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Campaign Finance
All funds raised to promote candidates political parties or policy initiatives and their agendas during an election
Factions
The groups within political parties- ideological wings, age, occupation groups
Invisible Primary
The period when a candidate announced their bid for public office and when the actual primaries take place. It is also sometimes called ‘Money Primary’ as this is when candidates spend their time raising money to show political strength
Political Action Committee (PAC)
This raises and spends money in order to elect/defeat electoral candidates with a donation limit of $5000 per candidate per election
Party System
The Number of Parties that have realisitc chance of forming government within a political system
Policy Group
A group that attempts to influence a whole policy area eg AIPAC
Professional group
A group that represents the economic interests of its members eg America medical Association
Single Interest Group
A group that advocates policy surrounding a small specific issue eg. NRA
Hard Money
When cash is contributed directly to a political candidate which may come only from an individual or a political action committee.
Soft Money
When cash is contributed to a political party with no limits attached to the amount that can be received, this is a ‘soft money’ contribution
Super PAC
Raises and spends unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose political candidates but without directly donating or co-ordinating with these candidates
Religous Right
which generally gives support to the Republican Party, is an ultraconservative religious response to the sexual revolution and an attempt to translate this into public policy, promoting family values, opposing abortion and the 1973 Roe v Wade judgment, opposing same-sex marriage, civil partnerships and non-discrimination law
How often are presidential elections in the US?
Every 4 years
What does each party select before the presidential election?
Candidate in the primary
How is a president elected?
Electoral College
What are the Constiutional requirements to be a presidential candiate?
Natural Born US Citizen
Must have lived in the USA for over 14 years
Must be over 35
Limited to 2 4 year terms
Who annouced they were running for President 10 months before the Republican Primary for the 2o16 election?
Ted Cruz
What do many candiates do in their invsibile primaries?
Visit important states
Appear in the media
Raise money
Put together their campaign team
What is a primary?
Election to choose each party presidential candidiate
often a ballot then leave
show how popular a presidential candidate is
What is a caucus?
Meeting to choose a partys candidate
discussion then decide
What is Super Tiesday?
Day in Feb or March when many states hold their primaries/caucus
Where was first primary in 2016?
Iowa
What do states have complete control over?
Their primary process
Who can vote in close vs open primaries?
Only reigstered party supporters
All Registered voters
What decided how delagates are awarded?
Can be proportional primaries or winner takes all
What are the advatntage of primaries?
Large choice of candidates
Indivudals outside of politics or political positions to run for election
what are the disadvatage of primaries
Long and difficult
Suitible candidates can be put off due to length and expsenive
Unrepresentative of American popoulation and so if win primary not always win popular vote
Can become a personal battle
Turnout is often low
What is decided at the national party conventoin?
Party agrees of policies
Presidential candidate is chosen
Vice President is chosen but recently confirms the president choice of VP
What are informal functions of the National Party convention?
Gain the attention of voters
Can entuhase the core supporters encourage local support and campaign
Unite the party over the campaign
How are Electoral College Votes (ECV) delegated?
By representative the state has in congress
How many ECV are there and how many are needed for presidency>
538
270 for president
What are the advanatges of the Electoral College?
Small states give influence over the election result
Gives a winner large amount of support-strong outcome due to 2 party
What are the disadvanatges of the Electoral College?
Small states often overepresented
Can have highest popular vote but still lose
Sugessted reforms of Electoral Colledge and Disadvatnatges?
Direct elections- resolve winning elections vs losing popular vote but unlikely to win over 50% of popular vote
Proportional system- equal distribution of ECV less likely to win absolute majority of ECV so weak gov
Congressional system--Small changes to previous votes and can cause less proportionate results
Bush would have won to gore by a larger amount
