Chapter 7 -The Electoral Process The nominating process is the process of candidate selection. Nomination is made in a number of different ways in American politics. The nominating process also has a very real impact on the exercise of the right to vote. In the typical election in the United States, voters can make one of only 2 choices for each office. Those who make nominations place real, very practical limits on the choices that voters can make in an election.

Dictatorial regimes underscore the importance of the nominating process. Many hold general elections, however, the ballots usually list only one candidate for each office and those candidates regularly win with majorities approaching 100 percent.

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The ways in which nominations are made in this country: 1. self-announcement-the candidate announces their candidacy for office. 2. caucus-like minded persons who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election.

The caucus is still used in local elections in some places. 3. convention-party members meet to nominate their party’s candidate for office. This was replaced by the direct primary. 4. direct primary-an election held within the party to pick the party’s candidate. In most states, State law requires that the major parties use the primary to choose their candidates for the US Senate and House. 5. nomination by petition-candidates for office are nominated by petitions signed by a certain number of qualified voters in the election district.

2 Forms of Primary: Closed primary-a party nominating election in which only declared party members can vote. The primary is closed to all others. 26 states use this type of primary. Open primary-a party nominating election in which any qualified voter can take part. It is open to all qualified voters. 24 states still use this form of primary. Tennessee has an open primary by public declaration. Arguments for the closed primary: 1. it prevents one party from raiding the other’s primary, in hopes of selecting a weak candidate 2. it helps make candidates more responsive to the party 2 Forms of Primary: Closed primary-a party nominating election in which only declared party members can vote. The primary is closed to all others. 26 states use this type of primary. Open primary-a party nominating election in which any qualified voter can take part. It is open to all qualified voters. 24 states still use this form of primary. Tennessee has an open primary by public declaration. Arguments for the closed primary: 1. it prevents one party from raiding the other’s primary, in hopes of selecting a weak candidate 2. it helps make candidates more responsive to the party

3. voters must be more thoughtful of the candidates, because they only vote for one party In most states, candidates need to win only a plurality of the votes cast in the primary to win their candidates nomination. In 10 states, a majority is needed to carry a primary. If no one wins by a majority, a runoff primary takes place. Section 2-Elections Most election laws in the United States are State election laws, not Federal. The Constitution gives Congress the power to fix the times, places and manner of holding elections of members of Congress. Congress also has the power to set the time for choosing presidential electors, to set the gate for casting electoral votes and to regulate other aspects of the presidential election process.

Most states hold elections to fill State offices on the same date Congress has set for national elections-in November of every even numbered year. Some states set the election for governor during odd numbered years. The Coattail Effect occurs when strong candidates from a political party attract voters to vote for other candidates of the same political party. Sometimes the coattail effect happens in reverse. A precinct is a voting district. A polling place is where the voters who live in a precinct actually vote.

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A precinct election board supervises the polling place and the voting process in each precinct. Typically, the County Clerk or the County Election Board draws precinct lines, and picks the members of the precinct board. The precinct board opens and closes the polling place at the times specified by state law, and is in charge of the election. Most of the time, they count the votes, and turn them in to the County Clerk or the County Election Board. A precinct election board supervises the polling place and the voting process in each precinct. Typically, the County Clerk or the County Election Board draws precinct lines, and picks the members of the precinct board. The precinct board opens and closes the polling place at the times specified by state law, and is in charge of the election. Most of the time, they count the votes, and turn them in to the County Clerk or the County Election Board.

The Ballot is the device by which a voter registers a choice in an election. The Australian Ballot is used in most states today. It has 4 features: 1.it is printed a the expense of the public 2. it lists the names of the candidates 3. it is issued to voters at the polls, one to each qualified voter 4. it is voted on in secret Section 3-Money and the Election Process Running for public office takes a lot of money, and there are limits on who and how much can be donated. Ross Perot’s run for the Presidency in 1992, cost in excess of $70 million.

