1. Elections

2. The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life The Big Idea

3. elections are largely governed by State law aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law voting takes place in voting districts called precincts within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places a ballot is used to register a person’s votes most states use a form of the Australian ballot--either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot

5. National Elections are held: November of every even number year The Tuesday-after-the-first-Monday This insures election day is never on a Sunday or on the first day of the month Elections A Democratic Government cannot succeed unless we have free, honest and accurate elections

6. Voting by those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day 3 reasons you are allowed to vote absentee too ill or disabled expect to be away from home for whatever reasons military service Absentee voting

7. Voting Districts Smallest geographic units for the conduct of elections they deal with the polling places where people go to vote poll watchers: They can challenge anyone they don’t believe is a qualified voter monitor the process handout sample ballots Precinct

8. Started in Australia and toay all states in the US use it 4 features printed at public expense lists the names of all candidates in an election given out only at the polls one to each qualified voter Marked in Secret Australian Ballot

10. SO MUCH MONEY is spent on elections Where does that money come from??? 2 major forms Public and Private Spending in 2012 Money and election

11. Small contributors: those that give small amounts this has been a major development over the years Wealthy Individuals: Large donations Candidates: give their own money Perot the most: 65 million Nonparty Groups: are given donations from their supporters PAC: Political Action Committees Special interest groups Temporary organizations: groups formed for the campaigns Fund raisers Private Contributions

12. These groups do not directly give the candidates money HOWEVER: they are able to spend unlimited amounts of money to support the candidate in the form of adds, publications, and even movies Citizen’s United Case Prior to this ruling there were limits on how much money corporations could give to candidates Corporate free speech is the same as individual free speech. Super PAC

14. Federal Election Committee Deals with all federal laws dealing with campaign finance Laws cover 4 broad areas timely disclosure of campaign finance data places limits on campaign contributions places limits on campaign expenditures provides public funding everyone has to disclose where their money is going and where they are getting it keeps everyone honest FEC

15. Today no person can give more than 2000 to federal primary election or general election 5000 to PAC 25,000 to National Pary committee Hard money money raised and spent to elect candidates for Congress and WHite House Limited Soft Money money given to party organization for stuff like voter registartion no limits until 2002 Limits on Contributions