Democracy And Participation Flashcards
The electoral college produces a clear mandate for and against.
There was a clear winner most of the time and the popular vote not matching up with the Electoral College vote has only happened twice in the past 20 years and only 5 times ever.The last time it had happened before that was 1888. The ‘winner-takes-all’ system allows there to be a strong mandate which is needed to prove legitimacy. The electoral college also gives the president more viability. For example, Obama received 51.3% of the popular vote in 2012 but 61.7% of the electoral vote.
But
there is a chance that candidates can win the election by having the most electoral votes and not the most popular votes.An example of this was Trump v Clinton (2016) and Al Gore v Bush (2000). This is undemocratic as it does not protect the minority as it enhances the smaller states. It can disenfranchise majorities. The fact that the Electoral College has the potential to override the majority is the main reason that it should be abolished.
How does electoral college get impacted by swing states pros and cons
Pros
Prevent redoing chaos only recounts in swing states if it is needed. If election was based solely on popular vote possible for candidate to get the highest and not a majority of votes - causes chaos. Eg Nixon 1968 and Clinton 1992 both won the most electoral votes while just receiving 43% of the popular vote.the existence of the electoral college blocks the need for recounts or demands for runoff elections
Cons
Puts an emphasis on swing state including Wisconsin,Georgia ,Arizona and Michigan. So these states get all the attention. Others are safer states. For example California safe for the democrats important state for them and Indiana important for republicans. In 2016 reported trump and Clinton made 90% of campaign stoops in 11 states 2/3rds in Florida penn Ohio and North Carolina. All attention on them.
How electoral college favours smaller states
3 reps from each city, 2 senators and one HOR. For example wyoming counts nearly 4x as much electoral college votes as Texas due to disproportionality of the system. Superiority of the minority.
But
Keeps small states relevant and help uphold federalism gives responsibility. Emphasises indirect democracy works properly. If election was dependent on population a,one then candidates limit campaigns to heavily populated areas which is unequal. For example EC groups such as low farmers or Ohio factory workers would be ignored in favour of appealing to metropolitan areas w Hugh densities. Tina mukally which is South Dakota’s rep states the ec protects small states and , minority interests.
Pros and cons of donor influence in elections
Primary process favors those who raised th emsot momey in invisible primary. Puts weight on money eg. Koch brothers supported haley raised 4 million but they pulled out when it looks like she was gonna win she dropped out of the race.
In 2000 gwb went though critics due to reliance on a group of elite fundraisers known as ‘pioneers’ raised substantial amounts for the campaign.
But
Not all candidates receive large donations from corrupt organisations eg. Bernie sandlers colecfed an impressive a,lung of money considering he relied on small donations from grassroots support and refused donations from large corporations and the financial services industry and superpacs.
Influence of party elites on presidential process is substantial
Important people endorsing the candidate pooukaruses and validates their candidacy
the endorsement of Ted Kennedy to Barack Obama in 2008 was pivotal. As Ted Kennedy is a respected figure in the Democratic Party his 9endorsing Obama over Clinton showed significance and allowed Obama to appeal to a broader base.This can also be with Chris Christies endorsement of Donald Trump, who was the former new jersey governer and gave Trump more credibility among more mainstream Republicans as he has 0 endorsements end of inbusabke primary this helped the campaign.
Influence of party elites on presidential elections is not substantial
However, some show that endorsements do not help and the effect of it is exaggerated. Donald Trump was only endorsed by a single sitting Senator, 12 sitting representatives and 3 sitting governors.
Another example is Sanders’s endorsement of Clinton in 2016 after a contentious primary season, although Bernie urged his supporters to back Clinton some of them remained hesitant ti choose Clinton which may have been a reason why she did not win.
Early states have large influence over presidential process
Early-voting states such as New Hampshire (52%) can also attract more voters than later states like South Dakota (19%). This is because candidates will drop out over time and the race can become less competitive as a clear winner starts forming. The influence of early states distorts the campaign, candidates are encouraged to spend a disproportionate amount of time to suit the tiny fraction of voters. Small states like Iowa and New Hampshire aren’t completely representative of a country as diverse as America and they are seen to have an immense amount of influence.For example, the fact that Obama beat Clinton in the 2008 Iowa caucus established him as a serious candidate as he raised $50 million monthly.
Early states have little influence on presidential elections and their outcomes
However, the influence that early voting states hold is overstated.Donald Trump, John McCain and Mitt Romney all lost in Iowa however they won the nomination. Similarly Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama all lost New Hampshire however they won the presidential election. Also, some argue that the four early voters states aren’t always so unrepresentative together. New Hampshire, South Caroline, Nevada and Iowa together represent America okayish.
Does national party convention work to reunite the party
Primary process divisive this is where those differences come to suport the winning candidate. 2008 democratic convention was important party portrayed a united from following butter personal rivalry between Obama. And Clinton . But when primaries ended despite Clinton assuming she’d win and he didn’t have the experience she endorsed Obama wholeheartedly in their speech. . 2016 sanders supported Clinton’s.
