Elections and Voting

Question 1

How often do presidential elections occur, and when was the first presidential election?

Answer 1

Every 4 years, first potus election in 1788

Question 2

What does Article II of the Constitution say about the frequency and setting the date of an election?

Answer 2

Held every 4 years, shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Question 3

What are the FIVE functions of an invisible primary, and when do they occur?

Answer 3

1) Announcing candidacy
2) Increase name recognition
3) Raise money
4) Organisation
5) Intra party TV debates

Occur in the calendar year before the election.

Question 4

What are the TWO functions of primaries and caucuses, and when do they occur?

Answer 4

1) Show popular support for candidates
2) Choose delegates to attend NPC

Occurs January-early June

Question 5

What happens before the NPC, or sometimes at the NPC, in the election cycle?

Answer 5

Choosing the Vice Presidential Candidate

Question 6

What are the THREE functions of NPC’s, and when do they occur?

Answer 6

1) Confirm presidential and vice presidential candidates
2) Approve the party platform
3) Acceptance speech delivered by presidential candidate

Occurs August/early September

Question 7

When does the general election campain between the candidates of various parties take place?

Answer 7

September, October and early November

Question 8

What is the FINAL stage of presidential elections, whereby electors vote in their state capitals to choose the president and vice president?

Answer 8

The Electoral College

Question 9

What are the three consitutional qualifications you must pass to be president?

Answer 9

1) Must be a natural born American citizen
2) Must be at least 35 years old
3) Resident for 14 years

Question 10

Political Experience is important for a presidential candidate. Explain where politically experienced candidates can be found, of the 18 politicians who were nominated in the last 13 elections to 2016, how many came from each of these pools?

Answer 10

Can be drawn from three pools, VP’s, govenors and senators.

Nine were or had been senators (including Clinton)

Six had been Vice President

Six had been Govenors

Question 11

Major Party endorsement is important for a presidential candidate, it is vital to be chosen as the candiate for one of the main parties. Who had to convert to Republican in 1952, and how can we see that third parties and independent candidates don’t lead to the White House?

Answer 11

Eisenhower had to become Rep. in 1952.

Ross Perot (1992 and 1996) & Pat Buchanan (2000) show that third party or independent candidates don’t lead to the WH.

Question 12

Personal Characteristics are important for a presidential candidate. What can be said about race/gender of vice presidents? What is said about scandals involving marital infidelity (+ example)?

Answer 12

All Vice Presidents have been white males.

Scandal involving marital infidelity could rule out a candidate, Senator Edward Kennedy’s chance at the presidency were ended by the Chappaquiddick affair, wherea young female acquaintance drowned in his car after a late night party.

Question 13

The ability to raise large sums of money is important for a presidential candidate, campaigns are so expensive that very few candidates can afford to fund their own. Which billionaire candidate funded their campaign in 1992? According to opensecrets.org, how much did Clinton raise in the 2016 cycle alone?

Answer 13

Ross Perot funded his own campaign in 1992.

Clinton raised just over $700 million in 2016.

Question 14

Oratorical skills are important for a presidential candidate. Which Republican Senator said he was too ugly to be president in 1996? Whos mastery of the media was an important factor in their campaign?

Answer 14

Phil Gramm said he was too ugly to be president in 1996. Donald Trump and Barack Obama mastered the media.

Question 15

What is the invisible primary?

Answer 15

The period between candidates declaring an intention to run for presidency and the first primaries and caucuses.

Question 16

Where did the term invisible primary come about?

Answer 16

The term was originally the title of a book by White House journalist Arthur T Hadley published in 1976.

Question 17

Why is the invisible primary important for a candidate?

Answer 17

It’s important for the candidate to raise money and name recognition, and to put together the necessary organisation.

Question 18

Where is the invisible primary mainly played out?

Answer 18

The media. Newspapers such as Washington Post, New York Times or Time magazine.

