Agenda Video Discussion Electoral College Worksheet Homework Current Event

Electoral Process

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6I&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Nominating Process Nominating process is the process of candidate selection Ways to nominate Self announcement Caucus Convention Direct primary Petition

1. Self Announcement Any person interested in running for office announces that fact Still found at the small town and rural levels Sometimes used by people who failed to win a regular party nomination Oldest form in American politics People who have failed Ross Perot: an American businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988 John Anderson:former United States Congressman and Presidential candidate from Illinois. He was a U.S. Representative from the 16th Congressional District of Illinois and an Independent candidate in the 1980 presidential election. He was previously a member of the Republican Party. He has been a political reform leader, including serving 12 years as chair of the board of FairVote.

2. Caucus Group of Party leaders who meet to select candidates they will support in an upcoming election A private meeting with a select few invited to attend Criticized for it’s closed, unrepresentative nature

3. Convention Official meeting of a political party to select candidates who will represent the party in upcoming elections Local party organizations sent representatives to county conventions; county convention selected delegates to go to national convention Party bosses dominated and manipulated the process Seemed more open and inclusive Delegates are selected to go

4. Direct Primary Election in which party members vote on which candidates will represent the party in the general election Closed primaries allow only party members to vote Open primaries allow all qualified voters to participate but you only vote in one party’s primary If you are a member of the decomate party then you can vote in a democrat primary

4b Direct Primary In most states candidates need only receive a plurality (not a majority) of votes to win 1. Plurality= candidate who receives the most votes 2. Majority= candidates who receives 51% of the votes In States that require majority wins, runoff primaries are held if no candidate receives a majority vote Runoff primaries are 2nd primaries held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary election

4c Direct Primary Criticisms Although more people are allowed to participate, few voters actually do Images becomes very important Primary season last too long and people get bored

5. Petition Candidates are nominated by filling a petition with a certain required number of qualified voters Required of independent or minor party candidates Usually used in local elections for school post and municipal offices

Elections

Federal Control Congress fixes the times, places and manner of holding Congressional and presidential Elections Congress requires secret ballots Passed laws protecting voting rights, regulating financing of campaigns, etc.

State Control All other matters are decided by the States Locations of polling places Hours of operations Handing absentee Ballots Those who are unable to get to a polling location

Voting Procedures

Voting procedures today A ballot is the device by which a voter officially registers a choice in an election Office-group ballot All candidates are grouped together by office Party-group ballot Each party’s candidates are listed in a column under the party’s name Voting machines and innovations

Money and Elections

Campaign Spending Campaigns are expensive Funding Private contributions Public funding from US government Campaign spending House-$935,000 Senate $4.3 per senate seat President $290 millions per presidential candidate Private funding Wealthy individuals and families Non party groups Temporary groups organized for the purpose of fundraising for a campaign Fundraiser like $ per plate dinners, picnic and receptions Direct mail request, telethons and internest solicitation

Regulation of Campaign Finances Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers all federal laws dealing with campaign finances Disclosure requirements Require public disclosure on how much candidates spend Requirement on donations Records must be kept of contridutions Any contridution of $200 or more must be identified by source and date Any spending of $200 or more must also be identified All contridutions of $ 5,000 or more must be reported directly to the FEC within 48 hours

Campaign Contributions Contributions come from Individuals Corporations, national banks and labor unions cannot make direct contributions Political action committees Individuals:

Public funding of presidential campaigns Presidential candidates may choose to accept federal funding for their campaigns, but if they accept, they are limited to how much they may spend 2000-$67.6 million from the federal government