CHAPTER 12: UNDERSTANDING ELECTIONS

Section 1: Election Campaigns

Section 2: Campaign Funding and Political Action Committees

Section 3: Election Day and the Voters

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SECTION 1: ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

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SECTION 1: ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

  Campaign Strategy   Candidate have to answer two questions

  How many voters will it take to win   Where will the candidate win the most votes

Identify Supporters Conduct polls to identify where most support is

Target the Message Use polls and focus groups to learn which issues most important to supporters.

Package the Candidate Manage media coverage of candidate’s image and message

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SECTION 1: ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

  Conducting a Campaign   On the Campaign Trail

  Candidates spend most of campaign time on swing states: where support for candidates is about equal, or in states where their support is greatest

•  Tackling the Issues

–  Candidates use stump speeches, or standard speeches usually less than 20 minutes long, express candidate’s beliefs On key issues.

–  Many candidates use slogans

•  Negative Campaigning

–  Candidates may use negative campaigning, attacks on opposing candidate’s weaknesses

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SECTION 1: ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

  Campaigns and the Media

  Campaign’s media coordinator uses voters’ ages to determine which type of media to use to reach them.

  Broadcast Media

  Television, photos, radio

  Media often use sound bites of candidates’ speeches

  Print Media

  Newspapers, magazines, especially ads

  Often more detailed than broadcast; editorials influential

  The Internet

  Blogs, online editions of print media, TV news

  Polls and Polling   Polls can show where support is weakest; show which demographic

may support the candidate; influence voters

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SECTION 2: CAMPAIGN FUNDING AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

  Funding Election Campaigns •  Individual Donations: Largest source of funds; individuals contribute

directly or by hosting fund-raisers

•  Contributions by PACs: Second most important source of funds

•  Political Party Contributions: Limited amounts funded by committees within a political party

•  Public Funding: Comes from federal government through income tax; only available to presidential candidates

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SECTION 2: CAMPAIGN FUNDING AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

Campaign Finance Laws   Early Campaign Finance Reform

•  1907: Congress first restricts campaign funds; expanded restrictions in 1940s

•  1971: Congress passed FECA, requires candidates, PACs, political parties to report contributions received above certain amount

•  FECA reports must identify contributors   FECA Amendments

•  1974: FEC (Federal Election Commission) created •  1979: allowances made for unlimited spending on party-building

activities   Soft Money

  No restrictions placed on donations not given directly to candidates   Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

  2002: banned soft money raised for issue ads 7

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SECTION 2: CAMPAIGN FUNDING AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

  Interest Groups and Election Campaigns   Political Action Committees

  Many interest groups have a PAC.   How PACs Function

  Collects funds; distribute to political parties or candidates   Leadership PACs

  Not official campaign organizations; can raise unlimited funds   Influence of PACs   Allow interest groups greater voice in government; critics say too

powerful   Elections and 527 Groups

  Tax-exempt organizations that have no limit on political donations   Controversies over 527 Groups

  First came to forefront in 2004 election (e.g., MoveOn.org)   Impact of 527 Groups

  Critics blame for increase in negative campaigning   Campaign Reform and the Media

  BCRA requires ads to identify who is paying for them; supporters hope this reduces negative campaigning 9

SECTION 2: CAMPAIGN FUNDING AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

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SECTION 3: ELECTION DAY AND THE VOTERS

  Political Participation   The United States is a democratic republic. In order to function well,

its citizens must participate in politics.   Voting Rights and Responsibilities

•  Voting rights extended several times in U.S. history

  Voting Rates •  45 percent of eligible voters vote in presidential elections, less in

nonpresidential or local elections

•  Voters under 25 least likely to vote

  Impact of Voting •  Biggest impact of voting on local elections, which have the most

direct effect on people’s lives

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SECTION 3: ELECTION DAY AND THE VOTERS

Beyond the Right to Vote

  Working on Campaigns •  Activities include working in campaign office, making phone calls,

talking to voters

  Working at the Polls •  Poll workers (hired employees) and Poll watchers (volunteers) at

polls on election day

  Becoming a Candidate •  One way citizens can become more involved

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SECTION 3: ELECTION DAY AND THE VOTERS

  The Voting Process Steps to Voting •  Registering to Vote Americans must take initiative to register •  Casting a Ballot Done either by casting paper ballot or by using

mechanical voting machine

One Person, One Vote •  Reapportionment Redistribution of congressional seats due to

population changes •  Redistricting Drawing new boundaries for legislative districts

Campaigns on Election Day •  Election Day Activities Level of activity in an area depends on

candidate’s or opponent’s level of support •  Getting Out the Vote Volunteers phone supporters to remind them to

vote

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