Elections and Voting A Perfect democracy?

Points to consider Why are there sooo many elections in US Politics? In what ways has television changed the nature of election campaigns? How is the President elected? Does the system need to be improved? If so how? Is Participation an issue?

More specific points What changes have occurred in voting behaviour since the 1980s? Why might Americans split the ticket when they vote? Is direct legislation a good thing? All these and more will come up in this topic

So who do Americans vote for? Americans vote for over a MILLION elected officials across the country The President (via the Electoral College) A Representative A Senator State Legislators A Governor State Administrative Officials Mayors County Officials

Why soo many? Well that takes us back to the 18th Century A belief that the greater the direct involvement of the citizen the better the likely outcome More participation leads to superior Government Plus more cynically, Americans have always been sceptical of too much power in one set of hands – Too much power for too long is a bad thing and leads to corruption

So how are these people elected 1st Stage – The Nomination Carried out by the party CAUCUS Groups (Senior Party Officials), send delegates to the CONVENTION, where candidates are formally chosen and the policies (The Platform) are chosen Primaries (Preliminary elections held within a party to choose the candidate) 2nd Stage – The Vote Nationwide via FPTP

Primaries Closed Primaries Only registered members can vote Not secret, the voter expreses their preference and then is given an appropriate ballot paper for that party – This can be challenged by party officers of either side This is used in Connecticut and Delaware

Primaries Open Primaries Open to all regardless of party affiliation Elector is given two ballot papers One is filled in, the other is discarded It is possible to ‘wreck’ the other party’s chances by voting for its least desirable candidate This is used in Vermont, Alaska and Rhode Island

Election Campaigns Since television the old ‘Whistle Stop Tours’ (Where candidates i.e. Harry S Truman would address citizens from the back of a train) have ended Now a single broadcast can reach millions of people

Candidate-Centred Campaigning What qualities can you think an individual needs to become a successful candidate in an election? Produce a spider diagram to show your answers

Oh the Professionalism of it all…. Direct mail shots Targetting each voter Analyse voting trends in particular areas Professional media gurus employed Fundraising and organisation on polling day is through the Party Party machinery open only after the Primaries Political Action Committees (PACs), help candidates run and fund their own campaigns

The role of Money in the campaign

Where does all this cash come from? Individual Candidates Interested individuals Interest Groups directly Interest Groups operating through the PACs Political parties

Why? Like duh, it’s to support a candidate on ideological grounds! Oh you lot have such rose tinted spectacles What about personal gain? Grace and favours And if a candidate wins power who is going to benefit the electorate or the donor? Does access to money benefit sitting incumbents or challengers?

Controlling the Money Federal Election Campaign Act (1971) All candidates, individuals, campaign committees, parties and PACs have to declare their donations The Federal Election Commission lacks real teeth, but at least the donations are more visible

2000 Presidential Election Al Gore spent $117.1 million on his campaign and lost! George W Bush spent $168.4 million and only just won

Implications ‘Soft Money’ has increased – Money contributed for electioneering (registration, mass mailing etc) Disadvantages against poorer candiates Richer candidates can afford to have their message repeatedly broadcast on television

Sample Questions ‘vast amounts of money are spent on elections and electioneering’, are the elections better off for this expenditure? ‘Nowadays American elections are geared towards the requirements of television’ discuss