electoral processes and funding

Question 1

electoral college

Answer 1

a body of people who cast votes on behalf of their states to formally elect the president and vice president of the US

Question 2

invisible primary

Answer 2

the time between a candidate formally announcing their intention to run for the presidential office and the first official primary or caucus

Question 3

primary

Answer 3

an intraparty election to determine who will compete on the ballot for that party in the presidential election
- used by 36 states
- secret ballot
- state wide

Question 4

caucus

Answer 4

an intraparty town hall style meeting in which voters physically exercise their preferences in order to decide who will represent their party on the ballot in the presidential election
- used by 14 states
- voting in public
- conducted in small local areas within a state

Question 5

what happens if there is gridlock in the electoral college

Answer 5

the house will choose the president from the top 3 candidates and the senate will choose the VP

Question 6

PAC’s
political action committees

Answer 6

a group which can raise money to support a candidate in an election, donating to a maximum of $5000 directly to their campaign

Question 7

Super-PAC’s

Answer 7

a group which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose a candidate but which is not allowed to donate directly to a campaign or coordinate with a campaign

Question 8

what are 4 reasons the electoral college should be reformed

Answer 8

• undermines popular sovereignty
• excludes 3rd parties
• small states are hugely overrepresented
• candidates prioritise swing and bellwether states

Question 9

what are 4 reasons the electoral college should not be reformed

Answer 9

• FF made it to avoid tyranny of the majority
• a PR system would be fine for electing congress but unfit for electing a winner takes all position like the presidency
• it ensures small states remain represented
• no solution receives consensus or is perfect

Question 10

explain how the electoral college undermines popular sovereignty with an example

Answer 10

• in 2 out of the last 5 presidential elections, the winner of the popular vote has lost in the EC
• undermines modern principles of popular sovereignty and shows outdated nature
• Clinton 2016 –> 65million votes but lost EC

Question 11

explain how the EC effectively excludes third parties with an example

Answer 11

• since EC votes are not allocated proportionally, but rather with a winner takes all system
• Ross Perot –> 18.9% of popular vote in 1984 but no states and no electoral votes
• votes are wasted and not taken into account

Question 12

explain how small states are hugely overrepresented in the EC with an example

Answer 12

• each ECV in Wyoming represents just under 200,000 people but in California ECV’s represent over 3x as many people
• California –> 55 ECV with 40million population
• Wyoming –> 3 ECV with 500,000 people

Question 13

explain how Bellwether and swing states being hugely overrepresented and prioritised is a reason for the EC to be reformed

Answer 13

• Bellwether states include Ohio and Florida
• there are essentially 12 states deciding the election so they receive the most visits and electoral funding so campaigns are stronger and more intense from both sides

Question 14

explain how the FF were not convinced of the wisdom of popular sovereignty as they were fearful of tyranny of the majority

Answer 14

• indirect election disperses power away from the public but does not protect against tyranny of the minority
• Anthony Scalia 2%

Question 15

explain how a PR system would be fine for electing congress but unfit for purpose for electing a “winner takes all” position like the president

Answer 15

• ECV produces a clear winner
• Use of FPTP = 2 party system so the winner has a clear majority of ECV’s and therefore a strong mandate to govern

Question 16

explain how the EC ensures that small states remain represented

Answer 16

• US population is concentrated in a. few big states so the ECV make sure the role, traditions, cultures and views of smaller states aren’t ignored
• maintains federalism by allowing different electoral proceeds in each state

Question 17

explain how there is very little consensus about what to replace the EC with as no solution is perfect

Answer 17

• some reforms include the proportional allocation of ECV’s, abolition of EC, replacing it with a national popular vote
• problematic since EC is in constitution and passing an amendment is highly difficult

Question 18

what is the cost of winning a seat in the house

Answer 18

$1.5million

Question 19

what is the cost of winning a seat in the senate

Answer 19

$10million

Question 20

what % of seats in the house and in senate were incumbents in 2022

Answer 20

100% of senate
95% of house

Question 21

how much did the 2016 election cost

Answer 21

$6.5billion