Question 19

Certain televised party debates take place during the invisible primary stage. How many Republican debates were there in 2016? In 2012, what embarrasing event caused a Republican candidate to drop out the race?

Answer 19

Seven

Govenor Rick Perry of Texas had a much publicised memory loss when he could not recall the three federal executive departments he would close down if elected president. “Commerce, Education and the.. erm..” revealed as the Dept of Energy, just over two months later Perry ended his Potus bid after 1% in Hampshire primary.

Question 20

Money is the mothers milk of politics. What do invisible primaries allow candidates to build?

However, who failed to win a single primary (and didn’t make it past the third week of primaries), despite fundraising $33.5 million during invisible primaries?

Answer 20

War chests

Jeb Bush

Question 21

In terms of front runners, how is the invisible primary a critical stage in discerning who the presidential candidates would be in 2016?

Answer 21

By the end of the invisible primary in 2016, Clinton enjoyed a 14 point lead over Sanders. Trump was 16 points ahead of Cruz.

Question 22

What sort of states hold caucuses? Name two examples.

Answer 22

Geographically large but thinly populated. Iowa, North Dakota.

Question 23

Why do caucuses tend to favour more ideological candidates? 2016 example?

Answer 23

Turnout for caucuses is generally lower, meaning that people who attend are disproportionately more ideological tending to favour ideological candidates.

Bernie Sanders performed well in caucuses, averaged 66% to Clintons 33%

Question 24

What are the two specific functions of primaries?

Answer 24

To show the popularity of presidential candidates

To choose delegates to go to the NPC’s

Question 25

What is Super Tuesday? When was the first one held?

Answer 25

A Tuesday in February or early March when a number of states coincide their presidential primaries and caucuses to try to gain influence.

1988

Question 26

What is front loading?

Answer 26

The phenomenon by which a state schedules its primaries or caucuses earlier in the nomination cycle in an attempt to increase its importance.

Question 27

What is a closed primary?

Answer 27

A primary in which only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary and only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary

Question 28

What is an open primary?

Answer 28

A primary in which any registered voter can vote in either party’s primary.

Question 29

What three bonuses does victory in Iowa and New Hampshire bring?

Answer 29

Media Coverage

Money

A boost in the opinion polls

Question 30

What is the incumbency effect? What % of primary vote did Obama win in 2012?

Answer 30

An incumbent president has a significant advantage in primaries, with many states dispensing with primaries for the presidents party. Obama won 92% of primary vote in 2012.

Question 31

What was the total % turnout in 2016 for primaries

Answer 31

29%

Question 32

What four factors affect primary turnout?

Answer 32

Demography

Type of Primary (Open > Closed)

Competition (2016 was competitive)

Whether the nomination has been decided or not

Question 33

Which commission reformed the primary system in 1968?

Answer 33

McGovern-Fraser

Question 34

Name four advantages of primaries.

Answer 34

1. Increased participation
2. Increased choice of candidates
3. Process opened up to outsiders
4. A gruelling race for a gruelling job

Question 35

Name six disadvantages of primaries

Answer 35

1. Can lead to widespread voter apathy
2. Voters are unrepresentative
3. Process is too long, too expensive and too dominated by the media
4. Can develop into bitter personal battles
5. Lack of peer review
6. Role of super delegates (Democrats)

Question 36

What was the five point plan suggested by David Atkins in 2016 to improve primaries?

Answer 36

1. Abolish caucuses and replace them with primaries, thereby increasing participation levels and making voters more representative of the electorate as a whole
2. Do away with closed primaries, thereby encouraging voters not allied with one of the two major parties to participate
3. Rotate the order of primaries to increase geographic and demographic diversity
4. Tie super delegate votes to the primary results of their respective states
5. Allow candidates to select their own delegates, thereby preventing the possibility we saw in 2016 when some Trump delegates failed to support him at convention

Question 37

What three strategies are there for choosing a VP?

