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Chapter 7: The Electoral ProcessAmerican Government Unit 4BellringerWhy do you think it is necessary to have a process for naming candidates for office?How does the fact that we have a two-party system increase the importance of a nomination?I. The Nominating Process

Nominating CandidatesOnly 2 people run in the general election. How do they get there?Nomination the naming of those who will seek officeGeneral Election first Tuesday in November on even years (Constitution)

5 Methods of NominationPrimary (semifinals) elections, winner goes on to the general election many different waysCaucus group of like-minded people who meet to select a candidate party onlyConvention local party picks states delegates then pick national then pick candidateSelf-Announcement person announces they are running third party/independentPetition a required number of signatures required then on the ballotHigher the office more signatures

Direct PrimaryDirect Primary an intraparty election held within the party to pick that partys candidates for the general electionRepublicans v. RepublicansDemocrats v. Democrats

Direct PrimaryOpen Primary any voter can vote some secret some open by partyClosed Primary Must be a registered party member to runBlanket Party ballot listed every candidateNonpartisan local elections (consolidated election)Run off primary

Evaluations of the PrimaryPrimary helped get away from Boss dominated and party organizationPut power in hands of everyday people.

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II. ElectionsThe Administration of ElectionsFederal law says Congress picks when President and Congress run it is the first Tuesday in Nov on even yearsStates usually have it the same day but dont have toAbsentee voting a process by which people could vote without going to their polling places on election day.Coattail effect when a strong candidate running for a high office attracts voters and helps lower candidate win also 2008 but not 2010. (can hurt)

Precincts and Polling PlacesPrecinct - a voting district (smallest unit)Polling place the place where voters in a precinct actually vote.Election judges run the elections picked by the central Democrat and Republican county central committee then confirmed by the circuit courtTraining courses run elections and help handicap, illiterate and ect

VotingDone by secret ballotOrganized sometimes in office group form or party column formNow have electronic votingMail votingAbsentee votingOnline voting?

III. Money and Elections2008 primary saw 2.5 billion dollars of campaign spending wow!House member needs 1 million dollarsSenate could be 20 million

Sources of FundingSmall contributors 10 dollars (page 203)Wealthy Candidates themselvesNonparty groups PACs (more later)Temporary Organizations 527s- Why do people give usually want something

Regulate Finance of ElectionsFederal Election Commission they watch over elections auditors nonpartisan under the President understaffed and underfundedWatch and enforce Disclosure requirements, limits on contributions and PAC contributions, Limits on Expenditures, and Give public funding for presidential campaigns

Some Election Finance LawsCannot contribute for someone elseNo more than $100 cashNo foreign money$2,300 to a primary and $2,300 to general$5,000 to a PAC$28,500 to party (RNC,DNC)$108,200 per election cycle (2 years)

PACsPolitical Action CommitteeLaw says that corporations or labor unions can give money to campaigns their PACs can.Only raise funds from membersTwo types business and ideological$5,000 per candidate per election no limit of Candidates thoughCan have own TV commercials

Hard Money, Soft MoneyHard Money money limited to campaignsSoft Money funds given to parties or to other political organizations in unlimited amounts for party-building activitiesRNC and DNC filtered money into the campaignsBCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act) limited soft money to campaigns so independent groups started527s independent organizations (IRS number) that help support candidatesKarl Rove

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