AP GOVERNMENT CH9

Success in a campaign needs

Money, Momentum, and Media

Delegate

Voting representative at the convention. The goal of the nomination is to win:

1) State primary delegates

2) State caucus delegates

3) Superdelegates

Superdelegates

Awarded convention seats based on political position - has more power, stops division and ties

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform- RURAL STATES, roughly a dozen, first is Iowa

ADVANTAGE:

More informed voter

DISADVANTAGE:

Less participation

Why elect delegates?

Power + Control- easier to control thousands over millions

Caucus goes from

Precinct -> Country -> Congressional District -> State Convention

Primary

Elections voters choose nominee/delegates pledged to nominees

NH first

Frontloading

Tendency of states to hold primaries early, each state wants to be earlier bc of media

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Wrote new rules to change Democratic Party conventions more representative and open

Iowa

Leans rural, white, conservative- first caucus

NH

Leans rural, white, liberal- first primary

Convention send off

1. No longer dramatic, winner known

2. Massive send-off

3. Organization & motivation

4. Party platform & announce VP

5. Official nominations & speeches

6. 1-keynote speaker, 2-platform, 3-nominate, 4-speeches

Historical Developments

Self announce colonial

Caucus (closed) 1800~1824 A. Jackson

Convention 1824~1896

Primaries 1896-present

1900-1950 campaigns

Campaign train, candidate and entourage, whistle stop, voters travel to see

Direct mail

A method of raising money for a political cause or candidate, in which information and requests for money are sent to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.

Advertising budget

50-60% control, 6 policy issue ads vs. 1 personal image ad

"Free Coverage"

little/no control cover: campaign strategy, speculation polls, events, size of crowds, mistakes-very little policy

Organize Campaign-Management Positions

1. Campaign Manager

2. Fundraiser

3. Attorney/counsel for election law

4. media consultant

5. logistics- travel/advance planning

6. policy research-academics

7. poll consultant-pollster

8 press secretary

9. hire general staff

Campaign Finance Laws

1970's-> 1)openness (disclosure) 2) limitations (on money)

1974 FECA Federal Elections Campaign Act

1. Disclosure-create FEC (Federal Elections Commission) -create PACs (Political Action Committee)

2. Public finance/limit spending-presidential primaries-$5,000-20 states-$250 matched. If accept fed, $ then spend. limited to 57 million in primary. known as matching funds

3. general election-85 million

4. individual-$1,000

5. Created a presidential campaign fund-to pay

$3 voluntary check off box on tax return

1976 Buckley v. Valeo

no limit on spending on your own campaign

1979 Amendment to 1974 FECA

No limit on soft money party building or generic party ads

Soft money

Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate, finds a way around the law

2002 McCain Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Limits rise with inflation

individual- 2000

Corporations/unions/nonprofit- 5000

Bonus Soft money

No issue ads: 30 days prim/60 days gen

2010 Citizens United v. FEC

Overturns ban on issue ads before elections

Less restricted groups/loopholes

1. 527 groups-tax designation-no limits-non profit-ex. Swift Boat Vets

2. 501 (c) groups-unlimited-not specific do not reveal donors!

PAC

Political Action Committee

The money arm of an interest group

Super PACs

Independent expenditure-only PACs are known as Super PACs because they may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. Their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.

Weaken campaigns impact

selective perception, party ID, incumbency

Primaries (type of election)

Pick party nominees, Indirect Presidential primaries- chose only delegates to go, direct primaries- states, nominees chosen directly by people

General Elections

Select office holders

Direct Election on Issues

Pure Democracy

Referendum

People voting to reject or accept a law

State voters approve/disapprove state act or amendment

Initiative Petition

citizens proposing legislation (usually by gaining signatures on a proposed law)

Famous EX of Initiative Petition

Proposition 13 - CA - 1978 limit on rise in property taxes in CA

1800- Jefferson (DR)- Adams (F) - Burr (DR)

Peaceful transition- party to party

T. Jefferson (DR) and A. Burr (DR) tie

House of Reps breaks tie

Result- 12th amendment, separate ballots (VP +P separate)

Jefferson- 73

Burr - 73

Adams - 65

1896- W. McKinley (R)- W. J. Bryan (D)

Bryan- unlimited coinage silver- miners/Populist

McKinley - Gold stand - bankers

Bryan broke tradition- first campaigned, approx. 600 speeches

Nearly 80% turnout

McKinley wins w 50%

1992 - Clinton (D) - Bush (R) - Perot (I)

Bush - Gulf War, "No new taxes"

Domestic- bad economy

Negative camp.

Bush- worst incumbent 80 yr

Perot- Businessman- balanced budget- best 3rd party- 80 yrs

Clinton (D) - 370- 43%

Bush (R)- 168- 38%

Perot (I) - 0- 19%

2000- G. W. Bush (R) - Al Gore (D)

Hanging & Dimpled chads; butterfly ballots

FL Supr. Court - Gore

Bush v. Gore - US Supr - Bush let the count stand

Popular Vote- Gore

Electoral Vote - Bush

Nader - Green

Political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

Civic duty

A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs

Motor Voter Act

A 1993 act that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a driver's license.

Who votes

older, educated, employed, high income, white

Mandate theory of elections

winner mandate from people

Basing our voting decision

Party ID

Personality -- leadership

Appearance

Policy voting on issues

Retrospective voting - feel better vote for same, feel worse vote for different

Reasons for electoral college

Elites did not trust masses

Electoral college + 3/5 Compromise allows South to catch up with North

Popular v Electoral vote

Total 538, needs 270

No majority: Pres- house, VP- senate

Winners of electoral college

Adams, Hayes, Harrison, Bush, Trump

Criticisms of Electoral College

Winner take all, Concentrate on big states/swing states, electors not bound, favors republicans