Electio ns AP Government
The issuesDemocrats
Liberal Pro spending on social
programs Pro choice Gay rights Secular Relax immigration rules Gun control Affirmative Action Campaign regulations Anti death penalty Federal government power Proactive on environment
Embrace change
Republicans Conservative Pro spending on military Pro life Pro traditional marriage Allow religion in public life Border control Second Amendment rights Individualism Economic freedom on
campaigns Pro Death Penalty State government power Environmental regs hurt
businesses EmbraceTradition
The issues
Voting Coalitions of the Two Parties:
Democrats
Young (18-21) Women African American Jewish North Eastern &
Western Regions Urban Union
Republicans Upper Income Protestant/
church going Military families South Midwest Rural
The Functions of Elections Elections serve
to legitimize governments to fill public offices and organize
governments to allow people with different views
and policy agendas to come to power to ensure that the government remains
accountable to the people.
The Functions of Elections
Most political change in the United States comes about because of elections.
Elections generally have allowed us to avoid: Riots General strikes Coups d'etats
Why Don’t Americans Vote? Long and complex ballots
Confusing to voters People are poorly informed Disaffection
Elections are determined by money and special interest support
Loss of trust in government Alienation
Legal barriers Some groups were not allowed to vote 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th
Amendments fixed this
Demographics & Political Behaviors “Vital Statistics in American Politics” by CQhttp://www.cqpress.com/product/Vital-Statistics-on-American-
Politics-6.html
Race – African American, Hispanic, Asian
Gender
Region – South, Mid West, West, North East
Socioeconomic – high/low
Age – (18-21)
Religion – Catholic, Jewish, Protestant
Urban/Rural
Union
Registering To Vote
Voter Registration A system adopted by the states that
requires voters to register in advance Motor Voter Act
Requires states to permit people to register to vote when the apply for their driver’s license.
Millions added to electorate but the election outcomes were not affected
Efforts to Lower Costs Voting Same day registration Easing of registration regulations
No picture ID required in most states Show many forms of ID
Expansion of ballot access absentee or mail balloting other mechanisms (internet)??
Same Day Registration
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Turnout
MaineMinn.Wisc.N. D.Nation
Produces higher turnout At least 30% of
American adults change their home address every 2 years --- and hence must re-register!
The Political Consequences of Turnout
Do fewer voters help Republicans or Democrats?
Who usually wins elections- challengers or incumbents?
Who does higher turnout help the incumbent OR the challenger?
The Political Consequences of Turnout Do fewer voters help Republicans or
Democrats? Usually Republicans But increasing categories of voters can
make a difference in either party Who usually wins elections- challengers or
incumbents? Incumbents (90%+ in House and 70%+ in Senate)
Who does higher turnout help the incumbent OR the challenger?
Generally helps the challenger but incumbents usually still win
Do we vote for the Candidate or the Campaign?
Today, most people vote for a candidate not the campaign He/she is even more important
than money Campaigns are able (most of the
time) to downplay a candidate’s weaknesses and emphasize his/her strengths.
However, even the best campaigns cannot put an ineffective candidate in the win column – most of the time
Six Types of Elections
Caucus Primary Elections General Elections Initiatives Referendums Recall elections
Caucus A caucus is when a political party gathers
to make policy decisions and to select candidates.
Straw ballots or nonbinding elections may take place in a caucus
The Iowa Caucus The Iowa Caucus is the most
important because it is first As a result, Iowa garners a
vastly disproportionate number of candidate visits and amount of media attention.
A better than expected showing on caucus night can boost a candidacy, while a poor performance can spell the end of a candidate's hopes.
