ELECTIONS

ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNSCHAPTER 8 1The Rules of the GameWe have in the U.S. regularly scheduled elections that are scheduled for predetermined times (unlike many other countries)

We have fixed, staggered, and sometimes limited terms- - the length of service is fixed for all offices - Senator terms are staggered (1/3 up every two years) - some positions can be run for only a certain # of times (like the Pres.)

2

Term Limits

- the 22nd Amendment limits the President to two terms (or max 10 years).

- a politician that is currently serving but cant run again is called a lame duck because his ability to bestow favors/influence is ending.

- states can impose term limits on their legislators but not on their federal legislators that go to Washington.

3

Why a two-party system?->THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Winner-Take-All- an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins (there is NO second place) usually just a plurality necessary to win, not a majority (majority = more than 50%) Single-member districts- a district in which voters chose only 1 representative

When winner-take-all and single member districts are combined it becomes very difficult for minor parties to win (unlike proportional representation)

4Running for CongressMost congressional races are NOT even closeHouse incumbents (officeholders) win 95% of the time!!!Senate races are a little more competitivePresidential popularity can affect races as the coattail effect may help members of the same party ride on the coattails of the President

5House of Representatives-> all seats are up for grabs every 2 years-> seldom are incumbents challenged in primaries of their own party-> seldom do challengers face opposition in primaries of their own party-> often candidates go unopposedreelection rate OVER 90%

Mounting a Primary CampaignStart raising hundreds of thousands of dollars or more (less expensive than Senate race)Parties shy away from giving in primariesMoney needed to hire campaign managers and technicians, buy t.v. ads, conduct polls as well as other activitiesBuild a personal organization to get help and most importantly try to gain visibility (news spots, door-to-door, handshaking and courting segments of voters)

Campaigning for General Election candidate appeal- elections tend to focus on personal attributes National tide- the inclination to focus on national issues instead of local.Name recognition- incumbents names are familiar and recognizable which gives them a major advantage6The Senate-> 1/3 seats are up for grabs every 2 years-> seats much more competitive than House since more power and higher profile-> Senate races are more expensive-> reelection rate OVER 75%

Mounting a Primary CampaignStart raising hundreds of thousands of dollars or more (more expensive than House race)Parties sometimes discourage multiple competitors in primaries to clear the field for a preferred candidateMoney is needed to hire campaign managers and technicians, buy t.v. ads, conduct polls as well as other activitiesBuild a personal organization to get help and most importantly try to gain visibility (news spots, door-to-door, handshaking and courting segments of voters)Campaigning for General Election candidate appeal- elections tend to focus on personal attributes National tide- the inclination to focus on national issues instead of local.Name recognition- incumbents have less advantage (than in House) because competitors are often also widely known and covered.

7Incumbency AdvantageWhy do the officeholders keep getting reelected at such high rates? This is often referred to as a permanent Congress?

Name recognition my name is Arnold SchwartzeneggerMore media coverage look who is on T.V., its Senator Joe ShmoeAlready have power to do things for constituents bring home the porkFranking privilege free junk mail, paid for by taxpayers!Already have $ connections you scratch my backGerrymandering lets redraw district lines to favor me!If no scandal, he/she is doing a good enough job if it aint brokePerceived as having more experience he knows the system8Running for PresidentStage 1- The Nomination

Presidential Primaries in each stateCaucases in someConventions for the two parties

Stage 2- The National Party Convention

The Party PlatformThe Vice Presidential NomineeThe value of conventionsNomination by petition

9Running for President cont.Stage 3- The General Election

Presidential debatesTelevision and Radio AdvertisingThe outcome10Road to the Presidency2 year process, millions of dollarsStep 1 - Deciding to announce-ensure political & financial support, usually Congressman or governor, press conference announcement Step 2 - Presidential primaries-traditionally Feb. in *New Hampshire 1st, other states hold primaries through June-voters/delegates pledge support -similar to electoral college, convention delegates instead of electors, many states have proportional representation -frontloading early primaries are more important than later ones; early wins in primaries mean more support (more media attention, more donors)Step 3 The National Party Convention-Jackson & Dems had 1st natl convention; grass roots-Today primaries pick candidates, natl conv formally nominates-Natl conv: platform, unity, speeches, VP pickpep rally for T.V.11Road to the PresidencyStep 4 - Campaigning for the General Election-2 candidates face off-most $ spent here; election experts-tone changes to appeal to middle of road voters-free T.V. time for debates (since 1960)

Issue: Candidates direct their campaigns at those who vote in large numbersminorities? Young people?12CampaigningIncreased use of technologyTelevision short, paid advertisement spots packed with soundbites, increases visibility and awareness of what candidate stand for (more effective, information packed) vs. news broadcast visuals (newsworthy actions, less effective)Campaign debates publicize candidates views but risky 1996-major networks agreed to make some free TV time to major party candidates, denying 3rd partiesComputer sophisticated direct mailing campaigns13Important aspects of running a campaignBecoming well-known (getting mentioned)Announce to media, travel making speeches, already have a famous name, former governor, major lawRaising $ and building an organization of personal followers (limitations)Organization staff of fundraisers, position advisers, lawyers, accountants, volunteersStrategy Incumbent defends record, challenger attacks the incumbentTwo challengers = own programs, but White House party blamedTone positive build me up or negative attackTheme repeated soundbites (compassionate conservatism)

