1. 5-2: Presidential Campaigns and Elections

2. Big Idea: Civic Participation in a Representative Democracy
Enduring Understanding:
The impact of federal policies on campaigning and electoral rules continues to be contested by both sides of the political spectrum.

3. Learning Objectives:
Explain how the different processes work in a U.S. presidential election.
Explain how campaign organizations and strategies affect the election process.
Explain how the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process.
Explain how the Electoral College impacts democratic participation.

4. Campaigning Background Spending Totals 1976: $67,000,000.00
1976: $67,000,000.00
1992: $192,000,000.00
2004: $718,000,000.00
2016: $2,100,000,000.00

5. Campaigning Campaign Finance Reform PACs Federal Election Campaign Act
Formed by interest groups to raise money to donate to campaigns
Federal Election Campaign Act
Created FEC in 1974
Provided public financing for major party candidates
Placed limitations on contributions and spending
Buckley v. Valeo, 1976
Upheld donation limits by PACs
Struck down spending limits
Candidates can spend unlimited amounts of their own money (free speech)

6. Campaigning Campaign Finance Reform Soft Money
Unregulated donations for “party-building activities”
Would be funneled to campaigns
Bi-Partisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), 2002
Eliminated soft money donations

7. Campaigning Campaign Finance Reform 527 Organization Super PACs
Tax-exempt
Influence elections
Includes PACs, Super PACs
Super PACs
Organizations created to influence the political process
Not subject to donation restrictions
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
“Money is speech”
Cannot officially endorse a candidate

8. Electoral College Background Allocation of Electoral Votes
No direct election
Safeguard against factions
Allocation of Electoral Votes
Total number of Congressmen from the state
Minimum of 3
Electoral votes change with reapportionment
The Electors
Originally independent
Today mirror popular vote

9. Electoral College Winner-Take-All System District Method
Candidates emphasize large states, swing states, competitive states
Severely restricts 3rd party candidates
District Method
Nebraska and Maine only
One electoral vote for each district winner (House)
Two electoral votes for statewide winner (Senate)

10. Percentage of Population Share of Electoral Votes
Electoral College
Persistence
Constitutional amendment needed to abolish it
Benefits small states
Can benefit minorities located in key states
It works
No consensus on how to replace it
State
Percentage of Population
Share of Electoral Votes
Wyoming
0.1%
0.6%
Virginia
2.6%
2.4%
California
11.9%
10.2%