road to white house

• bi-partisan


  • support from both parties for a policy
• partisanship


  • political party that one identifies with
• free rider problem


  • people do not join a group because they can benefit from the groups' activities without officially joining
  • the bigger the group, the more serious the problem
• national convention


  • the party that has their convention is the party that isn't currently in the white house (republicans)
  • 1 week long, usually hosted by a swing state
  • high profile key not speakers
  • VP running mates are announced (not all the time)
  • rich people attend
• american political culture

  • liberty (rights)
  • equality of opportunity
  • democracy (gov is accountable to people)
  • civic duty and individual responsibility
• horse-race journalism

  • focus on polling info and public perception over campaign policy
• what makes a poll valid?

  • margin error within 3
  • sample size
• split ticket voter

  • person who votes for both parties
  • considered independents/moderates
• exit polls

  • not always accurate
• votes and appeals

  • primary campaigning appeals to a specific party
  • presidential campaigning appeals to the masses
  • congressional elections are based by popular vote
  • presidential elections are based by electoral vote
  • exit polls are not accurate
• primary debates


  • only the party members that are in top 10 of the polls can participate in the primary debates monthly
  • the far right and left wing party members watch the debates because they are "allowed" to vote in the primary elections
  • straight ticket voters
  • loyal party members
• caucus


  • iowa hold the first caucus in the nation
  • 3 m's: media, money, momentum
  • local gathering where voters openly decide which candidate to support
  • vote with body
  • candidates can speak or campaign
• delegates

  • primary and caucus elect delegates differently
  • elected delegates go to the party's national convention in the summer
  • at the convention, delegates go to their designated convention and cast the votes from the states
• gerrymandering


  • redrawing congressinoal districts to favor one party
• closed primaries


  • most states
  • only registered party members can vote
  • must register 1 monrh prior to election
  • republican/democratic
• open primaries


  • only registered party members can vote
  • can register to vote the day of election
  • democratic
• primaries


  • vote with ballot
  • NH holds the first primary
• straight ticket voter


  • person who votes for only one party
• 18 months prior to presidential election


  • announce presidency
  • consider running for office
  • test (sample) poll of public opinion
  • recruited/endorsed by 1 of the 2 major parties
  • put together campaign stuff
• 18 months prior to presidential election


  • announce presidency
  • consider running for office
  • test (sample) poll of public opinion
  • recruited/endorsed by 1 of the 2 major parties
  • put together campaign stuff
• july 2024 - nov 2024


  • each party selected their candidate
  • campaigning/fundraising
  • debates/media attention
  • spending time, money, and resources on swing states
• nov 24 : 1st tuesday after 1st monday


  • all states vote on the same day every 4 years
  • registered voters show up to assigned voting locations (7am-7pm)
  • in oklahoma, you need to show id (state id, passport, drivers license, voter id card) inorder to vote
• december 2024 : 1st monday after the 2nd wednesday


  • december 16, 2024
  • electors arrive at their state capitol to cast their votes (they vote for the state)
• january 6, 2025


  • congress courts electoral votes sent in by the states in a joint session (open forum)
  • counted out loud
• january 20, 2025


  • new president
  • 20th amendment = jan 20 as the day sworn into office
  • inauguration events