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Politics > US Elections > Flashcards

US Elections Flashcards

1
Q

What is the invisible primary?

A

The period between candidates indicating an intention to run for the presidency and the first official contest of the primary season

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2
Q

How long before the election do candidates typically announce their intention to run?

A

18 months

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3
Q

What percentage of Donald Trump’s 2023 funding came from small donors/

A

82%

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4
Q

Which 4 media elements are involved in the invisible primary?

A
  1. Debates
  2. Polls
  3. Formal fundraising events
  4. Tours
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5
Q

What are the 2 main functions of primaries?

A
  1. Illustrating candidates’ popularity
  2. Choosing a party’s presidential nominee
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6
Q

What number of Democrat National Convention delegates are elected by primaries?

A

3975 out of 4750

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7
Q

What number of Republican National Convention delegates are elected by primaries and caucuses?

A

2429 out of 2429

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8
Q

What is a presidential primary?

A

A state-based election to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency

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9
Q

What is a presidential caucus?

A

A state-based series of meetings to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency

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10
Q

What are open, closed, and semi-closed primaries?

A

Open - anyone can vote
Closed - only registered party members can vote
Semi-closed - party members can only vote in theirs, but unaligned can vote in either

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11
Q

What are the first 2 primaries in election year?

A

Iowa and New Hampshire

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12
Q

What percentage of party delegates are chosen on super Tuesday?

A

30%

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13
Q

What are 4 strengths of the primary process?

A
  1. Increases participation
  2. Voter choice
  3. Open to outsiders
  4. Tests candidates
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14
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of the primary process?

A
  1. Voter apathy
  2. Expensive
  3. Squabbling and division
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15
Q

What is the national convention?

A

The formal ceremony during which the party officially selects its nominee and adopts a party platform

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16
Q

What did the Democrats change with regards to super-delegates in 2018?

A

They can no longer vote unless no candidate is initially chosen

17
Q

What is a party platform?

A

A document containing the policies a candidate intends to pursue if elected

18
Q

What are the 4 informal functions of national conventions?

A
  1. Motivate faithful party supporters
  2. Promote party unity
  3. Boost opinion polls
  4. Attract ordinary voters
19
Q

How often and on what day do presidential elections take place?

A

Every 4 years on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November

20
Q

How many electors are needed for an absolute majority in an election?

A

270

21
Q

Which 2 states adopt a congressional district method in presidential elections?

A

Maine and Nebraska

22
Q

How many presidents failed to achieve a second term?

A

10

23
Q

What is the Rose Garden Strategy?

A

Where incumbents use the grandeur of their position in campaigns

24
Q

What was the total election spend in 2016 and 2020?

A

2016 - $5.7 billion
2020 - $14.4 billion

25
Q

How much did 2022 figures indicate that it costs to win a seat in each chamber?

A

House - $1.8 million
Senate - $13.5 million

26
Q

What are the 3 main sources of funding for presidential candidates?

A
  1. Self-funding
  2. Individual donations
  3. PACs and super PACs
27
Q

What are PACs?

A

Organisations that pool campaign contributions and donate funds for or against a candidate

28
Q

What are the 2 limits on PACs?

A
  1. Who they can accept money from
  2. How much money they can accept ($5000 per candidate per cycle)
29
Q

What are super PACs?

A

Organisations with no limitations on who contributes to them or how much that cannot donate directly to or coordinate with candidates or their parties

30
Q

What are hybrid PACs?

A

A PAC and a super PAC set up by the same people

31
Q

What is dark money?

A

Money donated from shell companies

32
Q

How much dark money was spent on the 2020 election?

A

$1 billion

Politics (24 decks)

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