Elections Chapter 10 Americas Three Elections Were Somethin

Elections!!! Chapter 10

America’s Three Elections (We’re Somethin’ Special) America has three types of elections 1. Primary 2. General 3. Referendum/initiative

Primaries in America n Types of primaries n n n Party elections to select candidates for the general election n Presidential Direct Clinton vs. Obama Walberg vs. Rooney Primaries have positive and negative effects n n Forces candidates to take positions Makes voters think about policy positions Nasty primary can damage the image of eventual winner $$$$

How Primaries Can Hurt – Enter Joe Biden speaks to an Indian-American n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=OIT 3 j. Ur. NTX 0 Biden on the lake n n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Nm. RXH 7 Rk. CZQ Biden Wheel Chair http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=SRV 5 Y 1 JCGRI

Tensions Flare n n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=MD 9 F 1 t 9 GQz. A http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=OL 3 HZ c 987 NE

More on Primaries n Inter-party debate on the direction of the party n n Tea Party and Republicans Open vs. Closed n Advantages vs. Disadvantages – What are they?

Presidential Primaries n Each state holds own selection process n n Parties set own rules n n Primary vs. Caucus 2, 509 Republican vs. 4, 322 Democrat Party delegates are selected to attend nominating convention n n Number of delegates usually based on state’s population Similar to electoral college

Republicans in Da House

Republicans 2008 in the Land of the Hand

Why Might It Matter When Your State Holds It’s Primary/Caucus? n n Brainstorm http: //archive. stateline. org/flashdata/Primary/2008_presidential_primaries. pdf

Primary Terms n Frontloading n n What MI did!! Jockey for position. Super Tuesday n n n Day with the greatest number of primaries/caucuses held Gotta do well 2008 n n 50+% of Democratic delegates 40+% of Republican delegates

Delegates Are Not Created Equal n Pledged Delegate – Regular Folk n n n People selected by state primaries or caucuses Vote tied to a candidate Unpledged Delegate (Super-delegate) – Party Fat-cats n n Vote at nominating convention based on status in the party No direct connection to a single candidate

Super-Delegates, Part Duex n Mostly in the Democratic Party Governors, Senators, Representatives n Party Leaders (DNC), Big-Time Donors n n Few in Republican Party Leaders (RNC)

Land of the Hand Gets a Slap on the Wrist n Michigan moved it’s primary up n Punished by super-delegates from MI

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS – Formal nomination of party’s candidate n DEMOCRATIC PARTY Last on: August 25 -28, 2008 n Denver, CO n 4, 322 delegates n 128 from Michigan n Candidate needs 2, 161 to win the nomination -Women out number men, most minorities ever at a convention, why? http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ato 7 Btis. Xz. E n n REPUBLICAN PARTY Last on: Sept. 1 -4, 2008 n Minneapolis, Minnesota n 2, 509 delegates n 60 from Michigan n Candidate needs 1, 255 to win the nomination -Lots of white men, why? n http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=Orlkc. MOMhr. Q&fe ature=related n

The Electoral College: A body of electors chosen by the voters of each state to cast the ballots that elect the president and vice-president. n Electors are appointed or elected by their political party, and if that party wins the popular vote in that state, the electors who's state has won proceed to the Capital on the Monday following the second Wednesday in December to formally cast their ballots. n 538 Electoral College Voters n Each states gets the amount of their US Senators + US Reps n Winner-take-all for all states except Maine and Nebraska n Must have 270 to win n In the event of 269 -269 tie or less than 270, the House of Representatives decides who the president will be. Each state’s congressional delegation will get one vote.

Dingell vs. Rivers http: //www. npr. org/t emplates/story. php? story. Id=129813 613

Where are the House Districts?

REDISTRICTING n n n Census: Every ten years = population changes Reapportionment: Allocating all 435 Congressional seats based on population. Redistricting: Redrawing the boundaries of Congressional districts to meet population changes. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. BNy. Ekx. GOEY&feature=related

Gerrymandering n n n Gerrymandering: Redistricting for political purposes. Some fine examples http: //www. slate. com/id/2208216/slidesho w/2208554/fs/0//entry/2208555/