this chapter when I teach the class on campus. The chapter on Media includes concepts that are discussed throughout the class. For example, we've already studied the concepts of free speech, free press (Chapter 2), and Media as a "Socializing Force" (Chapter 5). In addition, we'll be looking at the Media when we look at Campaigns (Chapter 9), and to a degree when we study the Presidency (Chapter 11).

Beyond the text's information, I do like to point out that a "Free Press" is one of the key components to a successful republic. The longevity of our Government really can be attributed to three things. One, is the ability to be informed of what is going on around us. Two, is the ability to continuously fine tune our government through scheduled, frequent, fair elections. And, three, a military that is ultimately controlled by Congress (or the people) and not by any one person (include in this a citizenry that is fairly well armed and would give the government pause prior to becoming an oppressive, totalitarian, regime). Take away any of these key components and the Government is destined to fail, protect them and Government has a chance. The Founding Fathers knew this, and, though many other governments have lasted longer than ours, few have been tweaked less. But, these key components are constantly being challenged. Limits are being placed on the Second Amendment, challenges arise to the equality -or fairness- of voting, and the media shedding light on Government acts being carried out in secret upon the people in the name of National Security. The "balancing test" discussed in chapter four, is certainly being stretched to it conceptual boundaries, and part of the problem has been the Courts and the power of the Court that "Judicial Review" (Marbury v. Madison) allows: Judicial Activism. Through Judicial Activism, and interpretation of the law, we could lose the key component of a "free press" at any time in the name of national security.

The Framer's of the Constitution understood that there was nothing more dangerous than a government that operated in secrecy. I worry that the people of today may have forgotten this.

Again, short and sweet! As usual, there is a quick summary this chapter available simply by clicking the link below.

STUDENT RESOURCE

But be sure to read the chapter and not simply rely on the summary (it leaves too much out).

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