2. The American Electoral Process - There are several parties in America, but we are essentially a ____ party system ! Green Party Libertarian Party Socialist Party Communist Party Right To Life Party Reform Party DEM. REP.

3. Party/Political Organization

5. Three parts to the electoral process, nominations, campaigns, and elections. I.__________ – How do parties choose their candidates? - Three ways to nominate candidates. 1. Caucus – a closed ________ of party leaders * * 14 states still use a caucus in the primaries, but since 1824 the national caucus is no more.** 2. _____________ – A meeting of delegates to nominate a candidate. **Used at the national level to nominate the Pres. and V.P. candidates delegates selected through primaries and/or caucus..

6. 3.Direct primary – voters choose the nominees for the parties. **nominees may get into the primary through __________, or through self-announcement.** a. Two types of primaries at local and state level. - Closed – Must ________ party - Open – Do not have to declare party ***What about Illinois?

7. Nominating the President -The nominating of a president is officially a six month Ordeal. 1. Formally begins in ___________ of election year with the Iowa caucus. 2. Candidate must enter the New Hampshire primary in March(first primary of the year). 3. States all over the country hold primaries through July (candidates may choose which primaries to join). 4. National party ___________ are held in July and August to officially nominate candidate. - The election is then held on the second Tuesday following the first Monday of November.

8. The Campaign Trail Campaign strategy – 5 things must always be addressed with campaign strategy. 1. Candidate image 2. Campaign theme 3. Incumbency(if possible) 4. Party I.D. **5. The undecided vote Campaign finance – Campaign spending spiraled out of control in the recent past. $1.7billion(1990), $2.3 billion (1992), $2 billion(1996), new restrictions have changed this about $1.4 billion in 2008. Controlling campaign finance – Election Campaign Act(1971), revised in 1976. Fed. Election Commission, McCain-Feingold Reforms. 1. Public disclosure of expenses 2. Limits contributions 3. Limits expenses 4. Provides public financing of campaigns