ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS

• Foundation of our democracy• 500,000+ elected officials in USA (federalism)• Every election has campaigns which precede the election• These campaigns getting longer and more expensive $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$• Does government need to reform elections and campaigns? limit time and $ spent

FUNCTION• participation #1• linkage• legitimizes power

Guideline• Constitution broad

• HR/2yrs• Elect College• power to set

date for: in Nov.

The rest of the rules and laws set by the states. (tho “federalization” has occurred – eg. 15th/19th/26th Amend.)

Role of Political parties are important and have changed over the historic times:• caucus system pre-1830s• era of political bosses and patronage 19th and early 20th centuries• straight ticket voting• Progressive reform• de-alignment – modern phenomenon

Yet, though the power of parties have dwindle for our time, they remain important. Perhaps it has just been their techniques and approaches that have changed?

Modern Times = The Uniquely American Role of the Candidate

• the Party provides the “label” and nominates the candidate• but the initiative lays with the candidate now,

• He/she decides to run for Congress/POTUS• He/she raises the $• He/she puts together an organization to meet states’

requirements for primary: signatures/$

Rest of the world’s democracy do not allow for such independence for candidates. Parties in totalcontrol.

WINNER-TAKES-ALL

- most US elections the winner does not need the majority of votes (proportional election system)just the plurality- largest number of votes cast.

- most US election positions are : single-member district one person is elected to serve that constituency.

This system ensures a two-party system in the U.S., since parties try to assemble a large coalition of voters that leads to at least a minimum plurality, spreading their "umbrellas" as far as they can to capture the most votes. The winner-takes-all system contrasts to proportional representation, a system in which legislative seats are given to parties in proportion to the number of votes they receive in the election. Such systems encourage multi-party systems because a party can always get some representatives elected to the legislature

113th Congress (2013-2014)

Congress Districts from 2013-2022

PRIMARIES and GENERAL ELECTIONS

primaries - began in early 20th century as a Progressive reform to achieve more direct control by ordinary citizens of the political process. Elections would nominate candidates not the party organization.

• closed primary: voter must declare in advance his membership to vote in that party’s primary. (most of the 50 states)

• open primary: voter can decide in the booth what party’s primary to participate in. AR, MT, SC , IN

• blanket (free-love) primary: voter can pick and chose candidates from both parties only: AK, LA, WA

caucuses - local party member meet and agree on candidate to support, pass these candidates on to a regional caucus which votes, pass their choice onto to the state caucus which makes the final decision , granting delegates to candidates at the national convention.Iowa Caucus is the first and most famous in presidential elections.

Whether by a state primary or by caucus, the state party organizations name delegates for the candidate to the national convention.How this process works can be quite complicated with several levelsof rules and procedures. Suffice it to say –

DEMOCRATS: proportional distribution REPUBLICANS: winner–take-all distribution

How many delegates need to vote for nomination varies year to yearHow many delegates is a state allocated depends on many factors: population party support history adherence to national committee guidelines and expectations

REMEMBER: political parties are private groups who make their rules and state election laws are crafted by political party members in the guise of elected public officials ( party organization and party –in government influence)

GENERAL ELECTION: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Once candidates chosen by parties the campaign begins.

Lucky if 50% participate

Better than the 25% who vote in the primaries!

Vs.

• Congressional is regional (district for House; state for Senate)

• House elections least competitive. 90% incumbency with 60%+ plurality. President seldom wins with more than 55% plurality

• In “off year elections” only 36% of eligible voters participate and these are mostly activist and more ideological than average American.

• “coattails” Prez’ popularity affects Congressional race (same party) positively. Though tough to see consistent pattern.

• case work providing services to constituents is a major factor for incumbent success in House.

• Communication more directly with constituents makes it easier for Congressional incumbency. Personal appearances. Franking: free printing and postage for delivering info to constituency. Prez can only use the mass media.

• Member of Congress can dodge responsibility. “Its those other guys … It’s that damn Obama…” The Prez is responsible.

In terms of elections …

The Road to the Presidency

1. Deciding to Announce

2. Presidential Primaries“frontloading” is a problematic effect

3. The Convention “the pre-sumptive candidate for president”4. The Campaign Labor Day to Election Day

two big hurdles: a. avoid the “the slip up” b. look presidential in the debates:

a staple since 1960

Campaign and Election Reform: It’s about1. Spending2. Local Control of Voting Process

Campaign Spending Reforms:1. Reform Act of 1974 a. Creation of the Federal Election Commission (oversight) b. $100+ donations reported; no cash over $100 allowed

c. No foreign contributions d. $1000/person/candidate; $20,000/@party; $5000/PAC

e. Creation of Political Action Committee (PAC) f. PAC may give $5000/candidate; $15000/party g. Fed matching $ in primaries; Fed pay whole boat in General election.

… 1976 additions to the Reform Act: corporations, labor unions, interest groups allowed to form PACS

Also the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) weighs in with Buckley v. Valeo (1976)- 1st Amendment permits an individual candidate spend any amount of his $

and in 2010 Citizens United v. FEC – corporations have 1st Amendments rights too under Buckley ??!!

1990s brought further scandals: HARD v. SOFT MONEY

Hard $: under FEC rulesSoft $: no rules because it isn’t going to candidates it is going to “party building” helping to make the system better! lol

The Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 (McCain-Feingold)

Banned soft $ to national parties and limited the use of campaign ads by outside interest groups. Now $2000/person per candidate

$95,000 limit on donations to all candidates over 2 year span $10,000 /year limit to state and local party organizations (soft $)

527s and the election of 2004 The 2002 reforms led to the phenomenon of the 527. Ideological and partisan - this type of interest groups raised millionsof dollars as tax exempt organizations (527 was the clause in tax code)and gave support to DEM and GOP candidates: America Coming Together

The Media Fund“not partisan, just stating opinion” Swift Boat Veterans

POWS for Truth and Progress = independent expenditure MoveOn.org

Then came Citizen United case and the “bank busted” 2012 = over $ 2 BILLION

Since 2010: DARK MONEY - releasing donors names after the election. Possible because disclosure to FEC can be on a quarterly or monthly basis, timed to come after election.

SUPER PAC isAn “Independent Expenditure”• free of most FEC rules - report who and what• only caveat is that not allowed to coordinate directly with the campaign or party

Just a couple of things to remember:

1. First Amendment allows for free speech and the right to petition government. But how much expression of opinion and seeking influence is too much? That’s the difficult question.

2. By the 1960s the GOP was the weak sister of political parties, it was the minority party. So it made a conscious effort to change the status quo. a. get better organized = professional management = use of new technology- computer $ raising DIRECT MAIL

b. develop “win-able” slate of candidates on all levels of government c. Stay on message – be consistent . Stay in tune with public opinion.

Eventually the Democrats figured this out too (sort of, and Bill Clinton’s baby:Dem. Leadership Conference)

Heck , the OBAMER certainly has by 2012

3. But are the current state of affairs better for our representative democracy?