GOV 310L Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Secret Ballot, Democratic Republic, Direct Democracy
Document Summary
Objectives: illustrate the importance and limitations of campaigns, analyze convergence and divergence theories of campaigns, define the electoral institutions and rules governing campaigns, discuss different theories of voter decisions, examine possible reforms to campaigns. Determining policy direction and ideology we have different believes and we want those reflected. Elections is the process even though most americans don"t have an ideology. Selecting competent leaders who deal with important issues, clean water. When policies fail we vote them out of office, what makes politicians behave properly. Votes and seats: plurality, with single-member districts. Consequence: you could have non-majoritarian rule and two-party system. Whether direct democracy is practiced difference between direct democracy and republican democracy (representative) Who can vote: the combination of federal and state laws determine it. States decide on voting technology, staffing of polling places, and how votes are counted: australian ballot also known as secret ballot (vote in private) Referendum (voters approve or disapproved what legislative has passed)
