US Democracy + Participation Flashcards
Presidential elections and their significance
The main processes to elect a US president, including the constitutional requirements, the invisible primary, primaries and caucuses, the role of National Party Conventions and the electoral college, and the resulting party system.
The importance of incumbency on a president seeking a second term.
Choosing a vice president
Choosing a vice president should consider if the election partner or the future partner in the office should be;
A balanced ticket - where a political candidate chooses a running mate, usually from the same party, with the goal of bringing more widespread appeal to the campaign.
Party Unity - to pick politician with contrasting view on some topics (similar to big beasts to maintain party unity)
Potential in government
Party Conventions
Choosing presidential candidate and the vice president, deciding party platform and presenting to delegates in Conventions.
Positives of Conventions
Maintain party unity
Enthusing ordinary voters to make decisions
Enthusing party faithful
Celebrates the glorious past
Chance to identify rising stars in the parties
Negatives of Conventions
Few significant decisions made
Reduced TV coverage
Unimportant impression of a pre-planned process
Promoting balloons (compromises) rather than policies
Electoral College
(538 electoral college electors, 270 to win)
Electoral College vote
state representation in Congress (No. of Senators (2) + No. of Representatives (1-53))
**Except for Nebraska and Maine which use a District system, the winner of the popular vote gets all the electoral college votes (winner takes all) and the result will be announced by the vice president in Congress in January.
Pros of Electoral College
Ensures Regional Representation:
The Electoral College helps ensure that smaller states have a voice in the election. Without it, large states like California or New York could dominate the election, potentially ignoring smaller states’ interests.
Example: Despite the population difference, Maine (1.4 million) and Wyoming (500K) both have similar Electoral College representation, helping to balance the influence of small states in the election process.
Prevents National Popular Vote Manipulation:
The system encourages candidates to appeal to a broader geographic area, rather than focusing only on large urban centers. This results in more inclusive campaigning across the country.
Stability and Tradition:
The Electoral College is part of the U.S. constitutional framework, providing a sense of continuity and preserving the balance of federalism in U.S. elections.
Cons of Electoral College
Over-representation of Small States:
Small states like Wyoming get disproportionate influence because their smaller population means each individual vote is worth more in the Electoral College. Larger states like California have more votes but each vote carries less weight.
Example: Wyoming has about 500,000 people but gets 3 electoral votes, while California, with over 39 million people, has 55 votes, making each Wyoming vote more powerful in comparison.
No Room for Third Parties:
In the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, third-party candidates struggle to win electoral votes. This discourages the development of third parties, as winning a state requires a plurality, making it difficult for third-party candidates to gain representation in the Electoral College.
Example: Even if a third-party candidate has significant national support, they would still struggle to win any states or secure electoral votes.
Focus on Swing States:
Campaigns tend to focus on a small number of key battleground states (like Florida, Pennsylvania, or Michigan) because those are the states most likely to determine the election outcome. This leads to the neglect of states that are considered “safe” for one party or the other.
Minority-Vote Winners:
The system allows for a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote, leading to situations where a minority of voters determine the outcome. This happened in 2000 and 2016.
Example:
2000: George W. Bush won the Electoral College with 271 votes, despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore (48.4% vs. 47.9%). This result was confirmed after the Bush v. Gore case, which decided the contested votes in Florida.
2016: Donald Trump won the Electoral College (304 votes to 227), despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton (48.2% vs. 46.1%).
Presidential Incumbency
the holding of an office
Yes, being the presidential incumbency significantly affects electoral success in presidential elections.
No primary is needed, so no significant internal challenges in the party
Commander-in-chief to exert formal power on foreign policies, e.g. Withdrawal of military from Afghanistan in 2021
Chief Diplomat to attend summits and/or arrange foreign trips and develop foreign relationships with other countries and open discussion on new trading opportunities between foreign countries, to allow conversation in international conflicts and develop coalitions with other countries to offer supports
Bully pulpit - increase in media coverage to show efforts made (similar to pork barrel politics)
State of the Union - informal power in persuasion on setting legislative agenda
Most notably have power of the office
No, being the presidential incumbency significantly affects electoral success in presidential elections.
Presidents can be blamed for current issues, e.g, Trump’s action on tackling COVID in 2020
Record to attack/defend, e.g. Former president Bill Clinton was also attacked over issues like Benghazi. Trump as a businessman who did not have experience in the Congress can give electorates the sense of an alternative choice from the experienced politicians, whereas Hillary Clinton had a long record of public service. Thus, Trump’s populist campaign style brought ‘freshness’ in 2016 US politics.
Record of public services can level up the debates (valence and salient issues)
Possibly less money can be raised due to the existing influence on media and campaign finance may decrease
Campaign Finance Landmark rulings
The role of campaign finance and the current legislation on campaign finance, including McCain-Feingold reforms 2002 and Citizens United vs FEC 2010.
SCOTUS overturned the McCain-Feingold Act (BICRA 2002) by Citizens United v. FEC (2010). SO companies can donate to preferred presidential candidates like individuals (through super PACs and 501(c)4) -> judicial review is unconstitutional as it is not a power mentioned in the Constitution
Super PACs collect unlimited donations to support candidates or attack rivals with adverts, without directly fund the candidates (but they can fund it covertly anyways)
PACs raise and spend money (including soft money) for the express purpose of electing, defeating, specific candidates they supported/opposed, e.g. business, labour groups, ideological groups, single issue groups. A PAC raises money and can directly donate to a candidate but reports to disclose money are required.
What is a PAC
A PAC (Political Action Committee) is an organization formed to raise and spend money in order to influence elections or legislation. PACs are designed to give individuals, unions, or corporations a way to pool their resources and make political contributions. They are regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and there are various types of PACs, each with different rules and purposes.
What are SuperPACs
Super PACs (Political Action Committees) are independent organizations that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, as long as they do not coordinate directly with a candidate or their campaign. They were created following the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), which allowed for unlimited political spending by corporations, unions, and other groups, as long as the spending was independent of a candidate’s official campaign.
