primaries and caucuses

• what are primaries?

  Elections within a political party to choose the party's candidate for a general election.
• what is an open primary?

  Primary election in which voters are not required to be registered to that political party to vote
• what is a closed primary?

  a primary election where only those registered to their political party can vote
• what is front loading?

  when states compete to make their primaries earlier so that they can increase their influence in the selection of the party’s candidate
• what is ‘super tuesday’?

  A day in the US primary election season when multiple states hold their primaries or caucuses.
• what is a caucus?

  a gathering where people try and gain support for the political party that they support and debate ideas
• what is the National Nominating Convention?

  A gathering of delegates from a political party to select their party's candidate for president.
• what are the advantages of the primary and caucus system?

  • boosts the opportunities for political participation
  • allows political outsiders to run
  • allows the general public to discuss the merits of a candidate
• what are the disadvantages of the primary and caucus system?

  • increases the focus on a candidate’s personality
  • turnout to primaries is low
  • primaries add to the cost and length of the campaign - voter fatigue
• are National Party Conventions still relevant?

  YES

  • only time national parties get together
  • delivery of presidential candidates acceptance speech which launches their campaign
  • opportunity to entice members and activists
  • introduce presidential and VP candidates
• are National Party Conventions still relevant

  NO

  • the presidential candidate is decided during the primaries not the convention
  • VP candidate already announced before the convention
  • Party platform is usually agree before the convention
• what are the functions of invisible primaries?

  • candidates announcement
  • increase name recognition
  • fundraising
  • TV debates
• when do invisible primaries occur?

  calendar year before election
• primaries and caucuses functions

  • show popular support for candidates
  • choose delegates to attend NPC
• when do primaries and caucuses happen?

  jan / feb to early june
• function of choosing a vp

  • presidential candidates announce a choice of running mate
• when do they choose a VP?

  days / weeks before convention
• what are the functions of National Party Conventions?

  • confirm presidential and VP candidates
  • approve party platform
  • acceptance speech
• when do national party conventions take place?

  july / august lasting 4 days
• what are the functions of the general election campaign?

  • campaign between the candidates of the various parties
  • TV debates x3
• when doe the general election campaigns take place?

  september, october, 1st week of november
• when is election day?

  tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
• when does the electoral college voting take place?

  monday after the 2nd wednesday in december