Section 1—The Nominating Process The Electoral Process Chapter 7.
Chapter 7. Section 1 The Nominating Process Nominating Process A Critical First Step The...
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Transcript of Chapter 7. Section 1 The Nominating Process Nominating Process A Critical First Step The...
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