Elections American Government 2

In the 20th century who is joining the Democratic party

Immigrants, non-western, non-Christian, non-protestant Christian, and working class

In the 20th century who is joining the Republican party

Protestants, evangelical Christians, white people, and non-working class

How to parties reach their demographics

Rebrand to match their base

What is an election

Political mechanism used to select officials that ensures the majority rule

Is an election a manner of conferring power

Yes

Does Texas have the most and differing variety of elections

Yes

What are the two stages of election process

Primary election and general election

Is the election process the same regarding the levels of office

Yes

What is a primary election

Select candidates within a party to represent it in the general election

What is a general election

Selects candidates who will actually fill elected office

What do states residents also have elections on

Policy proposals or removals from office

What is removal office called

Recall

What are the two types of policy proposals

Initiative or referendum contest

What is an open primary

Any registered voter can participate

What is a semi closed primary

Party members and independents can participate

What is a closed primary

Party member only can participate

Do some states have a runoff primary

Yes

What states have a top two primary

CA, LA, and WA

What is a top two primary

All candidates compete in the same primary election and top two candidates compete in a general election

What is the justification for a top two primary

To get more moderate candidates

What is a King Caucus

Factions in Congress got together and decided who they thought they should nominate

What were presidential primaries like historically

State parties made decisions and non-binding primaries

What are nonbinding primaries

Presidential “preference” shows

Did Humphrey win nomination without a winning a single primary

Yes

What are the mechanics of the presidential primaries

Voters of a series of state contests delegate to attend a national convention and secure nomination with majority

Do parties have differing strategies for allocation of state delgates

Yes

What does democratic primaries use

Proportional representation

How does a democratic primary work

Delegates awarded in proportion to their vote share and must receive greater than or equal to 15% of votes to earn any delegates

How do republicans allocate

They allocate differently by state

What is a caucus

Meeting of party activists to select presidential canditates

How long do caucus take

Hours

How many more primaries from 1968 to 2016

19

Are primaries greater than caucuses

Yes in some ways

Why are primaries better than caucuses

More democratic, accessible to more registered voters, nominate more moderate candidates

Are moderate candidates more likely to win a general election

Yes

Why can a caucus be better than a primary

Quality of information held by caucus participants > quantity of higher primary turnout

What was the president formally selected by

Electoral college

What was the electoral college

Representatives (electors) from each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president

What was the electoral college designed to do

Serve as a buffer between the people and the selection of the president

Do voter select the president

Technically no but rather slate of electors selected by each states party and pledged, if elected, to support the presidential candidate

What does states number of voters equal

Number of House and Senate members

What does number of house and senate range from members wise

3 to 55

Are all states awarded winner takes all

No ME and NE do not

What does not have winner take all mean

Possible to win popular vote but lose electoral college vote

How many times has the electoral college been lost after winning popular vote

3 times in 19th century and in 2000 & 2016

What is the number to win an election

270

How many elections is there for president

51 (50 states plus DC)

Are the state elections weighted differently

Yes

Do candidates try to find a winning strategy of which states they win to = 270

Yes

What are criticisms of electoral college

Undemocratic, elitist, complicated nature may decrease voting

Would the electoral college be able to be abolished and use popular vote

Requires a constitutional amendment which is unlikely to pass as small states benefit disproportionally

What is a national popular vote compact

Agreement amongst states to award electoral college votes to the winner of the popular vote

When does the national popular vote compact come into force

Only when states with a majority electoral college votes to sign compact

How many states are currently agreed to national popular vote compact

10

What does every other non-presidential candidate win with

“First past the post”

Does a “first past the post” require a majority of votes

Yes, but it does not have to be over 50%

Do congressional elections have more media coverage than presidential elections

No

Do a congressional election system enhance the advantage of incumbency

Yes

What is an incumbent

Person already holding an office

What are the advantages for incumbents

Staff support and visibility

What is staff support

Can engage activities that directly or indirectly promote the legislator

What is visibility in term if incumbent

Highly visible in district; easy access to local media, speaking arrangements, and community events; easy to be known and get the message out

Why do incumbents lose

Redistricting, scandals, presidential coattails and midterm elections

Why does redistricting cause an incumbent to lose

Congressional districts redrawn every ten years after the census and can be drawn to protect or punish the incumbent of out-of-power party

Why does presidential coattails lead to incumbents losing

President can lose and drag down the people who tries to ride their coattails, so it can also help if the president does not lose meaning a candidate can ride a president’s coattail if in the same party