Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 3: Choosing Candidates Section Reading Support Transparency Section Outline I. Nominating Candidates II. Choosing Presidential Candidates 1 of 6

Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 3: Choosing Candidates Main Idea Key Terms Many political candidates nominate themselves or are chosen at party conventions. Presidential candidates are nominated at national conventions after a series of primaries or caucuses in individual states. Self-nomination Write-in candidate Caucus Direct primary Closed primary Open primary 2 of 6

Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 3: Choosing Candidates Nominating Candidates Self-nomination: declaring that you are running for office Write-in candidate: one who asks voters to write his or her name on the ballot Caucus: a meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates 3 of 6

Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 3: Choosing Candidates Nominating Candidates (continued) Primaries Direct Primary: an election in which members of a political party choose candidates to run for office in the name of the party. Closed Primary: a primary in which a voter must be registered as a party member and may vote only in that party’s primary. Open Primary: a primary in which voters do not need to declare a party before voting, but they may only vote in one party’s primary 4 of 6

Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 3: Choosing Candidates Choosing Presidential Candidates Paying for a Primary Campaign Candidates must raise money; but federal law states that individuals may not contribute more than $2,000 to each candidate per election. Choosing Delegates Sent to conventions to select candidates National Conventions Choosing nominees, and deciding on a platform. 5 of 6

Political Parties in Our Democracy: Section 3 Section Reading Support Transparency 6 of 6