Elections and Elections and CampaignsCampaigns

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Elections and CampaignsElections and Campaigns Elections are the foundation for modern democracyElections are the foundation for modern democracy 500,000 public offices on all levels of government in U.S.500,000 public offices on all levels of government in U.S. Campaigns Campaigns ((candidates efforts to convince voters to support them)candidates efforts to convince voters to support them) have become have become

longer and more expensive recently longer and more expensive recently Regulations needed on campaign Regulations needed on campaign finance?finance?

Functions of ElectionsFunctions of Elections Major method of political participation (voting)Major method of political participation (voting) Peaceful, consistent opportunity to hold officials accountablePeaceful, consistent opportunity to hold officials accountable

Prevents violent revolution or overthrow of governmentPrevents violent revolution or overthrow of government People accept election as a fair, legitimate method of selecting leadersPeople accept election as a fair, legitimate method of selecting leaders

Original Constitution and ElectionsOriginal Constitution and Elections Election of House every 2 yearsElection of House every 2 years Creates and defines Electoral CollegeCreates and defines Electoral College Sets the date for national electionsSets the date for national elections

Most electoral guidelines are set by statesMost electoral guidelines are set by states

Weakening of Political Parties in Weakening of Political Parties in ElectionsElections

19th century U.S. political parties - STRONG19th century U.S. political parties - STRONG-caucuses (members of Congress pick presidential candidate) -caucuses (members of Congress pick presidential candidate) (party bosses in “smoke-filled rooms” hand-picked candidates)(party bosses in “smoke-filled rooms” hand-picked candidates)-citizens voted -citizens voted straight tickets – showed party loyaltystraight tickets – showed party loyaltyOther democratic countries very similarOther democratic countries very similar

-political party bosses select candidates and place names on -political party bosses select candidates and place names on ballotsballots -elections = fights b/w parties-elections = fights b/w parties-Parliament (legislature) majority party chooses Prime Minister -Parliament (legislature) majority party chooses Prime Minister (executive)(executive)TODAY: U.S. candidates: TODAY: U.S. candidates: individual effort – you individual effort – you announce intent, announce intent, raise money, personally appealing to voters through campaignsraise money, personally appealing to voters through campaigns

Weakening role of political parties in candidate elections except for a Weakening role of political parties in candidate elections except for a label for voterslabel for voters

Winner Take All SystemWinner Take All SystemMajority (over 50%) is not needed, just a Majority (over 50%) is not needed, just a plurality plurality – – candidate with the most votes winscandidate with the most votes wins

Single Member districtsSingle Member districts for most Congressional elections for most Congressional elections The state is divided into several separate districts with The state is divided into several separate districts with

one representative elected from each districtone representative elected from each district

Ensures a 2 party system in the U.S.Ensures a 2 party system in the U.S. Each party extends their “umbrella” and builds a large coalition Each party extends their “umbrella” and builds a large coalition

to get the to get the most most votesvotes

Contrasts to Contrasts to proportional representationproportional representation system in which system in which legislative seats are given to parties in proportion to the legislative seats are given to parties in proportion to the # of votes they receive in election# of votes they receive in election

Encourages a multi-party systemEncourages a multi-party system

Primaries & General ElectionsPrimaries & General Elections• Primaries resulted from Progressive Movement reforms

-more citizen control over political system (early 1900s)-used to select a party’s candidates for elective office(ex. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama for Dems trying to be the Democratic nominee for president)

• 1. Closed primary -voters declare party BEFORE election day then vote for that party’s candidates…most states (deterrent for Independent voters; must be Repub or Democrat)

• 2. Open primary -voter decides which primary to choose AFTER entering booth…few states use this method

• 3. Blanket (free-love)primary -voter marks ballot with all candidates/parties listed…choose R for one office, Dem for another– LA, WA, AK only states to use blanket

• Caucus (*Iowa)-party leaders and loyal party members choose candidates

• In primary and caucus, individual party members have a say in who the party selects to run for office

• After primaries comes the general elections (fill an elective office) and campaigns…voters decide

• More citizens vote in general elections (50%) than primary (25%)

Primary vs. General Primary vs. General Elections (Cont)Elections (Cont)

