Electoral Process Flashcards
When was the first presidential election
1788
How regular are elections & according to what?
Fixed Term act in Article 2 of constitution = 4 years
4 Constitutional Requirements
US born citizens
Minimum of 35 years old
resident for 14 years
can’t have served 2 terms already
Additional Requirements & examples
Experience Party endorsement Characteristics (e.g. gender, race) Raise money Telegenic Sound & Relevant policy
What are Primaries & Caucuses
2) Primaries are mini-elections to determine the number of delegates each parties candidates will receive at their National Convention.
Caucuses are meetings to determine this instead
What is a National Nominating Convention
Meeting held every 4 years to select the presidential candidate according to the number of delegates each candidate received.
What is Split-Ticket voting
voting for different parties for different positions in Congress
What is incumbency & e.g.?
Incumbent President has already held office for one term
1796 - 22/31 presidents won elections.
How does the Electoral College Voting system work?
7) Which ever candidate receives the most votes per state receives the states electoral votes which are determined by the states size.
factors determining electoral outcome
money media issues leadership incumbency
Examples of Direct Democracy at State Level?
Referendums, initiatives, propositions, re-call elections,
7 step presidential election process?
Invisible Primary Primaries & Caucuses Choosing the VP National Party Conventions General Election Campaign Election Day Electoral College voting
What is the Invisible primary?
- after candidate announcement, candidate fundraises and seeks recognition before voting at primaries.
Vice President
Originally done at NPC, now selected by the President as a way of increasing their appeal
Key elements of the General Election Campaign
Campaign finance
Television Debates
October Surprise
When is Election day
- First Tuesday after the First Monday in November
Example of candidate & invisible primaries
Ted Cruz announced himself as a candidate 10 months before election
Example of fundraising during invisible primary?
2016 = Ben Carson - $57million
Timing of Primaries; Front Loading (e.g.) + Super Tuesday?
Front Loading - early primaries to gain influence - ‘regional primaries’ - New Hampshire.
Super Tuesday - 11 states in 2016 held p&c on same day to gain influence
Types of Primary? (closed, open, winner-takes-all, proportional)
Closed - Only registered members of the party can vote in their primary
Open - Any registered voter can vote in either party primary
Winner-takes-all - republican, candidate with plurality wins all the delegates for that state.
Proportional - delegates awarded in proportion to the votes they received.
Example of Winner-Takes-All primary?
Arizona - Donald Trump received 45.9% and claimed all 53 delegates
Example of voter turn out at p&c?
2016
Primaries;
New Hampshire - 52%
Louisiana - 18%
Caucuses
Kansas - 5.5%
3 Factors affecting turnout at p&c?
Demographic
Primary Type
Competitiveness
3 Strengths of Nomination Process?
Participation
Choice
Open to outsiders
