1. General Election – used to fill an elective office
Two Types of Elections
General Election – used to fill an elective office
Primary Election – used to select a party’s candidate for an elective office

2. Presidential Primaries
Determine who the presidential candidate will be for each party
Each State holds an individual primary which candidates have to register to run in
1st primary is held in February of the election year in New Hampshire
Why is the New Hampshire and other early primaries so important?

3. Types of Primaries
Closed – Most common, voters must declare in advance that they are a registered member of a party
Open – voters decide when entering the booth which party’s primary they wish to participate (given a ballot for one party)
Blanket (free love)– voters can participate in both party’s primary elections
Which of these is the most democratic in nature?

4. Conventions
First party conventions held during Jackson’s presidency to replace old party caucuses
Held in late summer before the general election
Formally nominates candidate
each party determines their method
So if primaries decide who the candidate will be, why are conventions important?

5. Campaign and Election Reform

6. The Reform Act of 1974 Six-person Federal Election Commission formed
All contributions over $100 must be disclosed – no cash contributions over $100
No foreign contributions
Contributions limited
$1000 per candidate; $20,000 to national party committee; $5000 to Political Action Committee

7. The Reform Act of 1974
A corporation or other assoc. is allowed to establish a PAC
Must register six months in advance
Must have 50 contributors
Must give to at least 5 different candidates
PAC contributions are limited to $5000 per candidate and $15,000 to a national party

8. Other Reforms in the 1970’s
1976 Amendments – allowed corporations, unions, and special interests to set up PAC’s; limited one PAC per organization
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)– ruled that limiting the amount that a candidate could spend on their own campaign was unconstitutional

9. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Banned soft money to national parties
Limited soft money to $10,000 per candidate per year
Curbs on the use of campaign ads by outside interest groups

10. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
$1000 individual candidate contribution limit was raised to $2000
$25,000 limit on all candidate contributions was raised to $95,000 per 2 year cycle

11. New Campaign Finance Rules 2010 Citizens United