Activists in primary elections and at Activists in primary elections and at nominating convention are much nominating convention are much more ideological than average (rank more ideological than average (rank and file) votersand file) voters need these need these supporters for donations, volunteer supporters for donations, volunteer work,& voteswork,& votes To get activist support for nomination, To get activist support for nomination,

candidates move to ideological extremes; candidates move to ideological extremes; to win general election, move back to to win general election, move back to ideological centerideological center

Congressional vs. Presidential ElectionsCongressional vs. Presidential Elections Same process: announce office, people select their Same process: announce office, people select their

part candidate in primary elections, party candidates part candidate in primary elections, party candidates campaign against each other, general election campaign against each other, general election victoryvictory

Differences:Differences: Regional (state – Senators & district- HofR) vs. Regional (state – Senators & district- HofR) vs.

national electionsnational elections Congressional vote every 2 years; Reps all open; Congressional vote every 2 years; Reps all open;

Senate 1/3 (every six years)Senate 1/3 (every six years) *Lower voter turnout in congressional elections (esp. *Lower voter turnout in congressional elections (esp.

off years)off years) Midterm, Midterm, non-presidential elections -35% turnoutnon-presidential elections -35% turnout congressional voters more ideological (political activists)congressional voters more ideological (political activists)

Congress is less competitive, incumbency tradition is Congress is less competitive, incumbency tradition is strong (Incumbents reelected 90% of time in House)strong (Incumbents reelected 90% of time in House) Incumbent – official currently in office running for the same Incumbent – official currently in office running for the same

position position

Congressional vs. Presidential Elections (Cont’d)

Cong. connected to citizens (visit often, take credit for local incentives, communicate with constituents with gov.$) - Franking privilege

Pres. Must rely on media Cong. can play the “blame game”…but the president

has to take responsibility run as individuals and denounce Congress as “mess in Washington”

Disadvantage – Poor performance of president in power negatively affects votes of Congressional candidates of same party

President’s popularity - coattail effect – decreased Previously, if President’s popular, more congressional

members of same party get voted in and vice versa

Road to the Presidency• 2 year process, millions of dollars• Step 1 - Deciding to announce

-ensure political & financial support, usually Congressman or governor, press conference announcement

• Step 2 - Presidential primaries-traditionally Feb. in *New Hampshire 1st, other states hold primaries through June-voters/delegates pledge support -similar to electoral college, convention delegates instead of electors, many states have proportional representation -frontloading – early primaries are more important than later ones; early wins in primaries mean more support (more media attention, more donors)

• Step 3 – The National Party Convention-Jackson & Dems had 1st nat’l convention; “grass roots”-Today primaries pick candidates, nat’l conv formally nominates-Nat’l conv: platform, unity, speeches, VP pick…pep rally for T.V.

Road to the Presidency

• Step 4 - Campaigning for the General Election-2 candidates face off-most $ spent here; election experts-tone changes to appeal to middle of road voters-free T.V. time for debates (since 1960)

Issue: Candidates direct their campaigns at those who vote in large numbers…minorities? Young people?

CampaigningCampaigning

Increased use of technologyIncreased use of technology Television – short, paid advertisement “spots” Television – short, paid advertisement “spots”

packed with soundbites, packed with soundbites,

Campaign debates – Campaign debates – 1996-major networks agreed to make some 1996-major networks agreed to make some

free TV time to major party candidates, free TV time to major party candidates, denying 3denying 3rdrd parties parties

Computer – Computer –

Important aspects of running a campaign

Becoming well-known (getting mentioned)

Raising $ and building an organization of personal followers (limitations)

Organization –

Strategy Incumbent defends record, challenger attacks the incumbent Two challengers = own programs, but White House party

blamed Tone – Theme –

Congressional Election Issues

Unlimited terms of Cong. incumbents are constantly running and winning

Each state has 2 Senators ( year terms), Representatives based on pop. ( year terms), maximum members (Sup.Court), reapportionment of # of reps every 10 years based on census population (state legislatures draw district lines)

Two problems with single-member district boundaries:Malapportionment –

1964 case made this illegalGerrymandering –

Congressional Elections

Staying in OfficeCongressional incumbents have advantage of

free ( ) mail, frequent trips home, radio and television broadcasts, “clean things up in Congress”

