1. Understanding Elections
Section 1: Election Campaigns
Section 2: Campaign Funding and Political Action Committees
Section 3: Election Day and the Voters

2. Election Campaigns
The purpose of election campaigns is to help the public learn about the candidates, so that voters can make an informed decision on election day. Candidates today take advantage of media exposure and polling in order to influence the voters and get elected to public office.

3. Campaign Planning Campaign Staff Campaign Strategy
A campaign informs the public about the candidate and the party’s platform, their stand on important topics.
Campaign Manager
Finance Chair
Pollster
Media Coordinator
Scheduler
Issue Advisers, others
Campaign Staff
Identify Supporters
Conduct polls to identify where most support is
Target the Message
Use polls and focus groups to learn which issues most important to supporters.
Package the Candidate
Manage media coverage of candidate’s image and message
Campaign Strategy

6. Conducting a Campaign Tackling the Issues Negative Campaigning
On the Campaign Trail
Candidates spend most of campaign time on swing states: where support for candidates is about equal, or in states where their support is greatest
Tackling the Issues
Candidates use stump speeches, or standard speeches usually less than 20 minutes long, express candidate’s beliefs On key issues.
Many candidates use slogans
Negative Campaigning
Candidates may use negative campaigning, attacks on opposing candidate’s weaknesses

8. Conducting a Campaign Campaigns and the Media Polls and Polling
Campaign’s media coordinator uses voters’ ages to determine which type of media to use to reach them.
Broadcast Media
Television, photos, radio
Media often use sound bites of candidates’ speeches
Print Media
Newspapers, magazines, especially ads
Often more detailed than broadcast; editorials influential
The Internet
Blogs, online editions of print media, TV news
Polls and Polling
Polls can show where support is weakest; show which demographic may support the candidate; influence voters

10. Campaign Funding and Political Action Committees
Money plays a major role in election campaigns. Candidates and their staff must carefully decide where the campaign will get money and how it will use this money.

11. Funding Election Campaigns
Election campaigns can be very expensive.
Individual Donations: Largest source of funds; individuals contribute directly or by hosting fund-raisers
Contributions by PACs: Second most important source of funds
Political Party Contributions: Limited amounts funded by committees within a political party
Public Funding: Comes from federal government through income tax; only available to presidential candidates
Where the Money Comes From

12. Campaign Finance Laws Early Campaign Finance Reform FECA Amendments
1907: Congress first restricts campaign funds; expanded restrictions in 1940s
1971: Congress passed FECA, requires candidates, PACs, political parties to report contributions received above certain amount
FECA reports must identify contributors
FECA Amendments
1974: FEC (Federal Election Commission) created
1979: allowances made for unlimited spending on party-building activities
Soft Money
No restrictions placed on donations not given directly to candidates
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
2002: banned soft money raised for issue ads

13. Interest Groups and Election Campaigns
Political Action Committees Many interest groups have a PAC.
How PACs Function Collects funds; distribute to political parties or candidates
Leadership PACs Not official campaign organizations; can raise unlimited funds
Influence of PACs Allow interest groups greater voice in government; critics say too powerful
Elections and 527 Groups Tax-exempt organizations that have no limit on political donations
Controversies over 527 Groups First came to forefront in 2004 election (e.g., MoveOn.org)
Impact of 527 Groups Critics blame for increase in negative campaigning
Campaign Reform and the Media BCRA requires ads to identify who is paying for them; supporters hope this reduces negative campaigning

14. Interest Groups and Election Campaigns Political Action Committees
Many interest groups have a PAC.
How PACs Function
Collect funds
Distribute to political parties or candidates
Leadership PACs
Not official campaign organizations
Can raise unlimited funds
Influence of PACs
Allow interest groups greater voice in government
Critics say too powerful

15. Interest Groups and Election Campaigns
Elections and 527 Groups
Tax-exempt organizations that have no limit on political donations
Controversies over 527 Groups
First came to forefront in 2004 election (e.g., MoveOn.org)
Impact of 527 Groups
Critics blame for increase in negative campaigning
Campaign Reform and the Media
BCRA requires ads to identify who is paying for them
Supporters hope this reduces negative campaigning

16. Election Day and the Voters
Voting is one of the main responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. Being a part of the voting process and taking an active role in electing public officials helps give all Americans a voice in their government.

17. A Historic Election Night
The results hinged on which candidate won Florida and its 25 electoral votes. After announcing different winners several times, the media could not declare a winner. It took more than a month before the outcome in Florida was decided.
Florida officials used machines to recount ballots; results showed Bush as the winner
Democrats asked for hand recount; high number of faulty ballots
Each party filed lawsuit to force or prevent recounts
The Recount Controversy
Florida Supreme Court ordered hand recount; decision was appealed
U.S. Supreme Court declared Florida Supreme Court’s order unconstitutional
Gore accepts defeat
Bush v. Gore

19. Political Participation
The United States is a democratic republic. In order to function well, its citizens must participate in politics.
Voting rights extended several times in U.S. history
Voting Rates
45 percent of eligible voters vote in presidential elections, less in nonpresidential or local elections
Voters under 25 least likely to vote
Impact of Voting
Biggest impact of voting on local elections, which have the most direct effect on people’s lives
Voting Rights and Responsibilities
Working on Campaigns
Activities include working in campaign office, making phone calls, talking to voters
Working at the Polls
Poll workers (hired employees) and Poll watchers (volunteers) at polls on election day
Becoming a Candidate
One way citizens can become more involved
Beyond the Right to Vote

20. The Voting Process Steps to Voting One Person, One Vote
Registering to Vote Americans must take initiative to register
Casting a Ballot Done either by casting paper ballot or by using mechanical voting machine
One Person, One Vote
Reapportionment Redistribution of congressional seats due to population changes
Redistricting Drawing new boundaries for legislative districts
Campaigns on Election Day
Election Day Activities Level of activity in an area depends on candidate’s or opponent’s level of support
Getting Out the Vote Volunteers phone supporters to remind them to vote