Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Chapter 7
2
Section 1 The Nominating Process
3
Nominating Process A Critical First Step Self-announcement
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
4
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
5
Nominating and Electing a Candidate
2 3 Chapter 7, Section 1
6
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
7
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.
8
Types of Direct Primaries
The Direct Primary Types of Direct Primaries Closed Primary Only declared party members can vote. Open Primary Any qualified voter can take part. Blanket Primary Qualified voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party Runoff Primary If a required majority is not met, the two people with the most votes run again Nonpartisan Primary Candidates are not identified by party labels 2 3 Chapter 7, Section 1
9
Primaries Across the United States
2 3 Chapter 7, Section 1
10
Section 2 Elections
11
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
12
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
13
Precincts and Polling Places
Precinct: voting district Polling place: located somewhere in the precinct
14
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
15
Voting Machines and Innovation
Electronic vote counting Vote-by-Mail elections Online voting
16
Section 3 Money and Elections
17
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
18
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
19
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
20
Regulating Campaign Finance
FECA and FECA amendments allow congress to monitor national election funding
21
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
22
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
23
Hard Money, Soft Money Hard Money Soft 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
Similar presentations