But
Examples it didn’t work 1992 Republican convention, where President George H. W. Bush remained at loggerheads with his primary election rival, Pat Buchanan; and the 1980 Democratic convention, where President Carter and Senator Edward Kennedy continued their unfriendly rivalry. It is no coincidence that Bush and Carter were both defeated later in the year. In 2008, Republican Congressman Ron Paul, who had won some significant support in the Republican primaries and caucuses, refused to endorse John McCain at the Republican convention and held a rival event across town. In 2016 Ted Cruz did not endorse Trump and leading Republicans such as George Bush did not attend the Convention.
Party conventions work to select a vice president and president
Delegates vote to decide who is the presidential nominee. The rules of each party require that a candidate gains over 50 per cent of delegates. If no candidate achieves this, a brokered convention takes place requiring more rounds of voting. It would be more accurate to say that the convention confirms — rather than chooses — the party’s presidential candidate. Not since the Republican convention of 1976 has the choice of the presidential candidate really been in any doubt at the opening of either party’s convention. In that year, President Gerald Ford defeated the former Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, by 1,187 votes to 1,070 votes. Had 60 delegates switched from Ford to Reagan, Reagan would have won.
But
In rare cases delegates switch their support if not bound example 2016 contest between trump , Cruz and kaisach and kaishach and Cruz won various state delegates and delegates voted accordingly in the first ballot,lot but once became clear trump would win many delegates switch to force a contented convention and others switch to vote trump to unify party and prevent this. Didn’t cnshe outcome but shows variation.
How does party convention decide policy platform ?
Delegates debate and vote to determine the policy of the party (and therefore the candidate) for the presidential election. The convention takes place over several days, allowing for detailed policy debate. In 2016, the most contentious platform debate at the Republican convention was on issues regarding sexuality. The Platform Committee proposed a platform with a ‘staunchly conservative’ view on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and transgender issues, calling for the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v Hodges (2015), which declared the rights of same-sex couples to be married a constitutional right, to be overturned made it to the floor.
The Democratic platform 2016 was the focus of an intense struggle between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. The 15-member Platform Committee was made up of six Clinton appointees and five Sanders appointees, with the remaining four appointed by the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Bernie Sanders’ supporters announced that they were largely satisfied with the resulting document which, for example, expressed support for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and index-linking it to inflation — a top Sanders priority — as well as support for Wall Street reform, another top Sanders issue. (In the formal sense it is arguable that the traditional roles of the party convention are insignificant, and serve no real purpose.) Conventions are nothing more than a ‘rubber stamp’, especially given that the party candidate is known in advance. In 2012 Romney’s nearest competitor withdrew his nomination by April.
But
Genuine policy debate, to create a party platform, has been replaced by the need for unity. Conventions rarely discuss controversial or divisive policy issues as this can lead to party splits, as with the Republicans in the 1996 convention over abortion. Similarly, the platform is not binding on the president or party members.
Vice-presidential candidates are now chosen and announced by the presidential candidate in advance of the convention, as with Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan more than 2 weeks before the Republican convention in 2012. However, though often apparent well beforehand, conventions remain an opportunity to present a balanced ticket to the electorate.
The speeches by Hillary Clinton in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012 were designed to heal the party wounds,
Arguenents for and against only 2 main parties influence elections
only 2 main parties usually biome president eg. sanders ran as a democrat despite being an independent
Ross Perot, who ran as a third-party candidate in the 1992 presidential election, received only 19% of the popular vote, which translated into 0 electoral college votes.
Arguable FPTP made this happen. The winner takes all in all but 2 states. Maine and nevada?
But
spoiler effect
Nader 2000
Significant because his voters were thought to likely have voted gore rather than bush so bush v gore and bush wi way have not resulted in bush winning had nader not run. But may have just stayed at home green party voters are younger feel more alienated voting for 2 of the main parties wouldn’t have occured.
But
Strongly opposing factions eg. democratic blue dogs like manchin and progressive or liberals like AOC mean that grounds is covered for different ideologies by the 2 main parties negates the purpose of them so arguably more than 2 party system but live under the 2 main parties..
How do 2 main parties d9minate funding and media
campaign funding and media
the two parties continue to receive massive amounts of campaign funding that severely disadvantages smaller parties. In 2014, the Republican Party raised over $500,000,000. History has shown these structural advantages have prevented third parties influencing Congress as it is only representatives of the Republican and Democratic Parties, alongside a few independents, that maintain control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
How are 2 main parties media coverage hindered by 3rd parties
Steal media attention
RFK 2024 - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s an independent super PAC, American Values 2024, aired a 30-second ad about the independent candidate’s presidential campaign during Super Bowl LVIII.This year’s Super Bowl was watched by an average of 123.4 million people in the US, making it the most watched broadcast since the 1969 Moon landing. Millions of potential voters saw this. Including his name he has a lot of attention. His campaign has also received strong support and praise from tech industry executives in Silicon Valley.prominent 3rd party figures takie funsing fudnidng and media attention from 2 main parties.
Do people want or need 3rd parties
broadchurch of ideas weak whips
Eg. few Republican senators voted in favor of the package — just 22 members, less than half of the Republican conference, joined Democrats in passing it.
But
2016 green party took voters away from clinton in key states green party got 1% of national vote eg. michigan where trump won by 12000 votes whereas green party won 240000 votes. Green left wouldve gone to clinton.
Strongly opposing factions eg. democratic blue dogs like manchin and progressive or liberals like AOC mean that grounds is covered for different ideologies by the 2 main parties negates the purpose of them so arguably more than 2 party system but live under the 2 main parties..