Howard Dean after losing Iowa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5FzCeV0ZFc
Primary Elections Primary elections select party nominees for the
general election Held on different days in different states
Most states force voters to vote in only one primary (Dem or Rep)
Primaries are run by the parties for the benefit of the parties In one-party states, the primary election IS the
only election that matters
New Hampshire
The Most Important Primary is held in NH
The major testing ground for candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations. Most important because it is FIRST Attracts the most attention of the
press corps Candidates who do poorly usually
have to drop out. Little known, under funded
candidates who do well suddenly become contenders, as they gain huge amounts of media attention and money
Some candidates spend 8-12 months there BEFORE the election
Primary elections: different types
Open primaries You can enter the voting booth and then decide
on the party primary in which you will vote Closed primaries
You must reveal your party OR be a registered member of that party to vote
Blanket (or love) Primaries In blanket primaries voters may choose from
both party ballots in a primary For instance, a voter might select a Democrat
for governor and a Republican for senator. California’s blanket primary was struck down as
unconstitutional in 2001
General Elections In general elections we elect office holders Two types of general elections
Presidential election years (2000-2004-2008) Party nominated candidates and
independents First Tuesday after the first Monday in
November Midterm elections (2002-2006-2010)
General election but no presidential race Still first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November Both party-nominated candidates and
independents but fewer voters
General Election Turnout Voter turnout is the highest for general
elections In presidential years, the general election
turnout is the highest In midterm elections, general election
turnout decreases in most states
Initiatives Initiatives allow citizens to propose
legislation and submit it to popular vote.
Popular in California and western states Initiative 85 - Parental Notification before
Termination of Teen's Pregnancy Initiative 86 - Increase on Cigarette Tax Initiative 87 - Funding for alternative forms of
energy Initiative 88 - Property Parcel Tax to fund for
Education
Referendum A referendum allows the legislature
to submit proposed legislation for popular approval.
Special elections on certain topics or issues
State voters approve or disapprove proposed legislation.
Often used for constitutional amendments
The Georgia Legislature recently sponsored the “Marriage Amendment”
It passed with overwhelming support
Recall ElectionsRecall elections allow citizens to
remove someone from office. Voters decide whether or not to vote out
an official California recalled Governor Gray Davis
and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger The“Governator”
Yellow Dog Democrat
A Yellow Dog Democrat is a staunch loyalist to the Democratic Party.
The term, Yellow Dog Democrat, first occurred in the 1928 elections, when Al Smith ran for President against Herbert Hoover. Southerners hated Hoover, hence, the popular saying, "I'd
vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic ticket" was born!
Blue Dog Republican is a more modern term, and less well known term…means the same thing
The Electoral College Framers wanted president chosen by the
elite of the country The Electoral College was established
Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states Except for NE and ME which use a divided
elector system State parties choose the electors
Electors are usually party elite
The Electoral College How it works:
Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators.
Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes.
Except for NE and ME which divide electoral votes Electors meet in December, votes are reported
by the vice president in January. If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the
House of Representatives votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.
From George Washington’s Farewell Address
As he addressed Congress and his administration he warned about the dangers of political parties
“…the spirit of Party are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise People to discourage and restrain it.”
Thanks but “NO THANKS” George
Political Parties immediately formed And the rest is history!!
1800 Federalists v Anti-Federalists Big Government v Small Government Hamilton v Jefferson
Party Realignment/Critical Elections Occurs when a new voting coalition appears in an
election year Often after a long period of little party change
These are called critical or realigning elections 1800 (Republican Democrats) 1828 (Jacksonian Democrats) 1860 (Republicans- abolitionists) 1896 (Democrats-Populists and farmers;
Republicans-City and business interests) 1932 (New Deal Coalition Democrats)
Four instances in which winner of the popular vote didn’t get the presidency:
1824: House selects John Quincy Adams (loser: Andrew Jackson)
1876: Samuel Tilden wins popular vote, Rutherford Hayes wins presidency.
1888: Benjamin Harrison edged in popular vote by Grover Cleveland, but Harrison wins in electoral college.
2000: Gore wins popular vote, Bush takes presidency after US Supreme Court decides Florida dispute.
Important Elections to Know
* Critical/Realigning Elections
1800* 1828 1860* 1896 1932* 1960
Who ran? Who won? Why did they win?
Who voted for them? Where did they live? What party? What were their
political beliefs?
1972 1980 1992 1994 2000 2004 2006
Important Cases Concerning Elections
Baker v CarrShaw v Reno
Buckley v ValeoMcConnell v Federal Election Commission
Baker v Carr 1961 Facts of the Case Charles W. Baker and other Tennessee
citizens alleged that a 1901 law designed to apportion the seats for the state's General Assembly was virtually ignored. Baker's suit detailed how Tennessee's reapportionment efforts ignored significant economic growth and population shifts within the state.
Question Did the Supreme Court have jurisdiction
over questions of legislative apportionment?
