Transcript Exit Slip - CRAHS #16 12th Grade Social Studies

Warm Up
• Review word “incumbent” (unit 3 vocabulary)
Warm Up
• “Congressional approval rating has hit its lowest mark in a
midterm election year in at least 40 years, a new poll found.
According to a Gallup poll on Monday, 16 percent of Americans
approve of the job Congress is doing — the lowest rating in a
midterm year since the firm began tracking the question in
1974. That’s down from 21 percent in 2010 and a high-water
mark of 50 percent in 2002.”
• Respond:
1.
2.
What percentage of Americans approve of Congress?
Based on the current approval rating, do you predict incumbents
won or lost in this election?
• Go to kahoot.it (bookmark this website!). Game pin: __
• https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/38a3b45d-5900-464c-979c40fad6422656
SWBAT explain the incumbency
paradox.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Warm Up: 10 minutes
Elections 2014 Results: 10 minutes
Congressional Election Notes: 30 minutes
Incumbency Analysis: 20 minutes
Kahoot Quiz: 15 minutes
Exit Slip: 10 minutes
Media Standard Exit Slip Return/Review: 15
minutes
Election Results 2014
• Governor: Jerry Brown, D: 58.7% vs Neel Kashkari, R: 41.3%
• Superintendent of Public Instruction:
Tom Torlakson, D: 52.1% vs Marshall Tuck, D: 47.9%
• Proposition 1: Water Bond - Yes: 66.8% vs No: 33.2%
• Proposition 2: Rainy Day Fund - Yes: 68.7% vs No: 31.3%
• Proposition 45: Insurance Rates - Yes: 40.2% vs No: 59.8%
• Proposition 46: Medical Malpractice Limits - Yes: 32.9% vs No: 67.1%
• Proposition 47:
Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes - Yes: 58.5% vs No: 41.5%
• Proposition 48: Indian Gaming Casino- Yes: 39.1% vs No: 60.9%
• Sheriff- Jim McDonnell: 74.83% vs Paul Tanaka: 25.17%
• Assessor- John Morris: 49.48% vs Jeffrey Prang: 50.52%
• Measure P: Parks - Yes: 62.04% vs No: 37.96%
• Bicameral Congress:
– 2 Chambers/Sections of Congress
House of Representatives
AND
Senate
Bicameral Congress
House of Representatives
• 435 members
• Two-year terms
Senate
• 100 members
• Six-year terms
How often do incumbents win?
Incumbents Re-Elected
1. AL
12. NH
2. DE
13. NJ
3. HI
14. NM
4. ID
15. OK
5. IL
16. OR
6. KS
17. RI
7. KY
18. SC
8. ME
19. SC
9. MA
20. TN
10. MN
21. TX
11. MS
22. WY
Incumbents Lost
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
AR
CO
IA
MT
NC
Incumbents
won 81%
despite the fact that only
16% of Americans approve
of the job they’re doing!
Incumbency Paradox
• Congressional incumbents are most likely to
win elections, although Americans generally
disapprove of Congress
Reasons Why Incumbent Win – pgs.
365-367 + Supplement
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Constituent service
Franking privilege
Gerrymandering
Money
Visibility
1. Constituent Service
• Constituent = voter
• Incumbents win by providing “pork” –projects
that bring $/jobs to the state and local
businesses, etc
• Political favors
• Casework for constituents
2. Franking Privilege
• Members of Congress have the right to send
letters to their voters; the government pays
for it with tax money
• It’s expanding: emails and phone calls
3. Gerrymandering
• When incumbents manipulate boundaries on
a map to favor themselves or their party
• Helps BOTH
political parties
4. Money
• PACS usually contribute more $ to incumbents
(play it safe/ “the devil you know”)
• Incumbents outspend challengers 2 to 1
5. Visibility
• Incumbents get news coverage = free media!
• Invitations to fundraisers, ground-breaking
ceremonies, other public events
Incumbency Analysis
1. To find your representative  Go to govtrack.us
& set district
2. Write down names of representatives
3. Go to their official website
4. Look for examples of how they use incumbency
to their advantage/to get votes
Examples of Incumbency
Advantage
• Casework –help you dealing with federal
agencies
• Resources for small business owners – loans,
contracts
• Helps Armenian orphans
• Sponsors high school art contests
• Free tax preparation
• Earthquake readiness plans
Effects of the incumbency advantage
Pros
•
•
•
•
•
Cons
Atmosphere remains the same
Discourages radical change
Leads to stability
Congress keeps a large amount of experience leaders
Difficult to reform campaign finance laws because
congresspeople don’t want to limit fundraising
Kahoot!
• Use your notes
• Wait to see the answer options ON THE
PROJECTOR before voting
• Excuse lag/program malfunctions
• Be a good sport
• https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/ede44d4c-32f44c6d-a9f0-b40753f29856
Explain the incumbency paradox (what
it is, why it happens, and its effects)
•
•
•
•
•
Gerrymandering
Franking
Constituent service
Money
Visibility