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Chapter 10 section 2ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Types of Elections:

A. Primary Election narrows the field of candidatesB. General Election Chooses the person to fill the office.Special Election run-off election : no candidate has won a majorityRecall election vote to remove an official from office

II. New laws at election time.Voters can propose new laws through a process known as the Initiative.B. They get signatures of qualified voters on a petition.C. The proposed law is called a proposition and is placed on the ballot in the next general election.D. Citizens can approve or reject state or local laws through referendum votes

III. Steps to Presidential Elections.1. Nomination of candidates:Step 1: Candidates campaign to win their partys nomination.

Step 2. Primary elections are held to reduce the number of Candidates

Step 3: One candidate is chosen during the national convention

2. CampaigningSelected candidates travel across the country giving speeches and appearing on TV.

3. President is elected through the electoral college system.Popular Vote:

Vote on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in NovemberThe winner of the popular vote for the state wins all of the electoral votes for that stateElectoral vote:270 out of 538Vote on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December Electors vote in their state capitals- the votes are sent to CongressJanuary 6 Electoral Votes officially counted by CongressJanuary 20th-President is sworn into officeIV. Electoral College SystemWhen Americans cast their vote for President, they actually vote for an elector.A. Electors are pledged to cast their vote for their candidate.1. Each state has as many electors as it has Senators and Representatives in the House of Representatives.Congressional Representation2. Washington D.C. has 3 electoral votes.3. The total number of electoral votes is 538 (100 + 435 + 3)4. The Electoral college is the name given to all of the electors.

3.The popular vote (vote of the people) determines the electoral vote.

A. It is a winner take all system the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that states electoral votes.

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B. A candidate must have 270 out of the total 538 electoral votes to win the presidency.C. The electoral votes are officially counted on January 6 by Congress. 3. If no candidate receives a majority A. The House of Representatives chooses the President from the 3 leading candidates B. The Senate chooses the Vice PresidentIV. Other Notes:Straight Ticket: when a person votes for candidates from one party on the same ballot

Example: Republican President Republican Senator Republican Mayor

Split Ticket: when a person votes for candidates from different parties on the same ballot

Example: Republican President Democrat Senator Republican Mayor

C. Balanced Ticket: choosing a running mate with different characteristics from the candidate in order to get more votes.

QuietReservedFamily personSelf madeGood with detailsReligiousReaches older votersOutgoingActivePart of family businessCharismaticReaches younger voters

Lame Duck: an official who is still in office after his replacement has been chosen leaving the official with little or no power.

Summary of the Presidential Election ProcessCandidates campaign to win their parties nominationPolitical parties hold primary elections between January and June to narrow down the field to one candidatePolitical parties hold a national convention to choose their candidate Usually in Aug, Sept.Candidates campaign to hold the officeGeneral Election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday to determine the popular vote.Popular voter determines the electoral vote. 270 neededElectors from each state meet in their state capitals and cast their votes for the president. The results are sent to Congress. December.Congress counts the votes from the electors on Jan. 6 and announce the winner.The new president is sworn into office on Jan 20.