Baker v Carr 1961 Conclusion In an opinion which explored the nature of
"political questions" and the appropriateness of Court action in them, the Court held that there were no such questions to be answered in this case and that legislative apportionment was a justifiable issue.
In his opinion, Justice Brennan provided past examples in which the Court had intervened to correct constitutional violations in matters pertaining to state administration and the officers through whom state affairs are conducted.
Brennan concluded that the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection issues which Baker and others raised in this case merited judicial evaluation.
Shaw v. Reno- 1993 Case concerned reapportionment and civil rights North Carolina created a congressional district
which was, in parts, no wider than the interstate road along which it stretched in order to create a black-majority district AKA… The creation of a “Majority-minority
district” Five North Carolina residents challenged the
constitutionality of this unusually shaped district, alleging that its only purpose was to secure the election of additional black representatives.
Was this gerrymandering case constitutional?
Ruling and Importance The Court said NO in this case! It ruled although North Carolina's
reapportionment plan was racially neutral on its face, the resulting district shape was bizarre enough to suggest that it constituted an effort to separate voters into different districts based on race.
Districts can not just be based on one factor alone- race The unusual district, while perhaps created
by noble intentions, seemed to exceed what was reasonably necessary to avoid racial imbalances.
Left door open for some instances in future.
Election of 1800*
Thomas Jefferson (RD) (Republican Democrats)
Jeffersonians- “common man” John Adams (F)
Election of 1860* Abraham Lincoln (R)
Anti-slavery Stephen Douglas
No. Democrat John C. Breckenridge
So. Democrat Bell
Constitutional Unionist
Election of 1968 and 1972
Richard Nixon (R) Silent majority Southern strategy
Humphrey- 68 George McGovern (D) 72
Election of 1992 Bill Clinton (D)
“It’s the economy, stupid” Used Bush’s promise of “Read my lips, no new
taxes” brilliantly (James Carville) Perot took away some of the votes that would
have gone to Bush George HW Bush (R) Ross Perot (Reform)
Midterm election Ushered in the “Conservative
Revolution” headed by Newt Gingrich AKA…the “Devolution Revolution” Gingrich and his fellow Conservative
Republicans offered Americans a “Contract with America”
Election of 1994
Election of 2000 George W. Bush (R)
Squeaker election Florida was swing state
Thrown in to Supreme Ct. VP AL Gore v Governor Jeb Bush
Al Gore (D) Ralph Nader (Green)
Green’s took away some of the natural base of Democrats
Election of 2004 George W. Bush (R)
9-11 War on terror Character issues
John Kerry (D) Was “swiftboated” by Vietnam war
vets
Midterm election Brought Democrats back to power in
both Houses of Congress for first time in over 10 years
The War in Iraq was factor President Bush’s unpopularity was also a
factor
Election of 2006
•2000: Bush $ 193; Gore $ 134 million. •Total 2000 = $ 327 million
•2004: Bush $ 293: Kerry $ 252 million•Total 2004 = $ 545 Million
A 60 % increase in 4 years!! •.09 % of population gives at least $ 1,000 to political campaigns, but 55% of funds raised this way!!•FYI
¼ of Congress are millionaires compared to 1% of U.S. citizens!!
Money and Politics
Buckley v Valeo (1976)
Facts The issue of campaign contributions came under
scrutiny after the Watergate scandal The Federal Election Committee set guidelines
and limits on money given to campaigns Was this constitutional??
The Court also had to decide whether or not you can be limited by the amount you can spend on your OWN personal campaign
Was this constitutional??
Importance Yes! The case upheld limits on campaign spending set
by the FEC Today it is $2300 per election per
candidate
No! Spending your own money on your campaign was
found to be a free speech right. Steve Forbes, Ross Perot, and other wealthy
Americans have taken advantage of their personal wealth in their quest for office.
McConnell v Federal Election Commission
(2003) Facts of the Case In early 2002, the Bipartisan Campaign
Finance Reform Act of 2002 a which reformed the way that money is raised for--and spent during--political campaigns was passed. (AKA “McCain-Feingold” Act)
Its key provisions were: A ban on unrestricted ("soft money") donations
made directly to political parties (often by corporations, unions, or well-healed individuals) and on the solicitation of those donations by elected officials
Limits on the advertising that unions, corporations, and non-profit organizations can engage in up to 60 days prior to an election
Restrictions on political parties' use of their funds for advertising on behalf of candidates
McConnell v Federal Election Commission
(2003) Questions the Court considered: #1. Does the "soft money" ban of the
Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 exceed Congress's authority to regulate elections under Article 1, Section 4 of the United States Constitution and/or violate the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech?
