1. Elections & Campaigns

2. Congressional Elections
Held every two years on even-numbered years
Aka Mid-Term Elections
Low voter turnout
Incumbents - currently holding office
Generally win elections due to low voter turn out, success in office, or good campaigning, duck responsibility
Coattail Effect
Weak or less known candidates win based on success of popular presidential candidate through party affiliation
NO FEDERAL FUNDING

3. Presidential Elections
Held every four years—more competitive
Two major parties receive federal funding in general election
Phases of Presidential Candidacy:
Getting mentioned
Primaries and Caucuses
Nominating Conventions
General Election
Electoral College

5. Primaries and Caucuses
Historically, state and party leaders met and chose nominee
Very few states use caucuses
Iowa’s caucus is the first major electoral event usually determining the presidential candidate for each party
Primaries
Voters from primary states vote for the party nominee
State delegates throw support toward primary vote winner
Most commonly used method

6. General Election Electoral College

8. Elections & Campaigning
Position Issues
Issue which divides voters and candidates have opposing views
Examples:
Abortion: pro-choice or pro-life
Marriage: man/woman or heterosexual/homosexual
Valence Issues
Universally shared views and voters determine which candidate is more likely to address/solve
Campaigns have recently concentrated more on valence issues
Low unemployment
Low crime

9. Elections & Campaigning
Television
Paid advertisement - spots
News broadcasts - visuals
Debates
Televised or town hall
Gain exposure, usually for lesser-knowns
Could lead to showcase flaws
Direct Mail/Internet
Lists used to direct specific issue-based ads to specific demographics
Useful to earn campaign funds
Nixon - Kennedy Debate
1960

10. Campaign Finance

11. Campaign Finance Reform
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) and 1974 Amendments
Established Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Limits on individual contributions—limited to $1000 to any candidate in any election year
No limit on what an individual candidate can contribute unless accept federal funding (Buckley v. Valeo 1976)
Funding in Presidential Primaries
Raise 5000 in 20 states of 250 or less
Funding in Presidential elections
Led to the Creation of PACs

12. PACs PACs Must register 6 months in advance At least 50 contributors
Give to at least 3 candidates
Not exceed $5,000 per candidate per election
Not exceed $15,000 to national political party

13. Campaign Finance Reform
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)/ McCain-Feingold Act
Banned soft money to national parties
prohibits corporations and labor unions from funding electioneering communications
Restricted PAC campaign ads
Increased individual contributions to 2000
527 organization
Non-profit, tax-exempt political committee
May not campaign directly for candidate or political party
May address issue or character of a candidate
Publicly disclose finances and donors

14. Campaign Finance Reform
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Overturned restriction on corporation and union contributions allowing unlimited financial support for campaign support ads (cannot limit independent expenditures)
Ruled unconstitutional based on First Amendment freedom of speech
Super PACs
may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals
spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates
must report their donors to FEC
prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates

15. What decides an election?

16. Voting Based on Political Party
Party affiliation arguably the primary determinant for a voter
Most voters are Democrats, but not as firmly dedicated
Republicans successful with independents and moderates and have higher voter turnout

17. Voting Based on the Issues
Prospective Voting
Vote based on information of issues and candidates
Ex. Pro-life citizen votes for Bush over Gore in 2000
Retrospective Voting
Vote based on past events whether successful or failed
Ex. The economy suffered during Bush’s (R) administration hurting McCain’s (R) campaign against Obama (D) in 2008

18. Voting Based on the Campaign
Reawakens partisan loyalties of voters
Provides voters chance to witness how candidates handle the spotlight and responsibility
Allows voters to judge a candidate’s character and values

19. Voting Based on a Coalition
Democrats
Strong loyalties among blacks and Jews
However, limited popular contribution
Moderate support among most Hispanics
Low voter turnout
Catholics and unions divided
Republicans
Strong loyalties among business people and professionals
Moderate support among farmers and conservatives
Farmers can switch based on economy

20. Results of Elections Deviating Election Critical/Realigning Election
Minority power wins with support of new voters, but voters maintain traditional loyalties
Usually temporary due to current issues or events
Critical/Realigning Election
Minority power wins majority with new voter coalition and maintains subsequent power
Occurs due to serious or extreme conditions and events
1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932
Dealigning Election/Party Dealignment
Voters less dependent on partisan loyalties
Split-ticket voting
Divided govt.