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The American Electoral Process. - There are several parties in America, but we are essentially a TWO party system !. Green Party. Reform Party. Liber tarian Party. DEM. REP. Socialist Party. Communist Party. Right To Life Party. Party/Political Organization. GERRYMANDERING.
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The American Electoral Process - There are several parties in America, but we are essentially a TWO party system ! Green Party Reform Party LibertarianParty DEM. REP. Socialist Party Communist Party Right To Life Party
Three parts to the electoral process, nominations,campaigns, and elections. • Nominations – How do parties choose their candidates? • - Three ways to nominate candidates. • 1. Caucus – a closed meeting of party leaders • * * 14 states still use a caucus in the • primaries, but since 1824 the national caucus • is no more.** • 2.Convention – A meeting of delegates to • nominate a candidate. • **Used at the national level to nominate the • Pres. and V.P. candidates delegates selected • through primaries and/or caucus. • .
Direct primary – voters choose the nominee’s for • the parties. • **nominees may get into the primary through • petition, or through self-announcement.** • a. Two types of primaries at local and state • level. • - Closed – Must declare party • - Open – Do not have to declare party • ***What about Illinois?
Nominating the President • The nominating of a president is officially a six month • Ordeal. • 1. Formally begins in January of election year • with the Iowa caucus. • 2. Candidate must enter the New Hampshire • primary in March(first primary of the year). • 3. States all over the country hold primaries • through July (candidates may choose which • primaries to join). • 4. National party conventions are held in July and • August to officially nominate candidate. • - The election is then held on the second • Tuesday following the first Monday of • November.
The Campaign Trail Campaign strategy – 5 things must always be addressed with campaign strategy. 1. Candidate image 2. Campaign theme 3. Incumbency(if possible) 4. Party I.D. **5. The undecided vote Campaign finance – Campaign spending spiraled out of control in the recent past. $1.7billion(1990), $2.3 billion (1992), $2 billion(1996), new restrictions have changed this about $1.4 billion in 2008. Controlling campaign finance – Election Campaign Act(1971), revised in 1976. Fed. Election Commission 1. Public disclosure of expenses 2. Limits contributions 3. Limits expenses 4. Provides public financing of campaigns