PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS & ELECTORAL COLLEGE

• Each state has a number of electors equal to its total congressional delegation (senators + representatives).
• In most states, the candidate with the majority of popular votes wins all of the state's electoral votes.
• The District of Columbia is treated as if it were a state, with three electoral votes.
• If no presidential candidate receives an absolute majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the president from among the top three candidates.
• The winner of the presidential election must receive at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes.
• Presidential election takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
• Incumbency Phenomene - The tendency for incumbents to be re-elected.
• Hard Money-  political donations that are regulated by law through the Federal Election Commission.

  Soft Money- contributions made outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law. This means that it is direct corporate and union contributions and large individual and PAC contributions.
• Primary Election: A primary election is a process by which a political party selects its candidates for an upcoming election.

  Caucus: A big assembly where voters choose their party's candidate for general election.

  AKA "Democracy In Action"
• Opened Primaries: Primaries where voters can vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation on the spot.

  Closed Primaries: Primaries where voters can only vote for candidates from the party they are registered with.
• Political Parties: Political parties are groups of people who share a common set of ideas and work together to influence the government.

  • Wide scope
  • Get money from gov't
  • Candidates want to win
• Interest Group: A group of people with a common interest who join together to influence government policy.

  • Narrow Scope
  • Money from member fees
  • Influence Policy
• Political Action Committee (PACs): Groups that raise money for political candidates and spend it on their behalf.

  • Regulated by FEC
  • Can give up to 15,000 (5,000 per election)
• Super Political Action Committees (Super PACs): Political action committees that can raise unlimited funds and spend them on political ads.

  • Money from anyone
  • No Limits
  • Not Directly supporting anyone
• Single Interest Group: A group of people who share a common interest and work together to influence public policy.

  Ex: Women's Sufferage
• Lobbyist: A person who lobbies on behalf of a business or organisation to influence government policy.

  Writes "Amius Curae"
• Three Types Of Elections:

  Presidential Election

  Congressional Elections (Midterm)

  Local Election
• Road to White House


  (a.) Primary/Caucus to secure nomination for candidate

  (b.) Party Conventions announce nominees; running mates and platform are announced.

  (c.) General Election; the American people vote

  (d.) Electoral College

  (f.) Prez is announced
• Federal Campaign Act (FECA): 1972, prohibited corporations from making contributions to federal candidates.
• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) - 2002 - prohibited corporate and union contributions to political parties
• What Candidates Do....


  (a.) Hire professional consultants- make jingles, slogans, etc.

  (b.) Showcase Candidate- define opponent; make candidate seem better (appear on TV).

  (c.) Social Media- Get closer with platform and voters.
• Connected PAC: Committees that are established by businesses, non-profits, labor unions, trade groups, or health organizations.

  • Limits on Donations
  • Collect money from member fees
  • Corps, Labor Unions, Groups, etc.
• Nonconnected PACS: a political committee that is not affiliated with a party, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a separate segregated fund established by a corporation or labor organization.

  • No sponsoring PACS
  • Collect money from public
  • Nominate directly to candidate; regulated strictly
• Leadership PAC: A political committee that is established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding federal office.

  • Current or former official
  • Collect money from public
  • Strict limits; directly to candidate