1. 5-1: Presidential Nominations

2. Big Idea: Civic Participation in a Representative Democracy
Enduring Understanding:
The impact of federal policies on campaigning and electoral rules continues to be contested by both sides of the political spectrum.
Learning Objective:
Explain how the different processes work in a U.S. presidential election.

3. Party Nominations Presidential Primaries History
1800s—congressional caucus
Jackson—conventions
Gilded Age—political machines
Progressive Era—primaries
Today—primaries/ caucuses

4. Party Nominations Presidential Primaries Primaries
You vote for the nominee
Methods vary by state
Closed Primary
required to identify a party beforehand
Can vote in one primary only
Open Primary
Can select Republican or Democratic ticket
Can lead to sabotage

5. Party Nominations Presidential Primaries Caucuses Importance
Local meetings to select delegates to vote for candidates at the convention
Importance
Only 25% of citizens vote in primaries
Party activists
Older people
Wealthier people
Candidates veer away from moderate positions for primaries
Return to middle for the general election

6. Party Nominations National Conventions Counting Delegates
Party’s official candidate introduced
Pre-determined due to primary system
Platform established
Counting Delegates
Winner-take-all
Some states
More often Republicans
Proportional
More often Democrats
Superdelegates
Pledged/unpledged delegates
Not dependent on popular vote
Party leaders hold more control