Government study guide chapters 9-10
 vocab
 Nomination: The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party.
Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media
attention.
 Campaign Strategy: The master game plan candidate lay out to guide their electoral
campaign.
 National Party Convention: The supreme power within each of the parties. The
convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vicepresidential candidates and to write the party's platform.
 Caucus: A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party
convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid.
 Presidential Primaries: Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or
delegates pledged to him or her). Most delegates to the national party conventions are
chosen this way.
 McGovern-Fraser Commission: A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic
convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who
sought better representation.
 Super delegates
: National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at
the Democratic national party convention.
 Frontloading: The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in
order to capitalize on media attention.
 National Primary: A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries, which
would replace these electoral methods with a nationwide primary held early in the
election year.
 Regional Primaries: A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to
replace these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographic
region.
 Party Platform: A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four
years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose
members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best
formal statement of a party's beliefs.
 Direct Mail: A high-tech method of raising money for a political cause or candidate. It
involves sending information and requests for money to people whose names appear on
lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.
 Federal Election Campaign Act: A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances.
The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) provided public financing for
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presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending,
required disclosure and attempted to limit contributions.
Federal Election Commission (FEC): A six-member bipartisan agency created by the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The Federal Election Commission administers
and enforces campaign finance laws.
Presidential Election Campaign Fund: Money from the $3 federal income tax check-off
goes into this fund, which is then distributed to qualified candidates to subsidize their
presidential campaigns.
Matching Funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched from the Presidential Election
Campaign Fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify and agree to
meet various conditions, such as limiting their overall spending.
Soft Money: Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party adverting. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a
particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits. For a
tie, such contributions were unlimited, until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold
Act.
527 Groups: Independent groups that seek to influence the political process but are not
subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of
particular candidates. Their name comes from Section 527 of the federal tax code,
under which they are governed. In 2004, 52 individuals game over a million dollars to
such groups, and all told they spent $424 million on political messages.
Political Action Committees (PACs): Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign
finance reform. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a political
action committee (PAC) and register it with the Federal Election Commission, which will
meticulously monitor the PAC's expenditures.
Selective Perception: The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to
things they already agree with and interpret them according to their own
predispositions.
Legitimacy: A characterization of elections by political scientists meaning that they are
almost universally accepted as fair and free method of selecting political leaders. When
legitimacy is high, as in the United States, even the losers accept the results peacefully.
Referendum: A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to
approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment.
Initiative-Petition: A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put
proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained
on petitions calling for such a referendum.
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 Suffrage: The legal right to vote extended to all races by the Fifteenth Amendment, to
all genders by the Nineteenth Amendment and to people over the age of 18 by the
Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
 Political Efficacy: The belief that one's political participation really matters- that one's
vote can actually make a difference.
 Civic Duty: The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should
always vote.
 Voter Registration: A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well
in advance of Election Day. A few states permit Election Day registration.
 Motor Voter Act: Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It
requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their
driver's license.
 Mandate Theory of Elections: The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from
the people to carry out his or her platforms and policies. Politicians like they theory
better than political scientists do.
 Policy Voting: Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy
preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues.
 Electoral College: A unique American institution created by the Constitution, proving for
the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the
Electoral College vote usually reflects a popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives
clout to big states.
 Retrospective Voting: A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple
question: "What have you done for me lately?"
 Notes
 How American Elections Work
 3 types
 Select party nominees (primary elections)
 Select officeholders (general elections)
 Select options on specific policies
 Referendum: : A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a
chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed
constitutional amendment
 Initiative-Petition: A process permitted in some states whereby voters may
put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient
signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum.
 Ex. in Colorado having marihuana with the tax going to education or
gay right in some states
 Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
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Suffrage: The legal right to vote,
 extended to all races by the 15th Amendment,
 extended to all genders by the 19th Amendment
 extended to people over the age of 18 by the 26th Amendment
 Direct election of senators by 17th Amendment
 U.S. has low voter turnout
 Downs: it is rational not to vote
 Those who see clear differences between parties are likely to vote
 If indifferent, then one may rationally abstain from voting
 Political Efficacy: The belief that one's political participation really matters- that
one's vote can actually make a difference.
