Elections Chapter 13

Question to ponder What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

A command for the elected official to carry out their platforms is call a Order Mandate Injunction Prescription Response Grid

Purposes of Elections Fill public offices Staff government Winners claim a mandate from the people

The method of primary election that is healthiest for the party system is this type… Closed Open Blanket Competitive

Primary election vs. General Election Primary Elections: nominate candidates Open Closed Runoff General Election: fill elective public offices.

Other elections Initiative: Proposals supported be the people Referendum: Proposals submitted by state legislatures Recall: Voters remove an incumbent from office by popular vote i.e. Governor Grey Davis was removed by a recall vote, replaced by “Terminator”

The most party-oriented means of choosing delegates to the national convention is Winner-take-all Proportional representation Through the use of bonus delegates The caucus

Primary v. Caucus Primary Winner take all primary: Candidate with majority of votes receives all that state’s delegates. Proportional representation primary: Candidates receive % of delegates in proportion to their % of popular vote in that state. Caucus: Party members meet throughout the state to select the party’s delegates

Primary vs. Caucus 36 states had primaries in 2012 14 states had caucuses Iowa caucus begins the nomination season

Frontloading Frontloading: tendency of states to choose an early date on the primary calendar. Benefits?

The parties’ national conventions Are deliberative bodies Merely ratify preselected nominees Are often full of surprises Behave as decision-makers

Party Conventions Held the summer of an election year Media frenzy First national convention held in 1831 by the Anti-Masonic Party. Fundamentally different today than what it was in the past

Participant Scores Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 4 Participant 5

What percentage of your current points would you like to wager on the next question? 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Exceptional delegates Superdelegates Delegate slots to the Democratic National Convention that are reserved for elected party officials are called Units Ombudsmen Exceptional delegates Superdelegates Countdown 15

Factors Decline Roles of Conventions Delegate selection Primaries, proportional representation, pre-committed to their candidate, superdelegates National candidates Lessened the power of state and local party leaders at the conventions. News Media Tracking delegate selection, much exposure and information

Who are the Delegates? keen interest in politics more to the right or left financially better off

Congressional elections differ from those for the presidency because Many candidates are celebrities Most candidates are not well-known Media attention is acute in congressional races Incumbency is relatively unimportant Countdown 15

Congressional Elections Occur every two years Less obscure, popular than presidential elections. Midterm elections: elections that take place in the middle of a presidential term (2010, 2014, 2018, etc)

Incumbency Advantage Incumbent: somebody already in office Taxpayer funds to run office Highly visible in districts Gerrymandering Franking privilege: ability of congressional leaders to send mail to their constituents at no cost. Re-election of incumbents are VERY high

Michigan’s Congressional Districts

Redistricting Every 10 years, based on U.S. Census, congressional district lines are redrawn. Redrawn by state legislatures Reapportionment: when states gain or lose representation in the House

Reno v. Shaw

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Gerrymandering case Districts created with race as the dominant consideration violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

Participant Scores Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 4 Participant 5

What percentage of your current points would you like to wager on the next question? 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

In general, voter turnout is higher among those who are Older and wealthier Less educated with a moderate income Female Younger Countdown 15

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Who Votes? Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor. Age: Older = more likely to vote. Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education. Interest in politics (political efficacy)

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Who Votes? (continued) Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote. Union Membership: Union member = more likely to vote. Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice

In 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18 by which Amendment? 21st 18th 17th Countdown 15

Reasons for Lower Voter Turnout Difficulty of Registration (#1 reason) “Motor Voter” laws: register when apply for license. Too Busy Number of Elections Difficulty of Absentee Voting Age Limited opportunities (midweek, limited hours, single day,etc…)

The Electoral College was modified by which Amendment? Countdown 15

Electoral College 1 Congress member=1 Electoral Vote 23rd Amendment- 3 electors to D.C. Winner take all in 48 states Winner of the popular vote in the state receives ALL of that states electoral votes Nebraska and Maine: District method National Popular Vote is IRRELEVANT

E.C.-National Popular Vote is IRRELEVENT 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000: President won despite not having the majority of popular vote

In the event a candidate does not get a majority of the electoral votes, who decides the winner? Supreme Court Congress Senate House of Representatives Countdown 15

Elections decided by House of Representatives In the event no candidate receives majority (more than 1/2 ) of electoral votes, House of Representatives decides 1800- Tie in Electoral College (Result was 12th Amendment) 1824-House chose Adams over Jackson 1876-Hayes over Tilden