1. © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Magruder’s American Government C H A P T E R 7 The Electoral Process

16. The Florida Problem What problem was it designed to fix?

17. Section 2s Help America Vote Act of 2002 What does it requires states to do? –Replace all lever-operated and punch-card voting devices by 2006 –Upgrade the administration of elections –Centralize and computerize voter registration –Allow provisional voting

18. Section 2s Absentee and Early Voting Most states make provision for absentee voting by mail for those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day. Absentee voting usually covers three groups of potential voters. –Those to ill or disable to make it their polling places –those who expect to be away from hone on election day –Those in the armed forces. Some states allow early voting for any reason.

19. Section 2s The Coattail Effect What is it?. –Most apparent in presidential elections, but can be seen in state elections, as well. –Reagan had a big one in 1980. Reverse can be true, too. McGovern in 1972, AND Goldwater in 1964, for example. –No clear coat-tail effect in recent presidential elections.

22. Section 3—Money and the Election Process The great paradox of modern elections: Money is a corrupting influence but candidates can’t do without it.

26. Limits on Expenditures Buckley v. Valeo-- limits on spending abridge free speech. Thus cannot limit: –how much candidates spend –how much of their own money candidates spend –how much third parties spend to promote a candidate. However, Presidential contenders who accept federal subsidies ARE subject to limits on their campaign spending. That is part of the deal.

27. Regulating Campaign Finance Federal Election Campaign Act Federal Election Commission Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

29. Public Funding of Presidential Campaigns Fed. Election Campaign Act set up the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Money is used every four years to finance 1) the preconvention campaigns, 2) the national conventions and 3) the presidential election campaigns. Money is administered by the FEC

30. Disclosure Requirements No gifts in the name of another. Cash gifts limited to $100. No gifts from foreign sources. All advertising must bear the name of the candidate. All contributions must be made through a single committee. Only the committee can spend the money. All contributions above $200 must be identified by source and accounted for. All spending over $200 must be accounted for. All contributes above $5000 must be reported to FEC within 48 hours. Also contributions over $1000 in the last 20 days of campaign. Any independent committee spending more than $250 on behalf of a candidate must also file with FEC

31. Limits on Contributions Individuals limited to $2000 to any one candidate in the primary and the same in the general election. Limited to $5000 a year to single PAC and $25,000 to a national party. Total contribution limit to candidates and PACs is 95,000, during any election cycle (the two years from one general election to the next one).

32. The Role of PACs Neither corporations nor labor unions can contribute to any candidate running for a federal office. PACs are the political arms of special-interest groups—business, labor, professional, cause, and other organizations that try to influence government policies. Clout of PACs comes primarily from their ability to raise campaign money and their willingness to give it out. Are more than 4400 PACs today—

33. The Role of PACs PACs get money from contributors and members of the sponsoring organization. Are usually focused on narrow issues. Distribute money to candidates sympathetic to their views OR have a good chance of winning. Spent more than $600 Mil. in 2004. PACs are limited to $5000 to any single federal candidate in an election, but they can contribute to as many candidates as they want. $15000 limit to parties.

36. Electoral College http://dep.disney.go.com/itt- electoralcollege.htmlhttp://dep.disney.go.com/itt- electoralcollege.html How does the electoral college system work? What are the pro’s and con’s of the electoral college system? Write an essay based on your opinion of the electoral college system.