1. E.Q. What is the process by which people are elected to local, state, and national offices?

2. What are the steps? In the U. S., the election process occurs in two steps: 1. Nomination—where the choice of candidates are narrowed down to 1 per party 2. General election—where voters make the final choice of officeholder

4. How can you be nominated? Self-Announcement: “throwing your hat in the ring” ○ Term coined by Teddy Roosevelt in 1912

5. What are Primary Elections and Caucuses?  Primary elections are held by political parties; it’s when the party (voters of a particular party) pick the candidate for the general election (state and national elections)  Primaries can be open or closed ○ Open : any qualified voter can cast a ballot ○ Closed primaries: only declared party members can cast ballots.  A caucus is a meeting of members of a particular political party where they pick a candidate mostly used at local and state level

6. What is a Nominating Convention?  Took over from the Caucus on the national level  Official meeting of party delegates (from states)to select the party’s presidential candidate  Held in the summer before the general election  The convention develops the party’s platform

7. What is the role of Campaigning?  Purpose is to get the candidate’s message out to the voter ○ an effort to influence potential voters ○ use of propaganda to sway voters

8. What is Campaign Funding? 3 basic sources:  Most of $ from Private sources; ○ Ex. Individuals, families, personal funds. PACs (political action committees) Public subsidies ○ Ex. Federal matching fund program  2 types of campaign funds Hard money: money given directly to a candidate; must be reported to the FEC Soft money: donations given to local/state organizations for “party-building activities ○ Ex. Ads, voter registration.

9. Campaign Finance Regulating  FEC The Federal Election Commission is an independent agency that is part of the executive branch. They enforce federal laws concerning campaign finances.