A nomination is the naming of a candidate who will seek office The nomination is the most important stage because it sets limits to the choices a voter.

A nomination is the naming of a candidate who will seek office

The nomination is the most important stage because it sets limits to the choices a voter can make

Ways to nominate…Self-announcement

The oldest form, often used by people who fail to get a regular party nomination, or by someone who is unhappy with a party’s choice

Ways to nominate…Caucus - A group of

like-minded people meet to select a candidate. Used to be practical because transportation and communication were difficult. Caucuses were replaced by the convention method because they limited the participation of party members

Ways to nominate…The convention

Delegates select candidatesDirect Primary

The most widely used method of making nominations. Intraparty nominating election where those who can vote choose a party’s candidate to run in a general election

Closed Primary Only declared party members can vote

Open PrimaryAny qualified voter can vote, they choose which party

they will vote on at the polls

Ways to nominate…Run-off Primary

Takes place when no candidate has a majority of votes in some states

Nomination by petitioncandidates are nominated by a petition signed

by a certain number of qualified voters, usually done in local elections

ElectionsPresidential elections are

held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, every four years

The Constitution gives Congress the power to set the date for holding congressional elections

The coattail effect occurs when a strong party candidate draws votes to the party ticket

Precincts and Polling PlacesA precinct is a voting district, a geographical

unit, each has only one polling place, and in most states, the polls are open from 7am-8pm. The most basic unit for holding an election

The Ballotthe ballot is a device by

which voters register a choice in and election. Each state provides a secret ballot

We use the Australian Ballot – printed at public expense, lists all candidates in an election, given out only at the polls and is voted in secret

Types of BallotsOffice-group ballot

Candidates are always listed by positionParty –column ballot

Lists candidates under a party column. Encourages “straight-ticket” voting (voting for all candidates of a party)

MONEY AND THE ELECTION PROCESS

2000 – presidential campaigns spent about $607 million Congressional campaigns

spent about $ 1 billion avg. winning senator - $7.5

M avg. representative-$849,000

Most campaign monies come from private contributors Small contributors - $5-$10

occasionally Wealthy persons who make

large donations Candidates and their families Political Action Committees

(PACs) Nonparty political groups who

work to affect public policy

MONEY AND THE ELECTION PROCESS

Laws limit a person’s total contribution to federal candidates and PACs to $25,000/yr

A lot of people give money because they support a candidate, but most give because they want something in return

Some want appointments to public office, others social recognition, some want the “ear” of the elected official

There are very strict election laws limiting campaigns. This maintains honest and free elections

MONEY AND THE ELECTION PROCESS

Campaign money is spent on a variety of thingsTravel and entertainmentPamphlets and postersNewspaper and magazine adsTelevision appearances (this is the most

expensive)