Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections The Rules of the Game AP GOVERNMENT Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections The Rules of the Game

Elections: Rules of the Game The Constitution sets some electoral conditions and requirements, however, most remain matters of state law. Regularly scheduled Elections Cannot be changed by the party in power Congressional election date?

Fixed and Staggered Terms Representatives, Senators, and Presidents have fixed terms Not all offices are up for election at the same time House of Reps are every 2 years and all offices are up for reelection Only one third of the Senators are up for reelection every 2 years – staggered terms Senators can run for the presidency without giving up their seats

Term Limits 22nd Amendment – President has a 2 term limit Lame Duck – a candidate who cannot or says they will not run again Term limits are popular with the people, especially state offices ¾ of all voters favor term limits 17 states have enacted term limits for their state legislatures and even more states limit the term of governors The Supreme Court decided in U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton (1995) that a state does not have the constitutional power to impose limits on the number of terms for which its members to the U.S. Congress are eligible

Winner Take All Most American elections are based on a plurality Reinforces moderate and centrist candidates because they are more likely to secure a plurality or majority A vote for a third party candidate is a “wasted vote” and may help elect the voter’s least desired candidate Most American electoral districts are single-member districts – in any district voter’s choose one representative or official Combined with winner take all minor parties can’t win

Proportional Representation Political parties secure legislative seats and power in proportion to the number of votes they receive in the election Rewards minor parties and permits them to participate in government Examples: Germany, Israel, and Japan

Advantages of Proportional Representation More accurately reveals the preferences of voters and gives those who do not vote for the winning candidate a sense that they have some influence as a result of their vote Could encourage greater voter turnout Encourages issue-oriented campaigns and enhances the representation of women and minorities

Disadvantages Makes it harder to have a clear winner, especially if minor parties are likely to receive representation It may contribute to political instability and ideological extremism

The Electoral College American Presidents and vice president are elected through this indirect device rather than a national popular vote Each state has as many electors as it has representatives and senators. (Idaho – 4) Each state legislature determines how its electors are selected Each party nominates a slate of electors Electors are expected to cast their votes for the party’s candidates for pres. and vp “faithless elector” – does not vote for their state’s popular vote winner

No faithless elector has ever cast the deciding vote The 12th Amendment requires electors to cast separate votes for president and vp How it works If you vote for a candidate you are actually voting for that candidates party’s slate of electors Candidates who win a plurality of the popular vote in a state wins all of the state’s electoral vote (except NE and ME) Winning electors go to their state capital on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes Ballots are sent to Congress in January

Congress formally counts and declares the winner – majority needed to win (270) No majority winner President – the House of Reps. chooses from the top 3 candidates with each state delegation getting 1 vote 2 times – 1800 (Jefferson and Burr) and 1824 (John Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson and William Crawford) V.P. – the Senate chooses from among the top 2 candidates with each senator casting a vote

Winning the popular vote? The electoral college system makes it possible to receive the most popular vote and not get enough electoral votes to be elected president Andrew Jackson / John Quincy Adams 1824 Samuel Tilden / Rutherford B. Hayes 1876 Grover Cleveland / Benjamin Harrison 1888 Al Gore / George W. Bush 2000 Trump / Hillary Clinton 2016

New Vote doesn’t count Yes Electoral college concerns arise every time there is a strong third party candidate for pres. Which Congress casts the vote? New What if a state’s delegation is split? Vote doesn’t count Is it possible to have president and V.P from different parties? Yes

How to win A candidate must appeal to voters in populous states like California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio Battleground States - The closer the election the more emphasis that is given to states in which the race is close even if they are less populated states Presidential candidates usually don’t waste time campaigning in a state unless they have a fighting chance to win the state or if their party is a sure winner Nixon was last candidate to campaign in all 50 states (1960)

Review Questions Who determines the rules for U.S. elections? When are elections held in the U.S.? Explain: fixed term, staggered term, and term limits. What effect does the winner-take-all rule have on our elections? What is the electoral college? How important is it? What are the pros/cons of proportional representation?