What’s a caucus? ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... State-based meetings of party activists, often found in less densely populated states. The caucus in Iowa is the first and traditionally regarded as the most important, as it gives momentum to the winning candidate

Give 2 advantages for holding primaries ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Provide more democratic choice than smoke-filled rooms and party-boss controls They show who can win and where – producing candidates with national appeal who can win in different regions of the country Weed out weaker candidates

Give 3 reasons against the use of primaries ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Go on for too long Constant media focus tends to trivialise the process Huge cost of campaigning Can give momentum to outsider candidates with little experience Reduce party’s role in selecting candidates Divisive contests They tend to pull candidates to the left or right of their usual policy positions

What is a primary? ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Intra-state party elections to select the party’s nominee for the presidential election and are now held by most states. They are used to select delegates who will attend the national nominating convention.

What are the informal functions of NNCs? ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Ratifies the party’s official nominee Only time the party meets nationally The party platform is set To provide ‘bounce’ To present the running mate (although chosen beforehand)

Name 3 ways media can influence campaigns ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Personalise campaigns focusing on image and appearance rather than policy 24/7 coverage means campaigns are run by media advisers more than politicians Increasing emphasis on photo- opportunities & soundbites Cable networks used to send targeted messages in order to influence groups of voters, e.g. Christian Broadcasting Network

Give 3 reasons why money is so important in US campaigns? ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... High cost of TV advertising Size of country Diversity of voters requires targeted marketing Need to hire specialist staff to run campaigns Permanent nature of campaigning

Give 3 sources of funding for election campaigns ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Own pockets Political action committees National action committees 527 groups raising money to spend on issue advocacy Fund-raising through the internet

Give 3 problems with electoral colleges ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Candidates winning the national popular vote may lose the Electoral College vote Winner-takes-all system means all Electoral College votes go to winner in a state Small and large states are over- represented 3 rd party candidates can only win Electoral College votes with a concentrated vote in a state or states Possibility of faithless or ‘rogue’ electors

What is an initiative? ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... A device in some states which allows citizens to initiate a state law or change in the law provided a threshold of voter signatures is provided (5-15%)

Give 2 arguments against the use of direct democracy ANSWER

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Elected representatives are in a better position to make decisions after informed debates Initiative voters tend to vote for short-term interests Initiatives can threaten minority interests Can be unrepresentative Open to manipulation by wealthy or powerful interests groups

What is a recall election? ANSWER New child’s slide recalled

Answer BACK TO THE BOARD... Registered voters can recall elected state or local officials from office once a petition and evidence of corruption or incompetence have been presented.