 Civic Duty: The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen
should always vote
 Registering to Vote
 Voter Registration: A system adopted by the states that requires voters to
register well in advance of Election Day. A few states permit Election Day
registration.
 Registration procedures differ by state
 Motor Voter Act: Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election.
It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they
apply for their driver's license.
 Who votes?
 Education: more education = more likely to vote
 Age: older are more likely to vote
 Race: Caucasians are more likely to vote, BUT other ethnicities are higher with
comparable education
 Gender: females are more likely to vote
 Marital Status: married are more likely to vote
 Union membership: union member = more likely to vote
 Traits are cumulative – possessing several adds up
 How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions
 Mandate Theory of Elections (does not exist)
 The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his
or her platforms and policies.
 Politicians like they theory better than political scientists do
 Party Identification
 People still generally vote for a party they agree with
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With the rise of candidate-centered politics, parties’ hold on voters declined in the
1960s and 1970s
 Many more voters make an individual voting decision and are up for grabs each
election, so called (floating voters)
 Candidate-Evaluations: how Americans see Candidates
 Candidates want a good visual image
 Especially on dimensions of integrity, reliability, and competence
 Personality plays a role in vote choice, especially if a candidate is perceived to be
incompetent or dishonest
 Policy Voting
 Policy Voting: Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy
preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues.
 Policy voting may occur if
 Voters know where they and the candidates stand on issues and can see
differences between candidates
 Unlikely to occur because
 Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues
 Media tend to focus on the “horse race” NOT issues
 Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries increasing
chances for policy voting
 The Nomination Game
 Nomination
 The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party.
 Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media
attention.
 Campaign Strategy
 The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
 Competing for Delegates
 Nomination game is an elimination contest
 Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at national party convention
 The Caucus road
 Caucus: A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the
national party convention.
 Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention
 Iowa is the first and most important
 Competing For Delegates
 Primary Road
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Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a nominee (or delegates
pledged to the nominee)
 Began at turn of 20th century by progressive reformers
 McGovern-Fraser Commission let to selection of delegates through primary
elections
 Most delegates are chosen through primaries
 Super delegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot
 Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on
media attention
 New Hampshire is the first
 Generally, primaries serve as elimination contests
 Evaluating the primary and caucus system
 Disproportionate attention to early ones
 Prominent politicians do not run
 Money plays too big a role
 Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative; 20% vote in
primaries
 The system gives too much power to media
 The convention send-off
 National conventions are a formality, which means less TV time
 Occur every 4 years
 Rallying points for parties
 Key note speaker on first day of convention
 Party platform = statement of a party’s goals and policies for the next four years
 Debated on second day of convention
 Formal nomination of president and vice president candidates on 3rd and 4th days
 The Campaign Game
 The High-Tech Media Campaign
 Direct mail used to generate support and $$$ for the candidate
 Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage
 Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate
 News stories focus more on the “horse race” than substantive policy issues
 Organizing the Campaign
 Get a campaign manager
 Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel
 Hire media and campaign consultants
 Assemble staff and plan logistics
 Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters
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 Get a good press secretary
 Establish a website
 The Electoral College
 The electoral college actually elects the president, the founders wanted him to be
chosen by the elite of the country
 States choose the electors
 Winner-Take-All System gives bigger emphasis to more populated states
 How it works today
 Each state has as many votes as it does representatives and senators
 Winner of the popular vote typically gets all the electoral college votes for that state
 Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January
 If no candidate gets a majority (270 votes), the House of Representatives votes for
the president, with each state casting one vote
 1970s
