Elections and Campaigns

Elections and Campaigns Chapter 8

Elections and Campaigns • Elections are the foundation for modern democracy • 500,000 public offices on all levels of government in U.S. • Campaigns (candidates efforts to convince voters to support them)have become longer and more expensive recently  Regulations needed on campaign finance? • Functions of Elections • Major method of political participation (voting) • Peaceful, consistent opportunity to hold officials accountable • Prevents violent revolution or overthrow of government • People accept election as a fair, legitimate method of selecting leaders • Original Constitution and Elections • Election of House every 2 years • Creates and defines Electoral College • Sets the date for national elections • Most electoral guidelines are set by states

Weakening of Political Parties in Elections • 19th century U.S. political parties - STRONG -caucuses (members of Congress pick presidential candidate)  (party bosses in “smoke-filled rooms” hand-picked candidates) -citizens voted straight tickets – showed party loyalty • Other democratic countries very similar -political party bosses select candidates and place names on ballots -elections = fights b/w parties -Parliament (legislature) majority party chooses Prime Minister (executive) • TODAY: U.S. candidates: individual effort – you announce intent, raise money, personally appealing to voters through campaigns • Weakening role of political parties in candidate elections except for a label for voters

Winner Take All System • Majority (over 50%) is not needed, just a plurality – candidate with the most votes wins • Single Member districts for most Congressional elections • The state is divided into several separate districts with one representative elected from each district • Ensures a 2 party system in the U.S. • Each party extends their “umbrella” and builds a large coalition to get the most votes • Contrasts to proportional representationsystem in which legislative seats are given to parties in proportion to the # of votes they receive in election • Encourages a multi-party system

Primaries & General Elections • Primaries resulted from Progressive Movement reforms -more citizen control over political system (early 1900s) -used to select a party’s candidates for elective office (ex. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama for Dems trying to be the Democratic nominee for president) • 1. Closed primary -voters declare party BEFORE election day then vote for that party’s candidates…most states (deterrent for Independent voters; must be Repub or Democrat) • 2. Open primary -voter decides which primary to choose AFTER entering booth…few states use this method • 3. Blanket (free-love)primary -voter marks ballot with all candidates/parties listed…choose R for one office, Dem for another • LA, WA, AK only states to use blanket • Caucus (*Iowa)-party leaders and loyal party members choose candidates • In primary and caucus, individual party members have a say in who the party selects to run for office • After primaries comes the general elections (fill an elective office) and campaigns…voters decide • More citizens vote in general elections (50%) than primary (25%)

Primary vs. General Elections (Cont) • Activists in primary elections and at nominating convention are much more ideological than average (rank and file) voters need these supporters for donations, volunteer work,& votes • To get activist support for nomination, candidates move to ideological extremes; to win general election, move back to ideological center

Congressional vs. Presidential Elections • Same process: announce office, people select their part candidate in primary elections, party candidates campaign against each other, general election victory • Differences: • Regional (state – Senators & district- HofR) vs. national elections • Congressional vote every 2 years; Reps all open; Senate 1/3 (every six years) • *Lower voter turnout in congressional elections (esp. off years) • Midterm, non-presidential elections -35% turnout • congressional voters more ideological (political activists) • Congress is less competitive, incumbency tradition is strong (Incumbents reelected 90% of time in House) • Incumbent – official currently in office running for the same position

Congressional vs. Presidential Elections (Cont’d) • Cong. connected to citizens (visit often, take credit for local incentives, communicate with constituents with gov.$) - Franking privilege • Pres. Must rely on media • Cong. can play the “blame game”…but the president has to take responsibility  run as individuals and denounce Congress as “mess in Washington” • Disadvantage – Poor performance of president in power negatively affects votes of Congressional candidates of same party • President’s popularity - coattail effect – decreased • Previously, if President’s popular, more congressional members of same party get voted in and vice versa

Road to the Presidency • 2 year process, millions of dollars • Step 1 - Deciding to announce -ensure political & financial support, usually Congressman or governor, press conference announcement • Step 2 - Presidential primaries -traditionally Feb. in *New Hampshire 1st, other states hold primaries through June -voters/delegates pledge support -similar to electoral college, convention delegates instead of electors, many states have proportional representation -frontloading – early primaries are more important than later ones; early wins in primaries mean more support (more media attention, more donors) • Step 3 – The National Party Convention -Jackson & Dems had 1st nat’l convention; “grass roots” -Today primaries pick candidates, nat’l conv formally nominates -Nat’l conv: platform, unity, speeches, VP pick…pep rally for T.V.