14 Primaries Primaries resulted from Progressive Movement reforms -more citizen control over political system (early 1900s)- they are used to select a partys candidates for elective office - now people vote instead of the party organization choosing - only about 25% vote in primaries as opposed to 50% in general election - participants more partisan than general population - frontloading- earlier primaries more influential

(ex. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama for Democrats trying to be the Democratic nominee for president)

1. Closed primary -voters declare party BEFORE election day then vote for that partys candidatesmost states (deterrent for Independent voters; must be Republican or Democrat)

2. Open primary -voter decides which primary to choose as entering boothfew states use this method (handed either Republican or Democratic ballot)

3. Blanket (free-love) primary - voters may pick one candidate for each office without regard to party lines; for instance, a voter might select a Democratic candidate for governor and a Republican candidate for senator. The supreme Court has eliminated most of these declaring unconstitutional.

15Iowa Caucus- first and impt.What you'll do is get up out of your seat and you'll go walk to the corner or space by the wall designated for the candidate of your choice. After this first step, party officials will determine if a candidate meets the 15 percent "threshold" requirement.Supporters of candidates making up less than 15 percent can realign with a candidate that met the requirement.Votes tallied and county delegates chosen to elect district and state delegates

-> it is like an old town meeting->Maine, Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Washington, Guam, Virgin Islands (mostly less populated states/territories) use the caucus instead of a primary.16

Reapportionment is the process of determining how many Congressional seats each state receives- to divide the 435 seats in the House of Representatives into the fifty states

Redistricting is the redrawing of districts within each state after each census.

17Gerrymandering is the manipulation of the redistricting process for political gain- to favor one party over another.

The federal constraints that have been imposed on the redistricting process include:

A redistricting plan must create districts that are relatively equal in populationA redistricting plan must not dilute the strength of minority votersA redistricting plan must not be a racial gerrymanderA redistricting plan must take into account traditional redistricting criteria such as compactness, contiguity, and respect for political subdivision lines and communities of interest

Malapportionment- unequal representation, is broad and systematic variation in the size of electoral districts resulting in disproportionate representation for a given voter. Baker v. Carr Baker claimed that state of TN had not redistricted in several decades and the district he lived in grew substantially compared to the others. ->He claimed that was discriminatory and illegal under the Fourteenth Amendment. The US Supreme Court agreed, citing the doctrine of "One Man, One Vote

18

19

Money in U.S. ElectionsEfforts at Reform:

1. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1971- -Limited advertising spending -Require disclosure of funds and spending -PACs to register and report to govt.2. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) 1974- -Additional amendments to control/regulate spending added to FECA -creation of Federal Election Commission to administer new laws, regulate elections and provide public campaign funding for pres. Primaries3. FECA Amendment 1976 and 79- reaction to Buckley v. Valeo (1976) largely insignificant4. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) 2002- -Banned use of soft money -Independent issue ads stopped within 60 days of general election

20

Buckley v Valeo (1976)- Supreme Court decided candidates can spend as much of their own $ on personal campaigns as a form of Free speech protected by 1st Amend.

21

Citizens United v FEC (2010)-

Supreme Court determined corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment .

The Court struck down a provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that prohibited all corporations, both for-profit and not-for-profit, and unions from broadcasting electioneering communications.

22Ways to funnel $$$ to campaignsHard money - $ given to a party, candidate or interest group that is limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such funds is harder.

Soft money unlimited funds by individuals, PACS or other groups given to political parties for party building activities used to indirectly help candidates (get out the vote drives, voter registration) but cannot back candidates by name.

527 groups group organized to spend unlimited $ on election activities thru issue advocacy instead of candidate advocacy

Independent expenditures- is a political activity intended to assist or oppose a specific candidate for office which is made without their cooperation, approval, or direct knowledge. Most commonly, this takes the form of advertising. Often used by PACs and 527 groups.23

24

25

26

27Continuing Problems with Campaign FinanceRising Costs of CampaignsDeclining CompetitionIncreasing dependence on PACsCandidates Personal WealthCorporations unlimited contributions

->Growth in Individual Contributions and the Use of the Internet to Fund Campaigns28

29The Electoral College We elect our President and Vice President not by a national vote but by an indirect device known as the electoral college.This system was devised because the framers didnt trust the general public.Each state legislature decides how to select its electors.These individuals are generally longtime loyal party workers.They are expected to vote for the partys designated candidate if their party wins the state.A faithless elector is a member who does not follow this rule (they go against the choice of the people/party).Many states have laws to punish faithless electors.There have been few faithless electors in recent history.

30Electoral College contTo win an election, a candidate must have a majority of the electoral votes (270 or more). If there is no majority, then the vote goes to the House where the top 3 contenders are voted upon- each state gets 1 vote.If no candidate gets a majority of votes for Vice President, then the top 2 choices go to the Senate for a vote. Each Senator gets one vote.Twice in our history the vote went to the House (Jefferson won over Burr 1800 and then John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson 1824)31Electoral College voters per state = # of reps + # of senatorsso you have 100 (Senators) + 435 (Reps) + 3 (D.C.)= 538 totalA majority to win is 270

*Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that are not winner-take-all (allocation by district winners)32How strong is your state?

33What is your vote worth?

34