5.7 Electing a President

• What are the three main methods used to nominate presidential candidates?

  Primaries, caucuses, conventions
• Primary elections are state-run voting processes where voters directly choose candidates for their party
• Caucuses are party-run gatherings where members discuss and vote for their preferred candidates.
• What is the purpose of a national convention after primaries and caucuses?

  Nominate candidates officially
• Match the feature with the correct process:

  State-run ballot voting ↔️ Primary Election

  Party-run meetings ↔️ Caucus
• Voter participation is higher in primary elections compared to caucuses
• Which nomination method is more straightforward, primary elections or caucuses?

  Primary elections
• Caucuses typically have higher voter participation than primary elections.

  False
• Steps in the nomination process for presidential candidates:

  1️⃣ Primary Elections

  2️⃣ Caucuses

  3️⃣ National Conventions
• What is the primary advantage of primary elections over caucuses in terms of simplicity?

  More straightforward
• The process in primary elections is state-run ballot voting.
• In which nomination method do voters directly choose candidates through state-run ballot voting?

  Primary elections
• Primary elections tend to have lower voter participation than caucuses.

  False
• What is the main purpose of a national convention in the presidential election process?

  Nominate candidates formally
• Match the function with its description at a national convention:

  Nomination ↔️ Officially select candidates

  Speeches ↔️ Endorse candidates publicly

  Endorsements ↔️ Key members offer support
• High-profile speakers at national conventions endorse candidates and party platforms
• Stages in the nomination process for presidential candidates:

  1️⃣ Primary Elections

  2️⃣ Caucuses

  3️⃣ National Conventions
• What is the common goal of primary elections and caucuses in the presidential election process?

  Select presidential candidates
• National conventions serve as a platform for unifying the party and strategizing for the upcoming election.
• High-profile speakers at national conventions often endorse candidates and highlight party platforms
• What is the main goal of the General Election Campaign after the primary elections?

  Win the presidency
• Match the feature with the correct campaign type:

  Target party members ↔️ Primary Election

  Target all voters ↔️ General Election
• What is the critical phase after primary elections called?

  General Election Campaign
• Parties secure endorsements to solidify support and form coalitions
• Presidential debates are a high-profile platform for candidates to present their platforms and challenge opponents.
• What is the target audience of primary elections?

  Party members
• The tone of a general election campaign is more centrist
• The Electoral College determines the winner based on each state's congressional representation.
• What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

  Elect the president
• In most states, the winner of the popular vote receives all of the state's electoral votes
• How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

  270
• The Electoral College can lead to a president winning without winning the popular vote.
• When was the Electoral College established?

  1787
• The Electoral College was designed to balance the interests of populous and smaller states.
• Voting process on Election Day

  1️⃣ Registration Check

  2️⃣ Ballot Issuance

  3️⃣ Vote Casting

  4️⃣ Ballot Submission
• What is one challenge to voter access on Election Day?

  Registration requirements
• The Electoral College consists of 538 electoral votes, requiring at least 270 to win.
• On what date does Congress count electoral votes?

  January 6
• The Vice President presides over the joint session of Congress to certify the electoral vote count.
• Stages of the nomination process

  1️⃣ Primary Elections

  2️⃣ Caucuses

  3️⃣ National Conventions