Lecture 6: Elections, Primaries & The Nomination Process

Primary focus of the general election process

Presidential elections

Concept of a candidate representing a 'bundle' of issues

Bundling

How a candidate wins in a plurality system

By getting more votes than anyone else

Requirement in states like South Carolina for a candidate to win

A majority of 50% plus one

Level of government with primary authority to run elections

The States

The two distinct steps in the American election process

Nomination and general election

Initial method used by parties to pick presidential nominees (1796–1828)

The legislative caucus

Major criticism of the legislative caucus system

It violated the separation of powers

Candidate whose 1824 loss led to the end of the legislative caucus

Andrew Jackson

Process that replaced the legislative caucus for nominating candidates

The convention process

Infamous party organizations that controlled urban politics

Party machines

State that began the reform of using primary elections in 1903

Wisconsin

Strategic error made by Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 Republican primary

He ignored early states like New Hampshire

State with a law requiring it to be the first presidential primary in the country

New Hampshire

Definition of 'super delegates' in the Democratic party

Party VIPs with automatic delegate status

What occurs in a 'closed primary'

Only registered party members can vote

Typical method Democrats use to allocate delegates in their primary

Proportional representation

Primary difference between a caucus and a primary election

A caucus involves a meeting and public discussion

Main goal of releasing delegates at a convention

To build momentum for the nominee

Intent behind 'Operation Chaos' by the Greenville County GOP chair in 2020

To influence the Democratic primary outc