elections

• positives of electoral college?

  • states with small population still important
  • decisive outcome
  • usually results in winner winning majority of popular vote
  • promotes 2 party system
  • it works, largely, as intended
• negatives of electoral college?

  • complex - recent problems caused more apathy
  • winner may not have majority of votes
  • winner-takes-all means population not adequately represented
  • swing states overly powerful
  • disadvantages third parties
• example of electoral college going against popular vote?

  clinton v trump 2016. Clinton = 66 million votes Trump = 63 million votes
• what are the advantages of incumbency - already holding that office.

  • name rec
  • single candidate - usually unchallenged from own party
  • risk aversion - don't want change
  • presumed success
  • campaign experience
  • government control - vote-winning behaviour in run up to election helps - Obama and success of dapa in August 2012 - 1 month before
  • fundraising
• how can obama in 2012 highlight impact of incumbency?

  romney spent more than obama, obama said to have performed poorly in first televised debate, polling particularly close - Romney took the lead after convention and arguably had lead in some swing states.
• when did the first billion dollar election take place?

  2008
• how many groups raise unlimited money for political activities in the US?

  527
• what are political action committees?

  they raise hard money to elect or defeat a specific candidate but are limited in their contributions to $5000 per candidate per election
• what are super PACs?

  they can raise unlimited money for political activities, can support or oppose a candidate but not in line with the campaign organisation of that individual.
• what finance legislation has there been?

  1974 federal election campaign act - placed legal limits on campaign contributions

  2002 bipartisan campaign reform act - banned soft money

  2010 citizens united v FEC - resulted in development of super PACs
• how much money was raised in the 2016 election?

  clinton = $1.4 billion, Trump $957.6 million.

  Trump = $2 billion of free media, Clinton $746 million free media
• what are the reasons for electoral reform?

  • small states over-represented
  • third parties ignored
  • the person who wins does not always have majority of the vote
  • winner-takes-all distorts will of voters
  • rogue voters - doesn't cast vote for who their state voted for - 7 in 2016
  • electoral college outdated
  • swing states have too much importance
• what is the national popular vote interstate compact (NPVIC)?

  agreement between states and district of columbia saying they will give their 209 electoral college votes to whichever candidate wins popular vote nationally rather than in state.
• similarities in electoral systems?

  • both operate nationally within 2 party system
  • FPTP means winner may not have outright majority of popular vote
  • both executives in place through indirect elections
  • changes of re-election of incumbent are high
  • two-party system maintained by policy co-operation in both countries.
• arguments for state funding?

  • would encourage pluralism over elitism
  • would be fairer to third parties
  • could reduce public apathy
• arguments against state funding?

  • would make parties less reliant and therefore less responsive to voters
  • could challenge party independence