Slideshow prepared for a series of lectures on voting and elections in the U.S. for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Spring 2008. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.

1. Voting and Elections
Dr. Christopher S. Rice
University of Kentucky

2. How Two-Party Elections
Can Lead to Democracy
• Responsible-party government
• Electoral Competition
• Retrospective Voting/Electoral
Reward and Punishment

3. Responsible-party
Government
• Based on idea of elections providing a
real choice or alternative.
• Assumptions:
• Each of two parties is cohesive and unified
• Each party takes a clear policy position
that differentiates the two
• Citizens accurately perceive these
positions, vote on the basis of them
• Winning party will follow through on their
promises