Distinctive Features of American Electoral Politics

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Distinctive Features of American Electoral
Politics

• Fixed intervals
• Winner-take-all, single member districts,
• typically with plurality winners
• -minor parties are irrelevant
• Consequences
• -two large heterogeneous parties
• -internal negotiation and moderation
• -convergence on the median voter
• Primary elections transform parties
• 5. Campaign finance
• 1. FECA of 1971 and its amendments FEC,
  contribution
• limits, PACs, federal funding of
  presidential elections
• 2. McCain-Feingold (BCRA) goal is to close
  loopholes
• eliminate soft money
• restrict issue advocacy ads

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• 5. The Electoral College
• -state electorssize of state congressional
  delegation
• -electors chosen in such manner as the
  legislature thereof may direct
• -the Nov. election chooses electors
• -nomination of electors
• -the winner must win a majority of the Electors
  (or else the House decides)
• 6. Problem 1 faithless elector problem
• 7. Problem 2 popular vote winner need not win
• 8. Effect 1 exaggerated vote for winner
• 9. Effect 2 bias toward SMALLEST states
  (smallest state receives three electoral votes)
• 10. Effect 3 the more important LARGE state bias
• 11. Effect 4 the competitive state bias
• 11. Reform proposal 1 bind the electors
• 12. Reform proposal 2 proportionally divide the
  electors
• 13. Reform proposal 3 direct vote with a runoff
  if needed
• 14. Direct vote problems