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US politics > Primaries & Caucuses > Flashcards

Primaries & Caucuses Flashcards

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1
Q

wWhat are some features of invisible primaries?

A
  • candidate announcements
  • televised party debates
  • fundraising
  • higher national name recognition for lesser known candidates
  • endorsements
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2
Q

Why could it be argued that invisible primaries are important?

A
  • the candidate leading in the polls at the end of the IP is very often the one eventually chose after the primaries
  • some candidates drop out during this period (e.g. 15 democrats dropped out before the first state voted in 2020)
  • critical for fundraising as primaries & caucuses are packed into the early months of the election year
  • first impressions in the televised debate are important
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3
Q

Why could it be argued that invisible primaries are not important?

A
  • it is possible to win the IP but go on to lose the nomination e.g. democratic Hilary Clinton in 2007-8
  • doesn’t test campaigning skills as well as primaries & caucuses do
  • the focus is mainly on performance (debates & polls) rather than policies
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4
Q

Where are primaries held?

A

in mid to large population states e.g. California, New York etc

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5
Q

Where are caucuses held?

A

in some small to mid population states & geographically large states with small populations e.g. Iowa, Nevada

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6
Q

Who can participate in primaries or caucuses?

A

Any registered voter can

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7
Q

What are the two main functions of primaries and caucuses?

A
  • to show popularity for candidates among ordinary voters
  • to choose delegates to go to the national party conventions
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8
Q

Who chooses whether to hold a primary or a caucus?

A

state parties

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9
Q

What are the two different ways to classify primaries?

A

By who is allowed to vote in them
By how delegates are awarded in them

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10
Q

What is an open primary?

A

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

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11
Q

What is a closed primary?

A

A primary in which only registered Democrats can vote in the democratic primary & vice versa

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12
Q

What is a modified primary?

A

Like closed primaries but allow registered independents to vote in either party’s primary

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13
Q

What is a proportional primary?

A

A primary in which delegates are awarded to the candidates in proportion to the votes they get

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14
Q

What is a winner takes all primary?

A

A primary in which whoever gets the most votes in the primary wins all the state’s delegates (allowed only in the rep party)

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15
Q

Which state traditionally holds the first presidential caucuses?

A

Iowa

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16
Q

How is the turnout for caucuses?

A

They often have a very low turnout e.g. 2108 voters in 2012 rep caucuses

17
Q

What type of voters do caucuses attract?

A

more ideological voters

18
Q

Why is turnout in the Iowa caucus unrepresentative?

A

Iowa is more than 90% white

19
Q

Caucus’ record of predicting the eventual nominee is ______

A

mixed
E.g. Mayor Pete Buttigieg won the 2020 Democratic caucuses but nominee was Biden

20
Q

Give an example of a crucial caucus

A

Obama’s victory over Clinton in the 2008 democratic caucuses

21
Q

New ____________ traditional holds the first presidential primary

A

Hampshire

22
Q

The New Hampshire primary often attracts a ______ turnout

A

high e.g. 42% in 2020

23
Q

Is it possible for a nominee to lose the NH primary but still win the party nomination?

A

Yes
e.g. Biden, Democrats, 2020

24
Q

Why is winning the NH primary beneficial for a candidate?

A

It brings a boost in opinion poll numbers, media coverage & money

25
Q

What is an incumbent?

A
26
Q

What is an incumbent?

A

A person who currently holds an office

27
Q

why is little to no attention paid to primaries incumbent presidents are in?

A

They typically win e.g. Obama 92% in 2012 Democratic primaries - Trump over 90% in the 2020 Rep primaries

28
Q

Give an example of an incumbent president facing a serious primary challenge?

A

Jimmy Carter facing Senator Kennedy in the 1980 Democratic primaries

Bush facing Pat Buchanan in the 1992 primaries

Both won the primaries but lost the election due to political damage in the primaries

29
Q

What is the typical voter turnout in primaries?

A

low - between 20-30%

Varies from state to state in 2020 46% in Montana, 9% in Iowa

30
Q

Is turnout higher in primaries or caucuses?

A

primaries

31
Q

What are some factors that affect turnout in primaries & caucuses?

A

demography - higher turnout amongst the more educated e.g. higher-income & elderly voters

type of primaries - open primaries tend to have higher turnout i.e. more eligible voters

timing - primaries held after a nomination has effectively been decided attract lower turnout than when those held when the race is still open

32
Q

Why are primaries considered important?

A
  • The presidential candidates emerge during them
  • A large number of candidates are eliminated by them
  • They attract a large amount of media attention
  • Can boost name recognition for lesser know candidates e.g. Obama v Clinton - Obama behind in national polls but won Iowa & got ahead
  • They test presidential skills e.g. oratorical, presentational, organisational etc
33
Q

Why aren’t primaries considered important?

A
  • Primaries often merely confirm decisions made during the ‘invisible primary’ i.e. the ones leading in the polls at the start of primaries are eventually chosen
  • Televised debates (the media) are usually of more importance, less focus on policies
  • Many presidential skills aren’t tested e.g. the ability to compromise, work with Congress etc
34
Q

Why did Obama get ahead in Iowa? (2012)

A

Due to incessant campaigning in Iowa for over 80 days

35
Q

What are the advantages of primaries?

A
  • Increased levels of participation by voters
  • Increased choice of candidates
  • Process opened up to outside candidates e.g. Obama, Trump
  • A difficult race for a difficult job
36
Q

What are the disadvantages of primaries?

A
  • Can lead to voter apathy i.e. the results seem to be obvious to the electorate so there is no need to vote
  • Voters are often too unrepresentative
  • Process is too long, too expensive, too dominated by the media
  • Can develop into bitter personal battles
37
Q

How can the nomination process be improved? (primaries & caucuses)

A
  • Abolish caucuses and replace them with primaries
  • Eliminate closed primaries to increase voter eligibility
  • Hold a national primary
  • Institute four regional primaries, held on the first Tuesday of March, April, May & June
38
Q

What is super Tuesday?

A

A Tuesday in February or early March when a number of states coincide their presidential primaries & caucuses to try to gain influence e.g. increase turnout by raising national profile

US politics (13 decks)

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