Civics & Economics Goal 4 - Political Parties Election Campaigns (10.2)

Types of Elections The Electoral College is part of the process that Americans use to select their President Besides primary elections, there are three types of elections in the US: general elections, elections on issues, and special elections

General Elections The first part of an election is the nomination of candidates in a primary election, primary races help to narrow down the field of candidates (NC- March 15 th )

General Elections Then, in a general election voters choose candidates for offices General elections always take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November November 8, 2016

General Elections All seats in the US House of Representatives and about 1/3 of the seats in the Senate are at stake in general elections every even-numbered year In all races except for the President, the candidate who wins a majority of the popular vote is elected

General Elections Procedures If it is very close, the loser has the right to demand a recount of votes In 2000 there was a recount of votes in Florida. The case went to the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore decided December 12, The Supreme Court ordered the recount to end and upheld the original certification of George W. Bush as the winner of Florida ’ s disputed 25 electoral votes. Bush- 271; Gore- 266

General Elections Procedures If it is a presidential election and neither candidate wins a majority of electoral votes (270), the House of Representatives elects the President Example of Checks and Balances

Voting on Issues The initiative is a way that citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments Citizens who want a new law gather signatures of voters on a petition 1 st Amendment right 

Voting on Issues If enough people sign the petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot at the next general election for the citizens to vote.

Voting on Issues The referendum is a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law

Special Elections Runoff elections may be held when none of the candidates for a particular office wins a majority of the vote in the general election, it determines the winner

Special Elections In a recall, citizens can vote to remove a public official from office; like the initiative it starts with a petition

Presidential Elections In the past, both major parties held national conventions (every 4 years)to choose their candidates; delegates came from each state, DC, and US territories In recent years the convention has been used to kick off the campaign and rally party members across the country for the work ahead

Campaigns Presidential campaigns are usually in full swing by early September Candidates travel across the country giving speeches, appearing on TV, and holding news conferences, etc.

Campaigns Candidates also face against their opponents in televised debates They meet with state and local political leaders, and give pep talks to lower-level members of the party who are working for them

Electoral Votes and the States For all races except the president, the candidate who wins a majority of the popular vote is elected to office (ex: NC Governor’s race) Beverly Perdue-D 2,146,083 (50.27%) Pat McCrory- R 2,001,114 (46.88%) Beverly Perdue and Pat McCrory NC Gubernatorial Candidates

Electoral Votes and the States In a presidential race, voters are electing people called electors, who hold electoral votes and are part of the Electoral College system (December) The candidate who wins a state ’ s popular vote receives all of their electoral votes; this is called the winner-take-all system

Electoral Votes and the States The winning electors meet in the state capital in December to cast the state ’ s electoral votes for President and Vice President Then they send their votes to Congress which counts them

Electoral Votes and the States Every state has one elector for each of its US Senators and House of Representative members The total number of votes in the Electoral College is 538; Washington, DC has 3 votes; the candidate who receives a majority, 270 or more wins NC has 15 electoral votes 13 US House members + 2 US Senators 15 Electoral Votes

Electoral College Issues Some people believe the Electoral College should be changed or eliminated; they argue large states such as California and Texas have too much influence

Electoral College Issues Under the winner-take- all system a candidate who loses the popular vote can still win the electoral vote and the presidency, this has happened 4 times Hayes Harrison Bush –Adams (HOR)

Electoral College Issues The winner-take-all system also makes it difficult for third-party candidates to be represented in the electoral vote Ross Perot- most successful “third party” candidate campaign.

Electoral College Issues Any change in the Electoral College requires a constitutional amendment