U.S. Electoral Process Chapters 7-3, 18, & 19

Step 1: Nomination Nomination Options: Petition—3 rd party nomination method Caucus Primary election Closed Primary Open Primary “Operation Chaos” Semi-open primary Run-off primary

General Election Non-Presidential elections— popular vote decides winner Presidential Races use Electoral College –Elector –# of electors= # of Senators + # of House members Changes after census every 10 years –538 total electors—need 270 to win

2008 Electoral Map J. McCain= Red (173) B. Obama= Blue (365)

Reasons for Electoral College Forces candidates out of urban areas Fear/distrust of American voters

Criticisms of Electoral College Popular vote winner can lose election –J.Q. Adams (1824) –R.B. Hayes (1876) –G.W. Bush (2000) Electors can ignore popular vote 3 rd Party candidates can take votes away from major parties G. BushA. GoreR. Nader Popular Vote 50,456,002 (47.87%) 50,999,897 (48.38%) 2,882,955 (2.74%) Electoral Vote Florida Results G. BushAl GoreR. Nader Popular Vote 2,912,7902,912,25397,488 Futurama Spoof Simpsons Spoof

Florida recount & “chads”chads

Important Voting Terms Suffrage Secret Ballot Absentee Ballot

Campaign Finance 2008 Presidential race cost over $1.8 Billion Financing Options for Presidential nominees: 1.Party assistance--$5000 from party 2.Political Action Committees (interest groups like NRA or PETA)--$ Public Funding--$84 million—cannot accept private donations 4.Private donations for individuals--$2300 –Pre-2008: donations come from richer donors at expensive fundraisers –New in 2008: online donations SKYROCKET –Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton websites (average $10-$55 million per month) Donations and spending must be reported to FEC

527 Organizations –Independent groups –Not allowed to donate ANY money to candidate –May not show support to any candidate –May say anything they want about someone so long as they do not support Leads to “attack” ads No limit on how much money they can spend –Swift boat Veterans for TruthSwift boat Veterans for Truth –Hillary Clinton “Red Phone” AdHillary Clinton “Red Phone” Ad

History of Political Parties Political Ideology: Liberal: Conservative: Moderate:

Political Spectrum LiberalModerateConservative DemocratsRepublicans CommunistsConstitutions Socialists Libertarians GreensReforms

Political Party: Functions of parties: -

Types of Party Systems One-Party: Two-Party: Multi-Party:

Democrats Founded in 1828 Historic Presidents: A. Jackson, F. Roosevelt, J. Kennedy, B. Clinton, B. Obama Party Platform: –Iraq: –National Security: –Fiscal issues: –Social issues:

Republicans Founded in 1854 Referred to as “GOP” Historic Presidents: A. Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, R. Nixon, R. Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, G.W. Bush –Party Platform: –War in Iraq: –National Security: –Fiscal issues: –Social issues:

Federalists ( ) Historic Presidents: G. Washington Historic Party Platform: –Passage of Constitution –Supported growth of the Federal government (Big Gov’t) –Supported the Alien & Sedition Acts of late 1790s

Democratic-Republicans ( ) Historic Presidents: T. Jefferson, J. Madison, J. Monroe Historic Party Platform: –Strict Constructionists—be sure to define –Supported strengthened state gov’ts –Wanted neutrality in world affairs –Supported policies to help farmers (reduced taxes)

Whigs ( ) Historic Presidents: W.H. Harrison, J. Tyler, Z. Taylor, M. Fillmore Historic Party Platform: Splinter Party –Opposed slavery—hypocrytical –Supported the use of gov’t to increase industrial capabilities –Supported use of tariffs –Built roads, canals, and railroads –Promoted public schools, colleges, cultural institutions

Greens Founded in 1980 Influential politician—Ralph Nader Party Platform: Ideological –Environmentalism –Marijuana legalization

Libertarians Founded in 1971 Influential politicians—Bob Barr Party Platform: –Laissez-faire economics –Believe strongly in personal freedoms (speech and sexual) –Abolish “victimless” crimes like prostitution –Fiscal responsibility

Boston “Tea” Party Reference to the Boston Tea Party “Taxed Already Enough” Oppose government sponsored programs that “waste” or require more tax dollars –18% of Americans identify as “tea party” supporters –Unofficial party—organized use of protests –Splinter group of Republican Party & Libertarian Party

Texas “Primacaucus” Texas Democratic presidential primary, 2008 CandidateVotesPercentageDelegates Hillary Clinton1,459, %65 Barack Obama1,358, %61 John Edwards30, %0 Bill Richardson10, %0 Joe Biden5, %0 Christopher Dodd3, %0 Totals2,868, %126

Texas “Primacaucus” Texas Democratic presidential precinct conventions, % of precincts reporting CandidatePrecinct delegatesPercentageDelegates Barack Obama23, %38 Hillary Clinton18, %29 Other60.01%0 Uncommitted380.04%0 Undetermined45, %0 Totals88, %67

Presidential Primaries/Caucuses Delegates required—set by parties –Democrats—2024 out of 4047 “Superdelegates” –Republicans—1191 out of 2381

Add Map of PA delegate districts Republicans— winner take all delegates Democrats— proportional delegates