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American Government Unit 4

American Government Unit 4. Chapter 7: The Electoral Process. Bellringer. Why do you think it is necessary to have a process for naming candidates for office? How does the fact that we have a two-party system increase the importance of a nomination?. I. The Nominating Process.

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American Government Unit 4

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  1. American Government Unit 4 Chapter 7: The Electoral Process

  2. Bellringer • Why do you think it is necessary to have a process for naming candidates for office? • How does the fact that we have a two-party system increase the importance of a nomination?

  3. I. The Nominating Process

  4. Nominating Candidates • Only 2 people run in the general election. How do they get there? • Nomination – the naming of those who will seek office • General Election – first Tuesday in November on even years (Constitution)

  5. 5 Methods of Nomination • Primary – (semifinals) – elections, winner goes on to the general election – many different ways • Caucus – group of like-minded people who meet to select a candidate – party only • Convention – local party picks states delegates – then pick national – then pick candidate • Self-Announcement – person announcesthey are running – third party/independent • Petition – a required number of signatures required – then on the ballot • Higher the office – more signatures

  6. Direct Primary • Direct Primary – an intraparty election – held within the party to pick that party’s candidates for the general election • Republicans v. Republicans • Democrats v. Democrats

  7. Direct Primary Closed Primary – Must be a registered party member to run Open Primary – any voter can vote – some secret – some open by party Blanket Party – ballot listed every candidate Run off primary Nonpartisan – local elections (consolidated election)

  8. Evaluations of the Primary • Primary helped get away from Boss dominated and party organization • Put power in hands of everyday people.

  9. Review

  10. II. Elections

  11. The Administration of Elections • Federal law says Congress picks when President and Congress run – it is the first Tuesday in Nov on even years • States usually have it the same day – but don’t have to • Absentee voting – a process by which people could vote without going to their polling places on election day. • Coattail effect – when a strong candidate running for a high office attracts voters and helps lower candidate win also – 2008 but not 2010. (can hurt)

  12. Precincts and Polling Places • Precinct - a voting district (smallest unit) • Polling place – the place where voters in a precinct actually vote. • Election judges run the elections – picked by the central Democrat and Republican county central committee – then confirmed by the circuit court • Training courses – run elections and help handicap, illiterate and ect…

  13. Voting • Done by secret ballot • Organized sometimes in office group form or party column form • Now have electronic voting • Mail voting • Absentee voting • Online voting?

  14. III. Money and Elections • 2008 primary saw 2.5 billion dollars of campaign spending – wow! • House member needs 1 million dollars • Senate could be 20 million

  15. Sources of Funding • Small contributors – 10 dollars (page 203) • Wealthy • Candidates themselves • Nonparty groups – PAC’s (more later) • Temporary Organizations – 527’s - Why do people give – usually want something

  16. Regulate Finance of Elections • Federal Election Commission – they watch over elections – auditors – nonpartisan under the President – understaffed and underfunded • Watch and enforce Disclosure requirements, limits on contributions and PAC contributions, Limits on Expenditures, and Give public funding for presidential campaigns

  17. Some Election Finance Laws • Cannot contribute for someone else • No more than $100 cash • No foreign money • $2,300 to a primary and $2,300 to general • $5,000 to a PAC • $28,500 to party (RNC,DNC) • $108,200 per election cycle (2 years)

  18. PAC’s • Political Action Committee • Law says that corporations or labor unions can give money to campaigns – their PAC’s can. • Only raise funds from members • Two types – business and ideological • $5,000 per candidate per election – no limit of Candidates though • Can have own TV commercials

  19. Hard Money, Soft Money • Hard Money – money limited to campaigns • Soft Money – funds given to parties or to other political organizations in unlimited amounts for “party-building activities” • RNC and DNC filtered money into the campaigns • BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act) – limited soft money to campaigns – so independent groups started • 527’s – independent organizations (IRS number) that help support candidates • Karl Rove

  20. Review

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