1. Elections & Direct Democracy
A Revision overview

2. The Pre-Nomination Process
Knowledge & Understanding
The Invisible Primary
Primaries and Caucuses
Open, Closed & Modified
New Hampshire & Iowa
Front Loading
Super Tuesday
(RECENT) EXAMPLES!
The pre-nomination system
Analysis & Evaluation
Definition & importance?
Definitions & explanation
Significance of
Reasons for /
pros & cons – using the above

3. The Pre-Nomination Process
(a) Explain the significance of the New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucus in the presidential nomination process. (2010)
(a) Consider the significance of the 'invisible primary' in the presidential nomination process. (2011)
(a) Examine the significance of the caucus system in the presidential nomination process (2012)
(a) Identify and explain the differences between primary elections and the caucus system in the US presidential nomination process. (2015)
(b) The advantages of primary elections vastly outweigh their disadvantages in the selection of each party's presidential nominee.' Discuss. (2010)

4. Nomination Process – The NNCs
K & U
Formal Functions Nominating Presidential Candidate Nominating VP Candidate Sharing party platform
Informal Functions Heal divisions Big Acceptance Speech Rally party activists Inspire the viewers (bounce)
Recent examples
A & E
Do they still fulfil any useful or significant function?

5. Nomination Process – The NNCs
(b) 'Slick media events which lack any significance in the modern US nomination process.' Assess this view of the national nominating conventions. (2011)
(b) To what extent have the role and functions of the national nominating conventions been reduced to mere formalities? (2014)

6. The presidential election
Goals: ‘energising the base’ winning over independent voters creating ‘momentum’
Strategy: swing states party identification framing of candidate balanced ticket
Methods: whistle stop visits TV debates political advertising social media
Recent examples
How important are the media in election campaigns?
How important are the TV debates?
How important is candidate framing?
Why are some states more important than others?
What role does the Vice-presidential candidate play?
What is meant by the 'permanent campaign’?
Pros and cons

7. The presidential election
(a) Explain the purpose of a 'balanced ticket' in US presidential elections. (2009)
(a) Examine the significance of the televised debates in presidential election campaigns. (2010)
(a) Consider the significance of the selection of vice-presidential candidates in the US nomination process. (2012)
(b) 'Too long, too expensive and too dominated by style rather than substance.' Evaluate this view of the US presidential nomination process. (2013)

8. Campaign Finance Soft money Hard money PACs and Super PACS
The BCRA (2002) & Citizens United vs. the FEC
Recent examples
Where do candidates get their money from?
Does it matter where the money comes from?
What has been the impact of reforms on elections and campaigns?
How significant is money in US elections?

9. Campaign Finance
(a) Distinguish between hard money and soft money in the financing of US elections. (2013)
(b) 'America has the best democracy money can buy.' Why are American elections increasingly expensive and what are the effects of this on the electoral and political processes? (2009)
(b) 'Despite several attempts to regulate campaign finance, money increasingly dominates the US electoral process and is the main factor contributing to a candidate's success.' Discuss. (2012)

10. The Electoral College Why it was established (& when) How it works
Who are the electors
Recent – and older - examples
What is its effect on the campaign?
Why has it not been changed / abolished? -
Pros and cons

11. The Electoral College
(a) Consider the Importance of 'swing states' to the success of candidates in US presidential elections. (2013)
(b) Evaluate the major criticisms of the Electoral College and give reasons for the lack of significant reforms to its workings. (2010)
(b) Evaluate the view that, despite criticisms, the EC is by far the best method of electing the US President. (2012)
(b) ‘An eighteenth-century process still used for the election of the twenty-first-century president.’ Critically evaluate this view of the Electoral College. (2015)

12. Direct Democracy Referendums Propositions (Initiatives)
Recall Elections
RECENT EXAMPLES
Definitions of all 3
How does direct democracy affect democracy in the USA? Help or hinder / enhance or weaken? -
Pros and cons

13. Direct Democracy
(a) Examine the use of recall elections in US politics. (2011)
(b) Evaluate how democratic, in practice, initiatives and referendums are in making public policy decisions in the USA. (2011)
(b) 'Attractive in theory, but undesirable in practice.' Discuss this view of direct democracy in the USA. (2013)