US Elections Flashcards
What is the invisible primary?
The period between candidates indicating an intention to run for the presidency and the first official contest of the primary season
How long before the election do candidates typically announce their intention to run?
18 months
What percentage of Donald Trump’s 2023 funding came from small donors/
82%
Which 4 media elements are involved in the invisible primary?
- Debates
- Polls
- Formal fundraising events
- Tours
What are the 2 main functions of primaries?
- Illustrating candidates’ popularity
- Choosing a party’s presidential nominee
What number of Democrat National Convention delegates are elected by primaries?
3975 out of 4750
What number of Republican National Convention delegates are elected by primaries and caucuses?
2429 out of 2429
What is a presidential primary?
A state-based election to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency
What is a presidential caucus?
A state-based series of meetings to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency
What are open, closed, and semi-closed primaries?
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
What are the first 2 primaries in election year?
Iowa and New Hampshire
What percentage of party delegates are chosen on super Tuesday?
30%
What are 4 strengths of the primary process?
- Increases participation
- Voter choice
- Open to outsiders
- Tests candidates
What are 3 weaknesses of the primary process?
- Voter apathy
- Expensive
- Squabbling and division
What is the national convention?
The formal ceremony during which the party officially selects its nominee and adopts a party platform
What did the Democrats change with regards to super-delegates in 2018?
They can no longer vote unless no candidate is initially chosen
What is a party platform?
A document containing the policies a candidate intends to pursue if elected
What are the 4 informal functions of national conventions?
- Motivate faithful party supporters
- Promote party unity
- Boost opinion polls
- Attract ordinary voters
How often and on what day do presidential elections take place?
Every 4 years on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November
How many electors are needed for an absolute majority in an election?
270
Which 2 states adopt a congressional district method in presidential elections?
Maine and Nebraska
How many presidents failed to achieve a second term?
10
What is the Rose Garden Strategy?
Where incumbents use the grandeur of their position in campaigns
What was the total election spend in 2016 and 2020?
2016 - $5.7 billion
2020 - $14.4 billion
How much did 2022 figures indicate that it costs to win a seat in each chamber?
House - $1.8 million
Senate - $13.5 million
What are the 3 main sources of funding for presidential candidates?
- Self-funding
- Individual donations
- PACs and super PACs
What are PACs?
Organisations that pool campaign contributions and donate funds for or against a candidate
What are the 2 limits on PACs?
- Who they can accept money from
- How much money they can accept ($5000 per candidate per cycle)
What are super PACs?
Organisations with no limitations on who contributes to them or how much that cannot donate directly to or coordinate with candidates or their parties
What are hybrid PACs?
A PAC and a super PAC set up by the same people
What is dark money?
Money donated from shell companies
How much dark money was spent on the 2020 election?
$1 billion
