The Election Process
Steps
1. Announcement
2. State caucuses or primaries
3. Conventions
4. Nomination
5. General election
6. Electoral college votes
7. Inauguration
Announcement
A decision is made to run for office and the public is notified• TV• Radio• Speech• Political events
DON’T FORGET THE PRESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Caucuses and Primaries
Caucus- series of small meetings designed to select candidates and delegates to attend the National Convention
Primaries- • Intra-party election• Political parties hold elections in states to select a
candidate to represent their party
NOTE: There are TWO forms of primaries
Closed Primaries
• Voters can only vote for the party they are registered with• Only people registered with the political party can vote• People can only vote for their declared party
Open Primaries
• Any qualified voter can vote• The voter can determine which party they want to vote for
• Voters do not need to be a registered party member, but they just need to decide which party ballot to choose before entering the booth
Which is better?
Closed
1. Prevents “raiding”
2. Makes candidates follow party platform
3. Make voter more “thoughtful”- they have to choose a party
Open
1. Voters not forced to declare party to the public
2. Includes independent voters
3. Keeps “ballot secrecy”
Which states hold the first?
Primary: New Hampshire
Caucus: Iowa
What’s the big deal about them?• Ton of media attention to candidates• Candidates focus attention to these states• If win, establish being the front runner• Gives candidates momentum in the election
Super Tuesday• Refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a
presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections
• Traditionally, candidates that do well on Super Tuesday, win their parties nomination and do well in the general election
NominationNomination- Party’s official endorsement of a candidate to run for office
To win: a candidate must win the majority of delegates support at the National Convention
National Convention: Major-party presidential nominees are selected
Plurality: the most votesMajority: more than half of the votes
General Election• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November every four
years where voters cast their votes (popular vote)• State governments decide how to administer the election
• Electronic, mail, online, paper pencil• Electoral College casts their votes in December
Types of Voting• Absentee voting – voting earlier than the election day
• Those too ill or disabled• Those who will be away from their county• Those serving in the military
• Straight Ticket/Party Voting – voting only for one political party
• Split Ticket Voting – voting for different parties for different offices in the same election
Political Parties
What is a political party? Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed
Three Party Systems in the World
1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME
Only 1 party, so no competing ideas
Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power
Example: China (Communist Party)
Three Party Systems in the World
2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government
Common in Europe, Israel, Japan
Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas
Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which leads to a Coalition:
EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII)
Three Party Systems in the World
Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.
Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
Advantages: Continuity
Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties
Beginnings of US Political Parties
George Washington against political parties• “parties serve their own interests”• “parties not beneficial to American people”
Parties formed after his exit:
1. Democratic-Republicans
2. Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Democratic-Republicans• Supported states rights• Supported economy
based on agriculture• Power in hands of all
people• Led by Thomas
Jefferson
Federalists
Federalists• Supported strong national
govt.• Supported economy
based on industry• Power in hands of wealthy
and educated• Led by Alexander
Hamilton
The end of the beginning…
• Federalists BreakupFederalists gradually
disappear – no political momentum
John Adams only party member to be elected President
Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)
Continued Split
Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up
Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people
Formation of the Republicans
1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery
– Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party– Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed
Republican Party
Republicans
Republican Party1860: Abe Lincoln
becomes 1st Republican President
Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War
1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson
What do party members actually do?
Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office
Steps include
1. Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office
2004 Republican Convention
What do party members do?
Party starts an election campaign• An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform
voters of the party’s stand on issues• Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform
dozens of job that include:• Raising funds• Polling voters/making phone calls• Drive voters to the polls• Register voters
What do party members do?
Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.
Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.
Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers
Third Parties
What are Third Parties?• Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the
Democrats and Republicans• Some successful Third Parties:
• Populist Party – 1890’s• Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912• Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today
Third Parties
3 Kinds of Third Parties1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:
Examples: Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol in the U.S. U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of marijuana in the
U.S. Green Party: formed to protect the environment
Third Parties
3 Kinds of Third Parties2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief
Examples: Libertarian Party The Third Party Socialist Parties
Third Parties
3 Kinds of Third Parties3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate
Examples: Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1996 American Independent Party – formed around Presidential candidate
George Wallace in 1968