Nominations, Campaigns, & Elections. Elections ► Elections are the process through which power in government changes hands. ► Elections bestow legitimacy.

Nominations, Nominations, Campaigns, Campaigns, & Elections& Elections

ElectionsElections

► Elections are the Elections are the process through process through which power in which power in government government changes hands. changes hands.

► Elections bestow Elections bestow legitimacy on legitimacy on the process and the process and on the incoming on the incoming officials. officials.

Understanding Nominations Understanding Nominations & Campaigns& Campaigns

►Throughout the history of American Throughout the history of American politics, election campaigns have politics, election campaigns have become longer and longer as the become longer and longer as the system has become increasingly open system has become increasingly open to public participation.to public participation.

Types of ElectionsTypes of Elections

1.1. Primary electionsPrimary electionsa.a. Run-offsRun-offs

2.2. General electionsGeneral elections

3.3. Special elections Special elections

4.4. ReferendumsReferendums

5.5. Initiative petitionsInitiative petitions

General ElectionGeneral Election

►Regularly scheduled elections at which Regularly scheduled elections at which voters make the final selection of voters make the final selection of officeholders officeholders

Nomination

Primaries

General Election

The Nomination GameThe Nomination Game

►Two types of campaigns in American Two types of campaigns in American politics: politics:

For a party’s nominationFor a party’s nomination Between the two nomineesBetween the two nominees

NominationNomination

►A party’s official endorsement of a A party’s official endorsement of a candidate for office.candidate for office.

►Campaign StrategyCampaign Strategy – the master – the master game plan candidates lay out to guide game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaigntheir electoral campaign

NominationNomination

The Nomination GameThe Nomination Game

►Success generally requires money, Success generally requires money, media attention, and momentummedia attention, and momentum

The Nomination GameThe Nomination Game

►Many qualified candidates decide not to Many qualified candidates decide not to run b/c of the stress involvedrun b/c of the stress involved

►Campaigns are much longer in the U.S. Campaigns are much longer in the U.S. than in most other countries; many than in most other countries; many other nations limit their campaigns by other nations limit their campaigns by law to no more than 2 months – those law to no more than 2 months – those in the U.S. often last 18 months or in the U.S. often last 18 months or longer. longer.

Competing for DelegatesCompeting for Delegates

►Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party support at the national party convention.convention.

►Delegates are chosen through either Delegates are chosen through either primaries or caucuses from January primaries or caucuses from January through June of election year.through June of election year.

Primaries and CaucusesPrimaries and Caucuses

►During this time, candidates compete During this time, candidates compete in primaries (elections within states) in primaries (elections within states) and caucuses (private party meetings) and caucuses (private party meetings) against candidates WITHIN THEIR OWN against candidates WITHIN THEIR OWN POLITICAL PARTY throughout the US. POLITICAL PARTY throughout the US. New Hampshire has the first primary New Hampshire has the first primary and Iowa has the first caucus. and Iowa has the first caucus. Fundraising and self-promotion Fundraising and self-promotion continue.continue.

Party CaucusesParty Caucuses

►A meeting of all state party leaders A meeting of all state party leaders and members for selecting delegates and members for selecting delegates to the national party convention to the national party convention (usually organized as a pyramid).(usually organized as a pyramid).

►Start a local/neighborhood level, move Start a local/neighborhood level, move to county, then state, then national to county, then state, then national

Party CaucusesParty Caucuses

►Caucuses are usually organized like a Caucuses are usually organized like a pyramid.pyramid.

Small, neighborhood precinct-level caucuses held initially

County caucuses

Congressional district caucuses

State caucuses

National Convention

Presidential PrimariesPresidential Primaries

►Elections in which voters in a state Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or delegates vote for a candidate (or delegates pledged to him or her). pledged to him or her).

►Most delegates to the national party Most delegates to the national party convention are chosen this way. convention are chosen this way.

► In most states, state law requires that In most states, state law requires that the major parties use the primary to the major parties use the primary to choose their candidates to elect choose their candidates to elect people to most local offices.people to most local offices.

The Direct PrimaryThe Direct Primary

►Election held within a party to pick that Election held within a party to pick that party’s candidate for the general party’s candidate for the general election.election.

Closed Primary – only declared party Closed Primary – only declared party members can vote (party membership members can vote (party membership typically established by registration)typically established by registration)

Open Primary – any qualified voter can cast a Open Primary – any qualified voter can cast a ballot (public vs. private choice)ballot (public vs. private choice)

Presidential PrimariesPresidential Primaries

►A delegate selection process and/or A delegate selection process and/or a candidate preference election.a candidate preference election.

