Quiz Chapter 7

1. Explain the difference between hard and soft money:
Hard money is the money that each candidate makes by calling people and getting them to support financially to their campaign.  While soft money is the easy money to get.  This money comes from the government or the parties general fund.  

2. What is the electoral process and is this something that you agree or disagree with and why?
There is a stage in time when people are nominated into these positions.  If there is more than one  in a party then there is then a primary election.  Then after the primary election the candidates run against the other parties for the position.

3. What is the difference between a closed and open primary?
A closed primary election is when the primary election the only people to vote on their own parties nominees.  While the open primary allows the anyone to be voting on each party.  

4. Explain what absentee voting is and what the positives and negative may be with regards to it:
Absentee voting is a style of voting when the person can't make it to their precinct to vote they get to vote at home.  This is a good thing because it allows people to vote if they are unable to vote on the selected day.

5. What changes to your see in the way we run elections ten years from now?
I can see everyone voting from home.  This may be a new way to vote because it is really convenient and we now have the technology to do this.  Their may be some security problems with this idea but i think this is where we will be going.

6. Explain your views on money and elections with regards the amount of money that is spent:
I think that the elections spend way too much money.  All the candidates are complaining about our national debt but they spend millions of dollars on the way to get into the office.  That in my eyes is a little hypocritical.

7. Go to cnn.com or foxnews.com and find an article dealing with the election process.  Post the article in your blog and provide your viewpoints pertaining to the article.

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — 

Out of more than 41,000 votes cast, only six decided the Alamance County district attorney's race.

Robert Sharpe conceded the race to Pat Nadolski in a press release Wednesday after a recount showed Nadolski picked up 20,623 votes, while Sharpe picked up only 20,617 votes.

Prior to the recount, Nadolski had a seven-vote lead.

Nadolski was running for his first full term as D.A. against Sharpe, a local defense attorney


I think that this close of a election is crazy.  I think that even though there was a recount to make sure these are accurate, but Still think that there is something else we could do.  This close of a election could share the office.

Democratic Party:

     The democratic party was first started in the late 1700's by a well known politician, Thomas Jefferson.  He started this party on the basic belief that the government had too much power, and it should be limited.  The democratic party held its first convention in 1832 with the re-election of Andrew Jackson.  The democratic party is not only the longest running political party in the United States, but it is now known as the oldest one yet.  The symbol for the democrats is the donkey, this was first published in an editorial cartoon in 1870 to represent the anti-war faction that he did not agree with.  

Republican Party:

    The republican party was started in 1856 with the presidential candidate John C. Freemont.  The party rose out of the controversy of the western territories wanting slaves.

With these two parties it makes us possible to vote for things.  We have the choice to go choose between many people.  It is what makes it possible to give us choice. 

Assignment 4

Nation wide our countries major concern for the new election is our national debt.  With the country coming out of a large economical depression many people think that is the most important thing around, but there are many other things that are going on throughout the world that is more important than just our debt.  We also have a war going on across the seas, and also have many terrorist issues that are crucial to the survival of the United States.

I also think that with the new people elected into office they will only be focused on the money spent not on what needs to get done, or the needs of the people.  Also with the smoking ban being passed in South Dakota we will be having a larger need for money too.  Where is the money going to come from that we use to make while people smoked in the bars.  It will be really hard to come up with the millions of dollars smokers bring into the state.  

1.  What does Federalism mean by definition and what does Federalism mean to you?
According to dictionary.com federalism is the principle of government in a group of states under one set of laws.  I think federalism is our government.  

2.  List and describe the three powers of the National Government.  3. Explain the divisions of powers and why it is important?
Judicial-This is the branch with the court system.  They interperate all the laws and say if they are following the constitution
Legislative- the legislative branch makes all the laws for the government, but they are then sent to the president to see if he thinks this law is ok.
Executive- The executive branch has  president, vice president, and the cabinet members.  The president has a great power he can veto (reject) any bill the legislator puts out.

This is very important because it controls the power of each group.


4.  What is the Supremacy Clause and what is its function?
This is a law that says any treaty made by the U.S. government is bound to the complete following of each individual state.  It also says that the states can't make a new law to cover up the treaty made.

5.  Find a site on the Internet that deals with Federalism.  Take 10 minutes and review that site.  Provide the link and provide some of the useful information that you found to help you better understand what Federalism is and how it works.


http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_fedr.html
Federalism is the way our government works and works with other governments