Chapter 7

Section 1

The Nominating Process

Nominating Process

A Critical First Step The Nominating Process

The naming of those who will seek office Sometimes the only real contest for a public

office Five ways for Nomination

Self-announcement Oldest form of the nominating process The candidate simply announces his

candidacy

Nominating Process (Con’t)

The Caucus Caucus is a group of like-minded people who

meet to select the candidates they will support

Historically used in U.S. however, died on a national level after the 1824 election.

The Convention First used by a minor party in 1831. In theory, extremely representative,

however, can be manipulated

Nominating and Electing a Candidate

Chapter 7, Section 1Chapter 7, Section 122 33

Direct Primary An intra-party election Usually controlled by the state, not political parties Two forms

The Closed Primary only declared party members can vote

established by registration 27 states

The Open Primary any qualified voter can vote 23 states

Closed vs. Open Primary Closed pro

Avoids tampering from rival party Makes more responsive to party Makes voters more thoughtful

Closed con Compromise secrecy Excludes independents

Direct Primary (Con’t)

The Runoff Primary If the absolute majority is not reached, the

top two candidates face one another to become a nominee

The Nonpartisan Primary Elections in which candidates are not

identified by party labels The Presidential Primary

Varies from state to state, however, used to choose a party’s presidential candidate.

Chapter 7, Section 1Chapter 7, Section 122 33

The Direct Primary

Nonpartisan Primary

Candidates are not identified by party

labels

Runoff Primary

If a required majority is not met, the two

people with the most votes run again

Closed Primary

Only declared party members

can vote.

Types of Direct Primaries

Open Primary

Any qualified voter can take

part.

Blanket Primary

Qualified voters can vote for any candidate,

regardless of party

Primaries Across the United States

Chapter 7, Section 1Chapter 7, Section 122 33

Section 2

Elections

The Administration of Elections

The lengthy process is used to protect the integrity of the electoral process

The extent of federal control Most laws are state laws Congress has set the National Election

Presidential and Congressional the First Tuesday after first Monday of November every fourth year

With other congressional elections every two years

The Administration of Elections (con’t)

Early Voting If unable to go to your precinct, one may

receive an absentee ballot Too ill or disabled Away from home (college) Armed forces

The Coattail Effect A strong candidate running for a high office

helps lesser known party affiliates win office reverse could happen as well

Precincts and Polling Places

Precinct: voting district Polling place: located

somewhere in the precinct

Casting the Ballot

Ballot is the device by which a voter registers a choice in an election

Kinds of ballots The Australian Ballot The office-group ballot The Party-column ballot

Voting Machines and Innovation

Electronic vote counting Vote-by-Mail elections Online voting

Section 3

Money and Elections

Campaign Spending

Presidential campaigns eat up the most money

Nearly $1.5 Billion in 2000 Commercials, bumper stickers,

pamphlets, websites, travel 60 second commercial can run ½

million dollars

Sources of Funding

Private and public sources Small contributors

Those who give $5 or $10 or so Wealthy people

“Fat cats” who give donations Candidates

Spending their own money Various nonparty groups, PAC

The political arms of special interest groups Also, various fundraisers, where people pay

$100, $500, $1,100 or more for dinner recently, online giving

Subsidy A grant of money from a government

Why people give

Some for the party they believe in Most want access to government

Appointed to offices To meet the insiders

Want certain public policies

Regulating Campaign Finance

FECA and FECA amendments allow congress to monitor national election funding

Federal Election Commission

An independent agency set up by legislative and executive branch

Enforces law about: Disclosure requirements

Required to identify who gives when and how it is spent

Limits on contributors No PAC can give more than $95,000 in an

election cycle PAC

Special-Interest groups that can give donations

Can give $5,000 per Federal election

Federal Election Commission (Con’t)

Limit on Expenditures Public Funding of Presidential

Campaign Created in 1971, ’74, and ’76 to

discourage absurd amounts of money Limits how much you can accept and

spend

Hard Money, Soft Money

Hard Money Money raised and spent to elect

candidates for congress and the white house

Soft Money Funds given to “temporary

organizations” and used to help elect someone