Most campaign money comes from private sources. Today, the main sources are: 1. small individual contributors 2. wealthier families and individuals 3. the candidates 4. special interest groups-Political Action Committees(PACS) 5. temporary party organizations 6. party fund- raising events. Regulating Campaign Finance-1.) All federal law dealing with campaign finance is administered by the Federal Election Commission. 2.) It was established by Congress in ) Its 6 members are appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.

Limits on Contributions-The total of any person’s contributions to federal candidates and committees must be limited to no more than $30,400 in any one year. This does not apply to campaigns of candidates for state and local elections. Public Funding of Presidential Campaigns- Congress first began to provide for the public funding of presidential campaigns in the Revenue Act of The 1971 law set up the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. It also provided that each person who files a federal income tax return can give one dollar of his or her tax payment to the fund. This amount is now three dollars.

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$2,400 per election to a Federal candidate or the candidate's campaign committee. Primaries, runoffs and general elections are separate elections. $2,400 per election to a Federal candidate or the candidate's campaign committee. Primaries, runoffs and general elections are separate elections. $5,000 per calendar year to a PAC. This limit applies to a PAC (political action committee) that supports Federal candidates. $5,000 per calendar year to a PAC. This limit applies to a PAC (political action committee) that supports Federal candidates. $10,000 per calendar year to a State or local party committee. $10,000 per calendar year to a State or local party committee. $30,400 per calendar year to a national party committee. This limit applies separately to a party's national committee. $30,400 per calendar year to a national party committee. This limit applies separately to a party's national committee. $100 in currency (cash) to any political committee. (Anonymous cash contributions may not exceed $50.) Contributions exceeding $100 must be made by check, money order or other written instrument. $100 in currency (cash) to any political committee. (Anonymous cash contributions may not exceed $50.) Contributions exceeding $100 must be made by check, money order or other written instrument.

The monies in the fund can be used to pay for: 1. pre-convention campaigns 2. national conventions 3. presidential election campaigns The FEC administers the public subsidy process. A minor party candidate can also qualify for public funding, they must either: 1. have won at least 5 percent of the popular vote in the last presidential election OR 2. win at least that much of the vote in the election

No minor party candidate has come even close to winning 5 percent of the popular vote. Ross Perot did win 19% of the vote in 1992, but he did not seek federal subsidy money. Chapter 8-Mass Media and Public Opinion Section 3 Medium is a means of communication; it transmits some form of information. Media is the plural of medium. There are 4 major mass media in the United States-ranked in order of impact-television, newspapers, radio and magazines. Computers are increasing in their importance to the mass media.

The mass media are not a part of the government and do not exist primarily to influence government, although they may have a significant impact on government. The media provide people with information. People acquire most of the information they know about government and politics from the various forms of media. There is at least one television in 98% of the homes in the United States. (Compared to Iraq-5 televisions for every 100 people.)

Television replaced the newspapers as the principal source of political information for a majority of the American people in the early 1960s. Television is now the principal source of information for an estimated 80% of the population. The first newspapers carried mostly political news. Newspapers rank second only to television as the people’s primary source of information about government and politics.

The media’s influence is most visible and carries the most weight in two areas: 1. public agenda 2. electoral politics. The media have the power to focus the public’s attention on particular issues-they do so by emphasizing some things and ignoring or downplaying others. For example, they put certain news on the front page, or lead off the telecast with a certain story. The media does not tell people what to think; but they do tell people what to think about...

The media, in particular television, have contributed to a decline in the place of parties in American politics. Television allows candidates to appeal directly to the people, without the help of a party organization. How voters see a candidate--the impressions they have of that candidate’s personality, character, abilities, and so on--is one of the major factors that influence voting behavior. Candidates and professional campaign managers are quite aware of this. They know that the kind of “image” a candidate projects in all of the media can have a telling effect on the outcome of an election.

Studies of voting behavior show that in the typical election, only about 10 percent of those who can vote and only about 15 percent of those who do vote are well informed on the candidates and issues under consideration. The power of mass media is not all- encompassing. For one thing, people actually absorb little of what the mass media communicate. Many people use the mass media as a source of entertainment rather than information.