►Held in 40 states in 2008.Held in 40 states in 2008.►Name recognition and $$$Name recognition and $$$►““Front-loaded”Front-loaded”►Guided by State law and party rulesGuided by State law and party rules►Winner-take-all vs. ProportionalWinner-take-all vs. Proportional

Front-loadingFront-loading►The recent tendency of states to hold The recent tendency of states to hold

primaries early in the calendar in order to primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention. 70% of all capitalize on media attention. 70% of all delegates to both party conventions are now delegates to both party conventions are now chosen before the end of February.chosen before the end of February.

► Iowa holds the nation’s first nominating caucus Iowa holds the nation’s first nominating caucus major implications. major implications.

►The first primary is held in New Hampshire.The first primary is held in New Hampshire.

Super TuesdaySuper Tuesday

►Refers to the Tuesday in February or Refers to the Tuesday in February or March of an election year in which the March of an election year in which the greatest number of states hold their greatest number of states hold their primary elections.primary elections.

►March 6March 6thth for the 2012 Election (10 for the 2012 Election (10 states, including GA)states, including GA)

Evaluating the Primary Evaluating the Primary and Caucus Systemand Caucus System

►Criticisms include:Criticisms include: Disproportionate attention goes to the Disproportionate attention goes to the

early eventsearly events Prominent politicians find it difficult to Prominent politicians find it difficult to

take time out from their duties to runtake time out from their duties to run Money plays too big a roleMoney plays too big a role Participation is low and unrepresentative Participation is low and unrepresentative Gives too much power to the mediaGives too much power to the media

The National ConventionThe National Convention

►Usually, in late summer, Democrats Usually, in late summer, Democrats and Republicans hold their national and Republicans hold their national party conventions where presidential party conventions where presidential and vice presidential candidates are and vice presidential candidates are officially nominated, various factions officially nominated, various factions and leading personalities in the party and leading personalities in the party are brought together, and the party’s are brought together, and the party’s platform (views on the issues) is platform (views on the issues) is adopted. Fundraising and self-adopted. Fundraising and self-promotion continue.promotion continue.

The Convention Send-offThe Convention Send-off

►Conventions have changed Conventions have changed dramatically over the yearsdramatically over the years

►Now, mainly just a media event to Now, mainly just a media event to energize the party; pretty much just a energize the party; pretty much just a rubber-stamp on primary/caucus rubber-stamp on primary/caucus results results

1968 Democratic National 1968 Democratic National ConventionConvention

► Chaos and conflict led party to reform it’s Chaos and conflict led party to reform it’s delegate selection procedures.delegate selection procedures.

►McGovern-Fraser Commission:McGovern-Fraser Commission: Tried to make convention more representative Tried to make convention more representative No longer would party leaders have all the No longer would party leaders have all the

controlcontrol Led to primaries in most statesLed to primaries in most states Also, led to the same consequences in the Also, led to the same consequences in the

Republican party b/c state law typically sets Republican party b/c state law typically sets primary rules primary rules

SuperdelegatesSuperdelegates

►National party leaders who automatically National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention (unpledged national party convention (unpledged delegates - aren’t bound to vote a certain delegates - aren’t bound to vote a certain way)way)

►The Democratic Party makes greater use of The Democratic Party makes greater use of these than the Republicans b/c they do not these than the Republicans b/c they do not bind delegates to select the candidate the bind delegates to select the candidate the party members choose during the primary party members choose during the primary

Awarding DelegatesAwarding Delegates

►Republicans typically use a winner-take Republicans typically use a winner-take all system to award their delegates to all system to award their delegates to candidates (either statewide, or by candidates (either statewide, or by district), but use some proportional district), but use some proportional distribution distribution

►Democrats have moved to proportional Democrats have moved to proportional representation, and divide their representation, and divide their delegates up b/w candidates who delegates up b/w candidates who receive at least 15% of a state’s votereceive at least 15% of a state’s vote

Media EventsMedia Events

►The outcome of conventions today is The outcome of conventions today is usually predetermined by previous usually predetermined by previous primary results, so they are mainly primary results, so they are mainly just media events used to energize just media events used to energize each party. each party.

Party PlatformParty Platform

►A political party’s statement of it’s A political party’s statement of it’s goals and policies for the next four goals and policies for the next four years.years.