Answer 37

Balanced ticket

Potential in government

Party unity

Question 38

At the republican national party convention in 2016, what was the main issue on the party platform?

Answer 38

Issues regarding sexuality, the Platform Committee proposed a platform of a staunchly conservative view on homosexuality and called for Obergefel vs Hodges to be overturned

Question 39

At the democrat national party convention in 2016, what was the main issue on the party platform?

Answer 39

Raising federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and tie to inflation (little reference made in future campaign though)

Question 40

Given that all three of the formal functions of the npc’s are now questionable, it might appear that there is little point in holding them. The importance of npc’s is in their informal, or hidden, functions. Name four of these and give examples of where we can see this in 2016.

Answer 40

1. Promoting party unity. Democrat 2016, Sanders gave ringing endorsement for Clinton.
2. Enthusing the party faithful. 2016 an inspirational speech from Michelle Obama had delegates on their feet and clearly enthused the party faithful.
3. Enthusing the ordinary voters. Many people pay little or no attention to the primaries so first impressions are important. 2016 acceptance speeches were different with Trump being bleak and Clinton stronger together
4. Post convention bounce. Trump bounced 1 point and Clinton bounced 4.5

Question 41

Debate

Are National Party Conventions still important?
Argue YES.

Answer 41

• The only time the national parties meet together
• Opportunity to promote party unity
• Opportunity to enthuse party members and activists
• Introduce potus and vpotus candidates
• delivery of presidential candidates acceptance speeches
• Can lead to significant bounce in the polls
• Many votes don’t tune in to the campaign until the conventions start
• A significant number of voters make their decision about who to support during the conventions

Question 42

Debate

Are National Party Conventions still important?
Argue NO.

Answer 42

• Presidential candidate now decided during the primaries, not at the convention
• VP candidate now decided and announced before convention
• Party platform mostly agreed before convention
• TV coverage much reduced as a result
• More balloons and hoopla than serious policies

Question 43

When the general election campaign starts, an _____-party contest begins.

Answer 43

Inter (formerly intra)

Question 44

What did Mark Hanna once famously remark about campaign finance?

Answer 44

“There are two things that are important in politics: the first thing is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is”

Question 45

As a result of the Watergate scandal, which campaign reform act was introduced and what did it do?

Answer 45

The Federal Campaign Reform Act of 1974 made a number of significant changes by limiting contributions that individuals, unions, and corportations could give, hoping thereby to reduce candidates’ reliance on a few, very wealthy donors and equalise the amount of money spent by both the major parties.

Question 46

In 1976, how did the Supreme Court weaken FECA?

Answer 46

Buckley vs Valeo, the SC ruled that limitations on what individuals could spend either supporting or opposing a candidate infringed First Amendment rights and were therefore unconstitutional.

Question 47

In 1979, how did Congress weaken FECA?

Answer 47

Congress allowed parties to raise money for such aspects as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives as well as party building activities. This so called soft money would soon be regarded by most observers as out of control, leading to the need of further reform.

Question 48

What is soft money?

Answer 48

Money donated to political parties instead of candidates to avoid campaign finance limitations. Parties are allowed to spend the money on certain campaigning activities.

Question 49

How were presidential campaigns largely funded between 1976 and 2008?

Answer 49

Matching funds. where the newly formed Federal Election Commission gave money to candidates meeting certain criteria and agreed to certain limitations.

Question 50

Who didn’t accept matching funds in 2008? What did this mean for their campaign?

Answer 50

Obama didn’t accept matching funds in 2008 and as a result he was free of the fundraising and spending limitations imposed by the FEC. This led to him being able to significantly outspend his opponent John McCain, who took matching funds.

Question 51

What campaign finance reform came in 2002, mainly through the endeavours of two senators, John McCain and Russel Feingold? What did it do and what effect did it have?

Answer 51

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. Banned soft money. 2004 election saw 527’s such as Swift Boat Veterans raise and donate large sums of money to a few super rich and largely unknown people.

Question 52

Why did PAC’s come about?