Road to the Presidency • Step 4 - Campaigning for the General Election -2 candidates face off -most $ spent here; election experts -tone changes to appeal to middle of road voters -free T.V. time for debates (since 1960) Issue: Candidates direct their campaigns at those who vote in large numbers…minorities? Young people?

Campaigning • Increased use of technology • Television – short, paid advertisement “spots” packed with soundbites, • Campaign debates – • 1996-major networks agreed to make some free TV time to major party candidates, denying 3rd parties • Computer –

Important aspects of running a campaign • Becoming well-known (getting mentioned) • Raising $ and building an organization of personal followers (limitations) • Organization – • Strategy • Incumbent defends record, challenger attacks the incumbent • Two challengers = own programs, but White House party blamed • Tone – • Theme –

Congressional Election Issues • Unlimited terms of Cong.  incumbents are constantly running and winning • Each state has 2 Senators ( year terms), Representatives based on pop. ( year terms), maximum members (Sup.Court), reapportionment of # of reps every 10 years based on census population (state legislatures draw district lines) • Two problems with single-member district boundaries: • Malapportionment – • 1964 case made this illegal • Gerrymandering –

Congressional Elections • Staying in Office • Congressional incumbents have advantage of free ( ) mail, frequent trips home, radio and television broadcasts, “clean things up in Congress” • Perform services to directly help constituents • Keeps incumbents in power

Sources of Campaign Money • Presidential: • Private donors, interest groups and federal government • Primaries: fed.gov. ____________________ $ raised from ind. Donors who contribute no more than $ (must first raise $____________ in each of twenty states from small donors) • General elections: government pays all costs of each major party candidate, portion of minor parties, up to a limit ($ million in 1996, $ million for Perot) • Fundraisers Congressional: all from private donors and PACS (interest groups)

Campaign and Election Reform • Criticisms and increased mistrust due to excessive spending  reforms after Watergate scandal • Reform Act of 1974 – -6 person Federal Election Commission - -over $100 must be disclosed -No foreign contributions -Individual contributions limited to $__________ per cand./per election, $_______________ nat’l party, $______________ to PAC -Corp. est. PAC, must have 50 mbrs, give to at least 5 candidates -PAC $5,000 per candidate, $15,000 to nat’l party  but usually much less, limited control over candidates -Federal matching funds given to major primary candidates, govt pays for general election (tax money) for major party candidates and portion for minor cand. (if they receive 5% of vote) 1976 Amendments –

Ways around the system • Soft money- _______________ funds by individuals, PACS or other groups given to political parties for “party building” activities used to indirectly help candidates (get out the vote drives, voter registration) but cannot back candidates by name • Independent Expenditures – PAC or interest group may spend unlimited amount on advertising for or against a candidate, as long as it is not “directed” by the candidate • Unlimited candidate spending (__________ v._______)

Campaign and Election Reform -Buckley v. Valeo – Supreme Court ruled that candidates can spend unlimited money on his/her own campaign…1stAmdnt right to advocate his/her own election (1976) • Highest spending of elections -1996 Clinton, much criticism • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Election 2000: Local Control • Local officials have control of voting process • 2000 Florida controversy created national discontent with unjust voting methods • Different ways to count votes in different areas (some electronic machines, some irregular punching holes)  problems with: Hanging chads (machines may not be counting all votes) • Raised controversial questions: Are votes getting counted? Poor vs rich? Does this make voting unequal? Should vote counting be under national control? Should fed govt give money to poor districts for machines?

527s • 2002 campaign restrictions led to 527s, developed in 2004 campaign • “Independent”, but heavily partisan gather millions of $ • Not regulated by the FEC and not limited like PACs

Elections and Campaigns