►Presented at the National Convention.Presented at the National Convention.

Vice Presidential NomineeVice Presidential Nominee

►Chosen at the convention; usually Chosen at the convention; usually based on the presidential nominee’s based on the presidential nominee’s preference for a running matepreference for a running mate

General CampaignGeneral Campaign

►The General Campaign goes from late The General Campaign goes from late summer through early November. summer through early November. Candidates continue to fundraise and Candidates continue to fundraise and self-promote, traveling all over the self-promote, traveling all over the U.S. to campaign (especially swing U.S. to campaign (especially swing states), doing many TV commercials, states), doing many TV commercials, and possibly participating in debates and possibly participating in debates with the other candidates.with the other candidates.

National CampaignNational Campaign

►To win votes of different groups To win votes of different groups throughout the countrythroughout the country

►Television advertising, televised public Television advertising, televised public appearances, direct mail campaigns, appearances, direct mail campaigns, and an official web siteand an official web site

Media Coverage Media Coverage

►Candidates daily activities, campaign Candidates daily activities, campaign strategies, and poll results.strategies, and poll results.

►Advertisements very important – where Advertisements very important – where voters learn the bulk of their info.voters learn the bulk of their info.

►Critics fear that campaigns have become Critics fear that campaigns have become too centered on candidates’ images too centered on candidates’ images rather than their political rather than their political beliefs/qualifications beliefs/qualifications

Money and Money and CampaigningCampaigning

►Candidates rely on TV to communicate Candidates rely on TV to communicate directly with the electorate, and directly with the electorate, and airtime often translates into votes.airtime often translates into votes.

►TV is a necessity, but very expensiveTV is a necessity, but very expensive

►Leads to more time fundraising than Leads to more time fundraising than focusing on the issuesfocusing on the issues

Federal Election Campaign Act Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - 1974(FECA) - 1974

► Congress passed law attempting to control Congress passed law attempting to control campaign costs and donationscampaign costs and donations

► Established the Federal Election Commission Established the Federal Election Commission to enforce campaign laws, and initiated to enforce campaign laws, and initiated public financing for presidential primaries public financing for presidential primaries and general elections.and general elections.

► Forced candidates to report all campaign Forced candidates to report all campaign contributions (disclosure) and how they contributions (disclosure) and how they spend money; also attempted to limit spend money; also attempted to limit contributionscontributions

Note: Congress does not have the power to regulate the use of $ in State and local elections.

McCain-Feingold Reform ActMcCain-Feingold Reform Act

► Bipartisan Campaign Reform Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) – banned “soft Act (2002) – banned “soft money”, which acted as a money”, which acted as a loophole to FECAloophole to FECA

► Soft money – political Soft money – political contributions earmarked for contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at party-building expenses at the grass roots level or for the grass roots level or for generic party advertising.generic party advertising.

Individual Limits on Individual Limits on ContributionsContributions

►No person can give more than $2100 No person can give more than $2100 to any federal candidate in a primary to any federal candidate in a primary election, and no more than $2100 in a election, and no more than $2100 in a general electiongeneral election

►No person can give more than $5000 No person can give more than $5000 in any year to a PACin any year to a PAC

Political Action Committees Political Action Committees

► Established in 1974 by Established in 1974 by the FECAthe FECA

► Funding vehicles; the Funding vehicles; the political arms of special-political arms of special-interest and other interest and other organizations with a organizations with a stake in electoral politicsstake in electoral politics

► Corporations, unions, Corporations, unions, and other interest and other interest groupsgroups

► Try to influence policy Try to influence policy through campaign through campaign contributions; interest contributions; interest groups must channel groups must channel donations through PACsdonations through PACs

► Must register with the Must register with the FEC, so they can FEC, so they can monitor donations; All monitor donations; All expenditures must be expenditures must be meticulously reported meticulously reported to the FEC to the FEC

Buckley v. ValeoBuckley v. Valeo

Political Action CommitteesPolitical Action Committees

►As of 2004, there were 3,868 PACsAs of 2004, there were 3,868 PACs►No limit to what they can spend b/c No limit to what they can spend b/c

they can act independently of they can act independently of candidate, but can only donate $5000 candidate, but can only donate $5000 to a particular candidateto a particular candidate

FEC Data – FEC Data – 2008 Presidential Election2008 Presidential Election

►http://www.fec.gov/http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do