9/15/2010

Candidate announces plan to run for office. Candidate campaigns to win delegate support. Caucuses and primary elections take place in the states. Nominee for president is announced at national party conventions. Citizens cast their votes. The electoral college casts its votes. The president is inaugurated.

 Choose over 500,000 public roles  Contest between political parties  Winner-take-all – the person with the most votes wins (don’t need over 50%) FPTP  Plurality  Single-member districts – one rep per district  Third parties can’t break in

 General Campaign Consulting Services  Kaufman Campaigns provides a broad range of consulting and political campaign services to clients throughout California.  Strategic Planning and Game Plan Development  Preparing Initiatives for the Ballot  Message Development  Radio and Television Advertising  Targeted Mail  Graphic and Web Design  Grassroots Organizing  Day-to-Day Campaign Operations  Community Outreach  Earned Media  Polling/Surveys/Focus Groups  Opposition Research  Budget Planning

About 600 professional consultants were paid $1.78 billion for political campaign work. Media consultants, who handle advertising and give strategic advice, received 67 percent of all money spent — roughly $1.2 billion. Direct mail consultants had the second-largest amount, nearly $298 million (17 percent of all spending). Fundraising consultants cost candidates at least $59 million.

Senate Type of Candidate Total Raised Number of Cands Avg Raised Incumbent$334,267,11731$10,782,810 Challenger$129,216,714152$850,110 Open Seat$320,654,677123$2,606,949 Grand Total$784,138,508306$2,562,544 House Type of Candidate Total Raised Number of Cands Avg Raised Incumbent$573,039,403420$1,364,380 Challenger$256,712,7051,108$231,690 Open Seat$141,768,027356$398,225 Grand Total$971,520,1351,884$515,669 "Since 1914, incumbent U.S. senators running for reelection have won about 78 percent of the time,"

 Sorcerer’s Stone  Prisoner of Azkaban  Goblet of Fire  Order of the Phoenix  Half-Blood Prince

A. Sorcerer’s Stone B. Prisoner of Azkaban C. Goblet of Fire D. Order of the Phoenix E. Half-Blood Prince

Each state holds a primary or caucus between January and June to determine candidates for parties

Candidates then enter into general elections against the other political parties

More people vote in general elections. In 2004, 50% of people voted in general elections versus 25% in the primaries. Why? More ideological

 Congress elections are regional  Senate by state; House by district

 House elections are less competitive than Senate or President- why?

 Congressional elections every two years (all House up for reelection and 1/3 of the Senate)

CONGRESS  Congress communicates with their constituents more directly, often personally,  Congress reps can deny responsibility and blame problems on other reps or President  Less turnout PRESIDENT  while President relies on media  More turnout

 Money DescriptionTotal Administrative (salaries, benefits, utilities, taxes, etc) $434,000,000 Media (cost of advertising and media production including tv, print, radio, and internet ads) $359,000,000 Campaign expenses (consultation, polling, promotional material, etc) $154,000,000 Fundraising (events, telemarketing, mailings, etc.) $92,000,000 Contributions (Contributions from the committee to federal and non-federal parties) $34,000,000 Other (Miscellaneous including donations and loan payments. $25,000,000 The Center for Responsive politics calculated how the money is spent:

 Incumbents have huge advantage  Franking privileges

 Cater to distrust by public of federal gov.  “Run against Congress, not for it.”  Sophomore surge  Each Senator has 40 aides