Answer 52

Because of limits set on contributions to political parties and candidates, new organisations came to be formed that made independent expenditures for the express purpose of electing or defeating specific candidates.

Question 53

Due to which SC decisions did Super Pacs come about?

Answer 53

Citizens United vs FEC (2010) and Speechnow.org vs FEC (2010)

Question 54

How do Super Pacs spend/not spend money?

Answer 54

To achieve their desired objectives but they are forbidden from from making and direct contributions to federal candidates or parties.

Question 55

Which Super Pac raised a lot of money for Clinton in 2016? How much did they raise?

Answer 55

Priorities USA Action raised over $192 million which represented over 90% of all outside group money raised for her campaign

Question 56

What three things do candidates spend their money on? Give a summary answer.

Answer 56

Organisation, campaigning and media

Question 57

What is the October Surprise? Name an example from 2016

Answer 57

An event occuring late in the presidential campaign to the disadvantage of one candidate, leaving that candidate with little or no time to recover before election day.

11 days before election day, Comey announced investigation into Clinton

Question 58

Name two blue states

Answer 58

California, New York

Question 59

Name two red states

Answer 59

Texas, kentucky

Question 60

Name two swing states

Answer 60

Ohio, Florida

Question 61

Name two strengths of the Electoral College

Answer 61

1. It preserves the voice of the small population states
   
   • California has 55 electoral college votes, at least Wyoming has 3 (would have less representation without EC)
2. Tends to promote a two horse race
   
   • In a two horse race, the winner will tend to recieve more than 50% of the popular vote and definite aid to uniting the nation

Question 62

The Electoral College can be considered weak due to the fact that small states are over-represented. Explain.

Answer 62

In 2016, California had 55 EC votes for 40 million inhabitants. Wyoming had 3 EC votes for 0.5 million inhabitants. Thus California has one EC vote for 700,000 people, whereas Wyoming has one EC vote for every 200,000 people

Question 63

The Electoral College can be considered weak due to the fact that the winner takes all system distorts the result. Explain

Answer 63

In the last seven elections, the EC can be said to have distorted the results of at least five.

In 2016, Clinton won the popular vote by 3 million votes, but fell 70 EC votes behind Trump.

Question 64

The Electoral College can be considered weak because it is unfair to third parties. Explain

Answer 64

Third parties tend to struggle to concentrate their support in specific states, and so may have significant national support, but fall short regionally. In 1992, Ross Perot won 18.9% of the popular vote but recieved 0 EC votes

Question 65

The Electoral College can be considered weak due to rogue electors. Explain

Answer 65

Rogue or faithless electors may vote against their state. Multiple in 2016 (but doesn’t really affect result)

Question 66

One method of reforming the Electoral College is Direct Election. Explain two advantages and two disadvantages.

Answer 66

+ 72% support popular election

+ 2nd time in five election where keys have been handed to loser of popular vote

• Multiplicity of candidates making it possible that the potus would be elected with well below 50% of the vote.
• Only a constitutional amendment could bring about this change

Question 67

One method of reforming the Electoral College is the Congressional District System. Explain two advantages and two disadvantages.

Answer 67

+ In theory more representative

+ Works in Maine and Nebraska

• Could actually produce less proportional results eg. 2000
• Why would America swap one flawed system for another

Question 68

One method of reforming the Electoral College is a proportional system. Explain.

Answer 68

This would effectively abolish the electoral college. It would be fairer to third parties but would encourage votes for them, hence the winner will likely recieve less than 50% of the popular vote.

Question 69

Define propostion.

Answer 69

An electoral device by which citizens of a state can place proposed laws - and in some states proposed constitutional amendments - on the state ballot.

Question 70

Name an example of a proposition from 2016.

Answer 70

Marijuana legislation approved in California, defeated in Arizona

Question 71

What is a recall election?

Answer 71

An electoral device by which voters in a state can remove an elected official from office before their term has expired.