Presentation Pro
American Government
CHAPTER 7
The Electoral Process
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
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U.S. Election Process
In the United States, the election
process occurs in three steps:
1. Nomination of candidates & Primary Elections in which the
field of candidates is narrowed
2.
National Conventions- announce winners of primaries &
candidates for General Election
2. General election, the regularly scheduled election where
voters make the final choice of officeholder
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Chapter 7, Section 1
1-4 Years Before Election
•first steps for potential candidates
•include broadening their visibility,
•testing their appeal nationwide,
and
•developing committees to explore
•their viability as a candidate. If
•the results are encouraging, the
•contender will officially announce
his
•or her candidacy.
1-4 Years Before Election
•The costs of running for office
•are huge and raising funds is an
•ongoing effort throughout the
•campaign. Lack of funds often
•cause contenders to drop out of
•the race.
Start the Race Fundraising
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January–June of the
Election
Year Primaries and
caucuses help determine
•the party’s nominee. At
this stage, voters
•choose their party’s
frontrunner and many
•candidates concede
defeat.
Primaries and Caucuses
Caucus
SelfAnnouncement
Convention
Nominating
methods
Petition
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Direct
Primary
Primary Elections to decide between the Presidential
Candidates
Caucuses &
Primaries
Both lead up to the
convention
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3. Caucuses
• Caucus: closed meeting of like-minded people who
meet to select the candidate they will support , only
a few states use this method.
•Analyzing Political Cartoons
The first delegate-selection
event in a presidential election by
caucus is held in Iowa,
followed afterward by the first
scheduled primary in New
Hampshire.
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4. Primaries
•
•
•
•
•
•
Voters select delegates from their states to attend the national
party convention
Primary Elections held in each state, citizens vote for
candidate of their choice & the delegates represent their votes
at the convention. Two Types of Primaries- Open & Closed
This is preferred because it allows people to decide on
candidates for presidency and nominees have to work hard to
get support.
2008: 40 states used presidential primary system
16 states hold their primaries on ‘Super Tuesday’= February 5th
3/4ths of states hold their primaries in mid-March
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Presentation Pro
Final Phase
General Election
Election between the Democratic and
Republican Candidates
August–September of the
Election Year Delegates to
•each party’s convention adopt
•the party platform, nominate their
•party’s presidential candidate,
•and ratify his or her choice of
•vice-presidential running mate
.
September–November of
the Election Year Following
•the conventions, each
candidate
•focuses on his or her opponent.
•Debates provide opportunities
•to compare and contrast each
•candidate’s qualifications and
•plans for the future.
National Conventions
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Debates
November on the Tuesday
after the first
Monday in November, the
voters cast their
•ballots and the presidentelect is determined
.
Election Day
5. Convention
•
•
Parties select host city [look for arenas, stadiums, and
sporting venues]
•
2008 Republican NC: wanted seating capacity of 25,000
•
2008 Democratic NC: wanted seating capacity of 84,000
Goals of National convention:
1. Name party’s presidential/vice presidential candidate
2. Promote party unity
3. Adopt party platform
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Precincts and Polling Places
Polling Places
•
Precincts
•
•
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A precinct is a voting
district.
Precincts are the smallest
geographic units used to
carry out elections.
•
A polling place is where
the voters who live in a
precinct go to vote.
It is located in or near
each precinct. Polling
places are supposed to
be located conveniently
for voters.
A precinct election board
supervises the voting
process in each precinct.
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Chapter 7, Section 2
Combination of Popular Vote in each
state to win “Electoral” votes in
Electoral College.
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Presentation Pro
Popular Vote & Electoral
College
Discussed in Presidential Unit…