what is the critical first step in the election proces
Nomination, the naming of those who will seek office
explain the importance of the nominating process line in a two party system
In a two-party system, voters can choose between only two candidates for each office on the ballot. Those who make nominations place real limits on the choices that voters can make in the general election
explain the importance of the nominating process line in a one party constituency
In a one-party constituencies, the nominating process is usually the only point at which there is any real contest for public office. Once the dominant party has made its nomination, the general election is little more than a formality.
list and briefly describe the five ways nominations are made in the US
a.Self-announcement: person who wants to run for office announces that fact
b.Caucus: a group of like-minded people meet to select the candidates that they will support in an upcoming election
c.Convention: a party's members meet in a local caucus to pick
why is this the caucus rarely used today except in presidential elections
The spread of democracy, especially in the newer States on the frontier, spurred opposition to caucuses, which were condemned because they were unrepresentative of the population
why did the direct primary replace the convention in most states
Party bosses found ways to manipulate the convention process and dominated the entire system. The convention system was replaced by the direct primary by the late 1910s.
closed primary
only official/declared party members can vote
open primary
any member can vote
blanket primary
qualified voters can vote for any candidate regardless of what their party is
why is the blanket primary no longer in use
The Supreme Court ruled that the blanket primary violated the 1st and 14th Amendments guarantees of the right of association, and was unconstitutional
3 arguments go closed primary
prevents one party from "raiding" the other's primary to try to nominate weaker candidates in the opposition party, helps to make candidates more responsive to the party and its platform; helps make voters more thoughtful because they must choose between
3 arguments against closed primary
compromises the secrecy of the ballot, because it forces voters to make their party preferences known in order to participate; tends to exclude independent voters from the nominating process.
what is a run off primary and when is it used
a second primary in which the two top vote getters in the first primary face one another for the party's nomination. It is used in states in which you need an absolute primary to carry a primary.
what are nonpartisan elections, and how are candidates for these offices nominated
Nonpartisan elections are elections in which candidates are not identified by party labels. Candidates are nominated by nonpartisan primaries.
how is the presidential primary different from other primaries
The presidential primary is not a nominating device
what was the original purpose of the direct primary
It was intended to take the nominating function away from the party organization.
7 criticisms of the direct primary
1.Voters in closed primaries have to publicly declare their party preference
2.Voters in both open and closed primaries cannot express their support for candidates in more than one party.
3.The direct primary almost automatically means that there will be
what aspects of elections are set by federal law? by state law?
Federal election law sets the time, place, and manner of holding congressional elections, as well as the time for choosing presidential electors, the date for casting electoral votes, and other aspects of the presidential election process. State law deals
what is the purpose of the "Tuesday after the first Monday" formula
It prevents Election Day from falling on Sundays or the first day of the month
what is absentee voting and what was its original purpose
It is a process by which voters can vote without going to their polling places on Election Day. It was originally intended for the ill or disabled, or people expected to be away from home on Election Day.
what is the coattail effect
Occurs when a strong candidate running for office at the top of the ballot helps attract voters to other candidates on the party's ticket. A reverse coattail can also occur.
what is the smallest geographic unit for the conduct of elections
A precinct
what is the name for the place where voters actually vote
polling place
what are the 4 essential features of the Australian ballot
1.It is printed at public expense
2.It lists the names of all candidates in an election
3.It is given out only at polls, one to each voter
4.It can be marked in secret
what is the purpose of sample ballots
Help voters prepare for election day
how can campaign spending corrupt the political process
The high cost of running for public office creates the possibility that candidates will try to buy their way into office.
what is the largest item in most campaign budgets
television ads
list the five types of private contributors to election campaigns
1.Small contributors
2.Wealthy individuals or families
3.Candidates, their families, and people who hold and ant to keep appointive offices
4.Various nonparty groups, especially PAC's (Political Action Committees)
5.Temporary organizations formed for the
what are other sources of campaign finance are available
Fundraisers, direct mail requests, telephones, public funds, etc.
explain the two basic reasons why people give to campaigns
they believe in a party, or they want something in return
what agency administrators federals laws dealing with campaign finance? why is it often unable to do an effective job
FEC (Federal Election Commission)- Its underfunded and understaffed
what are the 4 broad areas covered by federal election laws
1.Timely disclosure of campaign finance data
2.Limits on campaign contributions
3.expenditures
4.Public funding for several parts of the presidential election process
name at least 3 disclosure requirements
1. No individual or group can make a contribution in the name of another
2. cash gifts of more than $100 are prohibited;
3. contributions and spending from foreign sources are prohibited\
what are the limits on campaign contributions by individuals
no more than $2,300 to any federal candidate in a primary election; no more than $2,300 to any federal candidate's general election campaign; no more than $5,000 in any year to a PAC; no more than $28,500 to a national party committee; total contributions
briefly describe the two types of PAC's
Most are special interests groups- They can raise funds only from their members. Only a few can raise money from the public at large.
what are the limits on giving PAC's
No More than $5,000 to any one federal candidate in an election, or $10,000 per election cycle; no limit on the number of candidates to whom money can be given; no more than $15,000 a year to a political party
how does the presidential election campaign fund get its money
Every person who files a federal income tax return can assign three dollars of his or her tax bill to the refund.
what must a minor party do for its candidate to qualify for FEC funding
The party must have won at least 5% of the popular vote in the last presidential election, or win at least that much of the total vote in the current election
explain the difference between hard money and and soft money
hard money is given in limited amounts to candidates. soft money is given to parties or political organizations; unlimited
what law was passed to deal with the "soft money loophole"? what does it say?
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002- it bans soft money contributions to political parties, but does not say that other political organizations cannot raise and spend money.