1. Political Parties in Our Democracy
Section 3: Choosing Candidates
Section Reading Support Transparency
Section Outline
I. Nominating Candidates
II. Choosing Presidential Candidates
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2. Political Parties in Our Democracy
Section 3: Choosing Candidates
Main Idea
Key Terms
Many political candidates nominate themselves or are chosen at party conventions. Presidential candidates are nominated at national conventions after a series of primaries or caucuses in individual states.
Self-nomination
Write-in candidate
Caucus
Direct primary
Closed primary
Open primary
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3. Political Parties in Our Democracy
Section 3: Choosing Candidates
Nominating Candidates
Self-nomination: declaring that you are running for office
Write-in candidate: one who asks voters to write his or her name on the ballot
Caucus: a meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates
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4. Political Parties in Our Democracy
Section 3: Choosing Candidates
Nominating Candidates (continued)
Primaries
Direct Primary: an election in which members of a political party choose candidates to run for office in the name of the party.
Closed Primary: a primary in which a voter must be registered as a party member and may vote only in that party’s primary.
Open Primary: a primary in which voters do not need to declare a party before voting, but they may only vote in one party’s primary
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5. Political Parties in Our Democracy
Section 3: Choosing Candidates
Choosing Presidential Candidates
Paying for a Primary Campaign
Candidates must raise money; but federal law states that individuals may not contribute more than $2,000 to each candidate per election.
Choosing Delegates
Sent to conventions to select candidates
National Conventions
Choosing nominees, and deciding on a platform.
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6. Political Parties in Our Democracy: Section 3
Section Reading Support Transparency
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