 Distrust in the government increased, mostly due to the Watergate Scandal, which
consisted of
 Hoffa and the Union
 Corporate donations
 Annenberg syndrome
 Untraceable donations
 Campaign Finance Act of 1974
 Campaign finance reform act (CFRA)
 Personal donations
 All donations over $100 must be documented with name, address, and occupation
of donor
 All donations over $100 must be reported to federal elections commission
 No CASH donations over $100
 Personal donations limited to $1,000 per candidate per election
 Candidates’ money
 Candidates have a limit placed on their own personal money
 Presidential Election Campaign Fund
 The federal government will pay the entire cost of a candidate election (up to the
legal limit). The candidate may NOT use other donated money once the federal
funds are accepted
 Matching funds in presidential election primaries
 Candidates can get a federal match for donations of $250 or less. The candidate
must $5,000 in each of 20 states from donations of $250 or less
 Political action committees
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Unions and others may create PACs to donate
Donations are limited to $5,000 or less per candidate per election per year
PACs formed by unions or associations may not use dues but may create a separate
donation system
 FEC
 Federal election commission
 6 person, bipartisan
 Independent and regulatory
Buckley vs. Valeo
 A candidate’s personal money is not subject to regulation. Using it in the candidate’s
campaign is an act of free speech
PACs Proliferation
 Anyone can form a PAC
 Can form many
Independent Expenditures
 Private persons can use unlimited money to finance election campaigns. They cannot
work with, for, or in union with a candidate. They must be truly independent
Soft Money
 No limit on money given to political parties
 Money from person to party to candidate is untraceable
 Parties use donations for “party building and grassroots campaign”
Bipartisan Campaign Act / McCain – Feingold Act (2002)
 Banned soft money
 Increased amount of individual contributions up to $2,000
 Limited “issue ads”
 527: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to
contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek election of particular
candidates
 McConnell vs. FEC (2003)
 Upheld BCRA (bipartisan campaign reform act)
 FEC vs. Wisconsin Right to Life Inc. (2007)
 Created an exception for issue ads
 Davis vs. FEC (2008)
 Overruled millionaires amendment
 Citizens united vs. FEC (2010)
 Allowed corporations 1st amendment spending protections
 McCucheon vs. FEC (2014)
 Struck down aggregate limits in campaign spending
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 Super PACs
 Independent political action committees that may spend as much as they want as long
as they do not directly coordinate….
 Money and Campaigning
 Are campaigns too expensive?
 Fundraising takes a lot of time
 Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need to spend to
defeat quality challengers
 The doctrine of sufficiency suggests candidates need just “enough” money to win,
not necessarily “more”
 Campaign effects on voters
 Reinforce (#1 effect)
 Activation (#2 effect)
 Conversion
 Several factors weaken campaigns’ impact on voters
 Selective perception
 Party identification still influence voting behavior
 Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage
 Already been in office
 Random notes
 The number one thing politicians spend money on is in the media
 Right for electoral college to be able to elect president is in the constitution under
article 2
 WHY? BECAUSE THEY SAID SO (just kidding, article two talks about the executive
office…the president…which means the right for the electoral college to elect them
is in here…gasp!!!)
 1970’s
 Water gate
 A hotel that was broken into by three members of president Nixon’s staff to get
the track of the opponent’s money spending…he kept a recording of this in his
desk and lied about it on national TV….face palm moment
 Annenberg syndrome
 This is named after a dude
 People getting positions that they don’t deserve because they donate MONEY
 Hoffa’s union
 Gangster smuggling drugs and member to teamsters union managing the money
which he was using for those drug deals and criminal activity but was funding to
Nixon as well, then he got caught with the drug stuff and went to jail
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 And then Nixon, being super smart let Hoffa free with a presidential pardon
 You’re just not that smart Nixon.
 Seriously. Idiot
 Technically, you can make more than one PCA for a company and donate more than
with just one.
 Loopholes 
 More notes…sorry
 1800 first electoral transition of power
 1896 bitter fight over economic interests
 2008 an election about change
 Small states are represented more, they have less people and get two senators
regardless of population
 Electoral college
 Introduces bias
 Winner take all rule means win 51% of states
 Elections accomplish
 Select policy makers
 Shape public policy
 Maine and Nebraska don’t have winner take all
 Electoral college based on senators and representatives
 Electoral punishment restrains policy makers it helps increase generalized support for
government and its powers
 People have power to give punishment (electoral) or rewards then they see us as master
government as servant so the scope has grown
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