Transcript ElectionsandCampaigns_LG_09

American Political
Participation
Elections and Campaigns
Winner Takes All!
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Who gets the most votes wins
Loser goes home
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500,000 political offices in the
country
To be the winner you need to
campaign
Laws and the Electoral Process
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The Constitution sets some requirements for
elections
Most election laws set by state
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Secret ballot
Types of Elections
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Primaries
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Narrows the field
Naming candidates for office
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1 from each party
Closed Primary:
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Most States -- WI
Voting can be limited to registered party members
Qualified voters are required to declare a political party
before they vote
Open Primary
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Used in a few states
Any qualified voter
Do not have to declare a party choice
Switch freely from one party to another
Caucuses
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A meeting of leaders in a political party to select candidates
Popular early but by 1840 conventions replaced caucuses
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Remain important in Presidential politics
The Convention
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After all the primaries
Typically in July/August
before the general
election in November
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr3mhJWrCWs
The
Convention
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Each state’s delegates
(chosen by top party
officials) announces
their choice
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Not a surprise
Based on Primary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KTIYgo5k3c
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More like a big pep assembly…
Shows 100% behind their candidate
Platform – formal written statement of the principles and beliefs
 ATTENTION!!
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General Election
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Chooses the winner!
The General Election Stage
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The Democratic nominee vs. the Republican
nominee
CONSTANT campaigning due to popularity of
media
Campaigns are refocused to appeal to all Americans
Go after independents
Increasing amounts of consultants and staff
Increased public debating
Campaign Financing
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High costs are controversial issue
FEC – Federal Election Commission
 Records must be made public
 Sets limits on contributions
Sources of funds
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Private
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The candidates
No limits until 1970s
Most funds come from modest donations of $100 $200
Controversial: Political Action
Committees (PACs)
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Special Interest Groups – any group that
wants influence
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1974 – 600
Today – over 4,000
’96 -- $218 million (2.8)
Economic Interest Groups:
Labor
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UAW – autoworkers
Teamsters – truck
drivers
Interest Groups: Business
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½ of all groups
Chamber of Commerce –
Association of business
owners (180,000)
WAMC – Big Business
owners
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AT&T, Ford
Agricultural
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Farmers only 2% of population
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More than 150 groups
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American Farm (AFBA) Bureau Association – 4
million
Professional
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American Medical Association
(AMA)
National Education Association
(NEA)
The Bar Association (ABA)
SOCIAL ACTION AND EQUIITY
GROUPS
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Greenpeace –
Environmental group
NRA – National
Rifleman’s Assoc.
(gunowners)
ACLU – American Civil Liberties
Union
 NAACP – National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People
 AARP – American Association
of Retired People
How do special interest groups
work?
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Electioneering – Actively and publicly supporting
candidates
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FEC is strict on these groups
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Litigation – Court
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Shape Public Opinion – use media
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Lobbying – Meet with
politicians
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Pressure
Write letters
Publish info
$$$$$
Hire full-time people to work
for them
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“Director of Legislative
Relations”
Positive Function of Interest Groups
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Create interest in
government/voting
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Represent their members
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Provide information (though
biased)
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Watchdog for their causes
Negative Influences
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Influence is
greater than
membership
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May not really
represent
everyone they
claim to
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Some use
illegal tactics
Interest Groups have existed since
the beginning of America:
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President John Adams warned of the
“…danger of uncontrolled factions...”
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What do you think of interest groups?
Reform Laws and Limits
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Began in 1970s – Nixon’s campaign in ’72
Percandidate
Primary or
General
Election
National
Party
- per year
To any
Total per
other pol.
calendar
Committee year
-per year
Individuals
$1,000
$20,000
$5,000
$25,000
PACs
$5,000
$15,000
$5,000
No Limit
Loopholes
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Soft Money
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Unlimited spending on party-building activities
Unregulated – unlimited contributions
Concerns…
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High Cost of Campaigns
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2.
Record-breaking costs
Ceilings? Compare to advertising budgets.
Campaign Financing
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What do you think?
What is Public Opinion?
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Attitudes held by a large
number of persons
related to
government/politics
Political Ideas… Where do they come
from?
Opinions change
Monthly/Daily/Weekly
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
What shapes Public Opinion?
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The Family – basic
attitudes toward
authority
The Schools –
Knowledge regarding
citizenship; attitudes of
peers & teachers
What shapes Public
Opinion?
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Opinion Leaders –
Politicians and editorial
professionals
Mass Media – tv, radio,
films, internet, books,
mags