#2. Do regulations of the source, content, or timing of political advertising in the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 violate the First Amendment's free speech clause?
Conclusion- “No” on Both Counts!
Question #1- No The Court held that the restriction on free speech was
minimal and justified by the government's legitimate interest in preventing "both the actual corruption threatened by large financial contributions and... the appearance of corruption" that might result from those contributions.
The Court also found regulation was necessary to prevent the groups from circumventing the law. Justices O'Connor and Stevens wrote that "money, like water, will always find an outlet" and that the government was therefore justified in taking steps to prevent schemes developed to get around the contribution limits.
Question #2- No The Court also rejected the argument that Congress had
exceeded its authority to regulate elections and said that that would only affect state elections in which federal candidates were involved and since the law did not prevent states from creating separate election laws for state and local elections it was constitutional.
PAC’s are private groups organized to elect or defeat government officials and promote legislation There are over 4,000 PACs
registered with the Federal Election Commission.
PAC’s gave over $200 million to congressional candidates in 1996 (individuals gave $444 million).
PACs may donate $5,000 per candidate, per election Primaries, general elections and
special elections are counted separately
Political Action Committees(PAC’s)
Money from PACS PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one
individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year.
PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national
party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. PACS support candidates with campaign money
½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions 1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001)
Incumbents get the most PAC money!!
Money Limits Individuals can give up to $2300 to a
candidate but PACS can give $5,000 to a candidate Federal money will match presidential campaign
money but…. Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous year
for presidential candidate to receive funds If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!
Top PAC’s in 20041. EMILY's List $22,767,521 2. Service Employees International Union $12,899,352 3. American Federation of Teachers $12,789,296 4. American Medical Association $11,901,542 5. National Rifle Association $11,173,358 6. Teamsters Union $11,128,729 7. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
$10,819,724 8. National Education Association $10,521,538 9. American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees $9,882,022 10. Laborers' International Union of North America $9,523,837
Hard Money/Individual Contributions
Hard money is money given directly to the candidates
This is limited by law The Federal Election Commission (FEC)
limits individuals to contributions of $2,300 per election, per candidate ($2,300 in the primary and another $2,300 in the general election).
Soft Money Soft money is money with no limits or rules that
is raised and spent outside of federal election guidelines. PAC’s contribute soft money to campaigns Soft money is often used to pay for ads that do not
expressly advocate the election or defeat of a particular candidate.
As long as these ads do not use the words "vote for", "elect", "vote against“… ads can be paid for with unregulated soft money.
Many argue that the huge infusion of unregulated soft money has “destroyed the federal campaign laws”.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act The BCRA was passed in
2002 Also known as the
McCain-Feingold Act Banned national political
party committees from accepting or spending soft money contributions The original intent has
been lost in loopholes
527’s 527’s are groups that developed
from the loopholes in the McCain-Feingold Act
Many 527s are run by special interest groups and used to raise unlimited amounts of money to spend on issue advocacy and voter mobilization.
They do not give money to any particular campaign or candidate thus ARE NOT regulated by the FEC
‘Swiftboating” On May 5, 2004, the RNC
accused MoveOn.org and others 527’s of coordinating their efforts with the John Kerry campaign
On August 20, 2004, the John Kerry campaign accused “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” of coordinating their efforts with the George W. Bush campaign
http://www.swiftvets.com/index.php?topic=Ads
Does “Low” Turnout Matter? Demographics of those who
turnout differ significantly from those who do not: Whites higher income higher educational attainment residentially stable
But there is scant evidence that their issue preferences differ significantly from those who do not turnout
Consider…. How can you know what parties or
candidates will do once in office? It is difficult if not impossible to predict the
future How much can you believe politicians
during election campaigns?
Conclusions on Improving Turnout Reducing cost (time) is
key determinants Registration and access
are the keys for improving turnout
New innovations in registration and ballot access could increase turnout