E.Q. What is the process by which people are elected to local, state, and national offices?

What are the steps? In the U. S., the election process occurs in two steps: 1. Nomination—where the choice of candidates are narrowed down to 1 per party 2. General election—where voters make the final choice of officeholder

How can you be nominated? Self-Announcement: “throwing your hat in the ring” ○ Term coined by Teddy Roosevelt in 1912

What are Primary Elections and Caucuses?  Primary elections are held by political parties; it’s when the party (voters of a particular party) pick the candidate for the general election (state and national elections)  Primaries can be open or closed ○ Open : any qualified voter can cast a ballot ○ Closed primaries: only declared party members can cast ballots.  A caucus is a meeting of members of a particular political party where they pick a candidate mostly used at local and state level

What is a Nominating Convention?  Took over from the Caucus on the national level  Official meeting of party delegates (from states)to select the party’s presidential candidate  Held in the summer before the general election  The convention develops the party’s platform

What is the role of Campaigning?  Purpose is to get the candidate’s message out to the voter ○ an effort to influence potential voters ○ use of propaganda to sway voters

What is Campaign Funding? 3 basic sources:  Most of $ from Private sources; ○ Ex. Individuals, families, personal funds. PACs (political action committees) Public subsidies ○ Ex. Federal matching fund program  2 types of campaign funds Hard money: money given directly to a candidate; must be reported to the FEC Soft money: donations given to local/state organizations for “party-building activities ○ Ex. Ads, voter registration.

Campaign Finance Regulating  FEC The Federal Election Commission is an independent agency that is part of the executive branch. They enforce federal laws concerning campaign finances.