The Electoral Process

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The Electoral Process

• SSCG8 The student will demonstrate knowledge of
  local, state, and national elections.
• b. Describe the nomination and election process.
• c. Examine campaign funding and spending.
• EQ What is the basic purpose of a presidential
  primary election?

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The Electoral Process

• In the U. S., the election process occurs in
  two steps
• Nominationwhere the choice of candidates are
  narrowed down to 1 per party
• General electionwhere voters make the final
  choice of officeholder

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Nominating

• Self-Announcement
• throwing your hat in the ring
• Term coined by Teddy Roosevelt in 1912

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Primary Elections and Caucuses

• Helps candidates to become known by the public
• elections are held by political parties
• the party picks the candidate for the general
  election
• A caucus is a meeting of members of a particular
  political party
• mostly used at local and state levels
• ex. Iowa caucus
• Primaries can be open or closed
• Open primaries any qualified voter can cast a
  ballot
• Closed primaries only declared party members can
  cast ballots.

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Nominating Convention

• Official meeting of party delegates to select the
  partys presidential candidate
• Held in the summer before the general election
• The convention develops the partys platform

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Campaigning

• Purpose is to get the candidates message out to
  the voter
• an effort to influence potential voters
• use of propaganda to sway voters

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Campaign Funding

• 2 types of campaign funds
• Hard money donations must be reported to FEC and
  have limits.
• Soft money donations given to local/state
  organizations for party-building activities
• Ex. Ads, voter registration.

• Money plays key role in politics
• 3 basic sources
• Most of from Private sources
• Ex. Individuals, families, personal funds.
• PACs
• Public subsidies
• Ex. Federal matching fund program

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Qualifications for President

• Formal Qualifications
• Must be 35 Years Old
• Must be a natural born citizen
• Must be a resident of the US for at least 14
  years

• Informal Qualifications
• Must be well educated, have past political
  experiences
• Christian (Protestant)
• Male
• White