1.  starter activity What are the qualities necessary to become a US President? Barack Obama, Democratic Convention, Denver Colorado, Acceptance Speech, August 2008

2. Presidential qualities Natural-born American Natural-born American 35+ 35+ Political experience Political experience Major party endorsement Major party endorsement Personal characteristics Personal characteristics Fundraising ability Fundraising ability Organisational skills Organisational skills Oratorical skills Oratorical skills Telegenic Telegenic Sound & relevant policies Sound & relevant policies

3. How are presidents elected? To explain the difference between a caucus & a primary To define and identify reasons for the importance of invisible primaries To assess the extent to which the electoral system is in need of reform  Aims

4. Caucus Meetings held in states to indicate a preferred candidate Meetings held in states to indicate a preferred candidate Common in less densely populated states, e.g. Nevada Common in less densely populated states, e.g. Nevada Iowa caucus most important, giving momentum to winning candidate, e.g. Obama 2008 Iowa caucus most important, giving momentum to winning candidate, e.g. Obama 2008 Attended by party activists Attended by party activists Turn out is low Turn out is low

5.  Your task List the reasons why caucuses are considered to be less democratic List the reasons why caucuses are considered to be less democratic ‘smoke-filled room’ in Nevada during the Democratic caucus

6. Primary Intra-party state elections Intra-party state elections Held in majority of states Held in majority of states Rules decided by states and political parties Rules decided by states and political parties Select delegates to attend national nominating convention, who will vote for the winning candidate Select delegates to attend national nominating convention, who will vote for the winning candidate Winner decided by popular vote with ‘winner- takes-all’ or by PR Winner decided by popular vote with ‘winner- takes-all’ or by PR

7.  Your task What makes primaries more democratic? What makes primaries more democratic? Obama at the New Hampshire primary, 2008

8.  Your task Read p.42-6 and define what is meant by an invisible primary and list the reasons why these are important. Read p.42-6 and define what is meant by an invisible primary and list the reasons why these are important.

9. Invisible primaries Unofficial electioneering before 1 st official primary when candidates establish their name, funding and momentum Unofficial electioneering before 1 st official primary when candidates establish their name, funding and momentum Provide media coverage Provide media coverage Opportunity to test opinion, e.g. opinion polls Opportunity to test opinion, e.g. opinion polls Head-to-head debates to test ideas & popularity with electorate Head-to-head debates to test ideas & popularity with electorate Fund-raising opportunities, e.g. Ames Straw Poll & Jefferson-Jackson Day Fund-raising opportunities, e.g. Ames Straw Poll & Jefferson-Jackson Day Helps identify ‘frontrunners’ Helps identify ‘frontrunners’

10.  Your task Read about primaries and caucuses in Bennett, p.46-51 and complete the evidence chart from your teacher. Read about primaries and caucuses in Bennett, p.46-51 and complete the evidence chart from your teacher.

11.  Your task Read p.52, and explain what was the ‘McGovern-Fraser Commission’. Create a scales chart summarising the achievements and failures of the new nominations process. Read p.57-8 and list ways in which they can be further improved. Read p.52, and explain what was the ‘McGovern-Fraser Commission’. Create a scales chart summarising the achievements and failures of the new nominations process. Read p.57-8 and list ways in which they can be further improved. Hubert Humphrey, whose Democratic presidential nomination without entering any primaries provoked controversy

12. McGovern-Frasier Commission Provoked by selection of Hubert Humphrey as Democratic Party presidential nominee, without entering any primaries Provoked by selection of Hubert Humphrey as Democratic Party presidential nominee, without entering any primaries Selection procedure criticised as undemocratic, elitist & non-participatory Selection procedure criticised as undemocratic, elitist & non-participatory

13.  Extension task Case study, Hillary Clinton. List the reasons why Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Nomination. Give reasons why Obama won. Case study, Hillary Clinton. List the reasons why Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Nomination. Give reasons why Obama won.

14. Reasons why Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic nomination ‘Air of inevitability’ ‘Air of inevitability’ Poor organisation Poor organisation Losing the money primary Losing the money primary Policy – ‘change’ v. ‘experience’ Policy – ‘change’ v. ‘experience’ Loss of momentum – Iowa defeat Loss of momentum – Iowa defeat No plan past ‘Super Tuesday’ No plan past ‘Super Tuesday’ Bill Clinton factor Bill Clinton factor Primary calendar and voting rules Primary calendar and voting rules Hilary Clinton Hilary Clinton

15. Why Obama won Organisation, e.g. effective use of pollsters Organisation, e.g. effective use of pollsters Fundraising, e.g. internet donations Fundraising, e.g. internet donations Policy, e.g. ‘Change we can believe in’ Policy, e.g. ‘Change we can believe in’ Long-term strategic planning, e.g. past ‘Super Tuesday’ Long-term strategic planning, e.g. past ‘Super Tuesday’ Momentum Momentum Obama factor Obama factor

16. Plenary Plenary How many constitutional and extra-constitutional requirements can you list for a presidential candidate How many constitutional and extra-constitutional requirements can you list for a presidential candidate Why are ‘invisible primaries’ important in the selection process? Why are ‘invisible primaries’ important in the selection process? How are primaries and caucuses different? How are primaries and caucuses different? What are the disadvantages / advantages of primaries to select a presidential candidate? What are the disadvantages / advantages of primaries to select a presidential candidate? Why did Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination process? Why did Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination process?