Election System AP Government - Spring 2013

Motivation “Those who cast their vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.” –J–Joseph Stalin “Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.” –F–Franklin Adams (American Journalist & Humorist)

Party Caucus A closed meeting of party leaders to select party candidates or decide on policy. Became unpopular due to their undemocratic nature. Evolved into the nominating convention.

Election Cycles 1. Closed Primary 2. Open Primary 3. Blanket Primary

Closed Primary In a closed primary, only party members vote to choose that party candidates, and they vote only in the primary of their own party.

Open Primary An open primary is a direct primary in which voters can vote for a party’s candidates regardless of whether they belong to the party.

Blanket Primary A primary in which all candidates’ names are printed on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation. In a blanket primary, voters may choose candidates from more than one party.

Primary Season In a Presidential election year, the time between January until the National Convention.

Front Loading The practice of scheduling state party caucuses and state primary elections earlier and earlier in advance of the general election. By moving their primaries to early dates, states hope to lend decisive momentum to one or two presidential candidates and thus have disproportionate influence on each party’s nomination.

First Two Primaries as Predictors

Superdelegates Superdelegates: Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses. –Is it fair? 2008 Democratic party controversy: approximately 20% of the delegates were superdelegates.

National Convention The meeting held by each major party every four years to select presidential and vice- presidential candidates, to choose a national committee, to write a party platform, and to conduct party business.

General Elections Regularly scheduled statewide elections at which voters make the final selection for public office-holders. For national offices, it is held in even- numbered years.

Electoral College The group of electors who are selected by the voters in each state to officially elect the president and vice president. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of each state’s representatives in both houses of Congress.

Articles on the Electoral College Read both articles and answer the following questions: Do you think the system needs to be changed? Why or why not? What might be a better system of electing the President? Explain your answer.