Perform services to directly help constituentsKeeps incumbents in power

Sources of Campaign Money

Presidential:Private donors, interest groups and federal governmentPrimaries: fed.gov. ____________________ $

raised from ind. Donors who contribute no more than $ (must first raise $____________ in each of twenty states from small donors)

General elections: government pays all costs of each major party candidate, portion of minor parties, up to a limit ($ million in 1996, $ million for Perot)

Fundraisers

Congressional:

all from private donors and PACS (interest groups)

Campaign and Election Campaign and Election ReformReform

Criticisms and increased mistrust due to excessive spending Criticisms and increased mistrust due to excessive spending reforms after Watergate scandalreforms after Watergate scandal

Reform Act of 1974Reform Act of 1974 – – -6 person Federal Election Commission - -6 person Federal Election Commission - -over $100 must be disclosed-over $100 must be disclosed-No foreign contributions-No foreign contributions-Individual contributions limited to $__________ per cand./per -Individual contributions limited to $__________ per cand./per election, $_______________ nat’l party, $______________ to PAC election, $_______________ nat’l party, $______________ to PAC -Corp. est. PAC, must have 50 mbrs, give to at least 5 -Corp. est. PAC, must have 50 mbrs, give to at least 5 candidatescandidates-PAC $5,000 per candidate, $15,000 to nat’l party -PAC $5,000 per candidate, $15,000 to nat’l party but but usually much less, limited control over candidatesusually much less, limited control over candidates-Federal matching funds given to major primary candidates,-Federal matching funds given to major primary candidates,

govt pays for general election (tax money) for major govt pays for general election (tax money) for major party candidates and portion for minor cand. (if they receive party candidates and portion for minor cand. (if they receive 5% of vote)5% of vote)

1976 Amendments – 1976 Amendments –

Ways around the systemWays around the system Soft money- _______________ funds by individuals, Soft money- _______________ funds by individuals,

PACS or other groups given to political parties PACS or other groups given to political parties for “party building” activities used to indirectly for “party building” activities used to indirectly help candidates (get out the vote drives, voter help candidates (get out the vote drives, voter registration) but cannot back candidates by registration) but cannot back candidates by namename

Independent Expenditures – PAC or interest Independent Expenditures – PAC or interest group may spend unlimited amount on group may spend unlimited amount on advertisingadvertising for or against a candidate, as long as for or against a candidate, as long as it is not “directed” by the candidateit is not “directed” by the candidate

Unlimited candidate spending Unlimited candidate spending (__________ (__________ v._______)v._______)

Campaign and Election Campaign and Election ReformReform

--Buckley v. ValeoBuckley v. Valeo – Supreme Court ruled that – Supreme Court ruled that candidates can spend unlimited money on his/her candidates can spend unlimited money on his/her own campaign…1own campaign…1stst Amdnt right to advocate Amdnt right to advocate his/her own election (1976)his/her own election (1976)

Highest spending of elections -1996 Clinton, Highest spending of elections -1996 Clinton, much criticismmuch criticism

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Election 2000: Local Election 2000: Local ControlControl

Local officials have control of voting processLocal officials have control of voting process 2000 Florida controversy created national discontent with 2000 Florida controversy created national discontent with

unjust voting methodsunjust voting methods Different ways to count votes in different areas (some Different ways to count votes in different areas (some

electronic machines, some irregular punching holes) electronic machines, some irregular punching holes) problems with: Hanging chads (machines may not be counting problems with: Hanging chads (machines may not be counting all votes)all votes)

Raised controversial questions: Are votes getting counted? Raised controversial questions: Are votes getting counted? Poor vs rich? Does this make voting unequal?Poor vs rich? Does this make voting unequal?

Should vote counting be under national control?Should vote counting be under national control?

Should fed govt give money to poor districts for machines?Should fed govt give money to poor districts for machines?

527s527s 2002 campaign restrictions led to 527s, developed in 2004 2002 campaign restrictions led to 527s, developed in 2004

campaigncampaign ““Independent”, but heavily partisan gather millions of $Independent”, but heavily partisan gather millions of $

Not regulated by the FEC and not limited like PACsNot regulated by the FEC and not limited like PACs