1. Campaigns and Elections
Unit 1

2. Candidates A person running for office
What does the Constitution require of presidential candidates?
35 years old
Natural-born U.S. citizen
Resident of the U.S. for 14 years

3. Primary Elections
Voters choose candidates to run in the general election (in November)
A primary elections or a caucus occurs in each state, from
January through
Summer

4. Primary Elections
During the primary elections, candidates within a party compete against each other for the nomination… they all hope to be the nominee, and often make negative comments about the other candidate in their party

5. Nomination
Political parties select candidates to run for public office (through primary elections and caucuses)
The person selected is the nominee, or candidate

6. National Convention
A huge meeting of delegates (representatives) from each of the 50 states who gather in August (Republicans) and September (Democrats) to officially select their candidate for the November general election
After months of debates, advertising, and fighting for the nomination through primary elections, the party unifies around one candidate

7. Campaigning
Each candidate “campaigns” by traveling around the area covered by the election (local, state, or national) giving speeches or making public appearances to gain name recognition or get the word out about he/she believes in
Candidates use propaganda, both positive about themselves and negative about their opponents (mud-slinging)

8. Propaganda Techniques

9. Campaigning
Millions spent on advertisements for candidates or against others—image molding
Canvassing: Election workers travel around asking for help with the campaign or polling potential voters; Candidates themselves may knock on doors for local elections
Some candidates use endorsements from celebrities or important community members or organizations
Sometimes candidates have debates

10. General Election
Tuesday after the first Monday in November
vs.

11. What would you do to encourage people to get out and vote?
Create your own “get out the vote” campaign
Would you make posters?
Write a song?
Have a rally?
Give an impassioned speech?
Create a website?
Other ideas?