Chapter 8 Campaigns, Elections and Voting Behavior
Chapter 8 Campaigns, Elections and Voting Behavior
Who Is eligible to Run for Office there are few eligibility requirements to run for most U.S. offices President must be a natural born citizen must be 35 years old must be a resident of the country for 14 years before Inauguration Vice President must be a natural born citizen must be 35 years old must not be a resident of the same state as the presidential candidate
Who Is Eligible to Run for Office ? • there are few eligibility requirements to run for most U.S. offices • President – must be a natural born citizen – must be 35 years old – must be a resident of the country for 14 years before inauguration • Vice President – must be a natural born citizen – must be 35 years old – must not be a resident of the same state as the presidential candidate
Who Is Eligible to Run for Office ?(cont Senate must be a citizen for at least nine years must be 30 years old must be a resident of the state from which elected Representative must be a citizen for at least seven years must be 25 years old must be a resident of the state from which elected
Who Is Eligible to Run for Office ? (cont.) • Senate – must be a citizen for at least nine years – must be 30 years old – must be a resident of the state from which elected • Representative – must be a citizen for at least seven years – must be 25 years old – must be a resident of the state from which elected
The Modern Campaign Machine longer campaigns than in past times greater emphasis on funds lesser emphasis on political parties greater reliance on political consultants who are hired to devise a campaign strategy greater emphasis on candidate visibility, or name recognition greater use of polls and focus groups
The Modern Campaign Machine • longer campaigns than in past times • greater emphasis on funds • lesser emphasis on political parties • greater reliance on political consultants, who are hired to devise a campaign strategy • greater emphasis on candidate visibility, or name recognition • greater use of polls and focus groups
Regulating campaign finance Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925 limited election expenses for candidates required disclosures was ineffective because of its many loopholes The Hatch Act of 1939 prohibited groups from spending more than $3 million In a campaign limited individual contributions to committees to $5,000 restricted political activities of civil servants designed to end influence peddling
Regulating Campaign Finance • Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925 – limited election expenses for candidates – required disclosures – was ineffective because of its many loopholes • The Hatch Act of 1939 – prohibited groups from spending more than $3 million in a campaign – limited individual contributions to committees to $5,000 – restricted political activities of civil servants – designed to end influence peddling
Regulating Campaign Finance (cont) Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972 restricted mass media expenditures limited contributions by candidate and family members required disclosure of all contributions over $80 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 created the Federal election commission provided public financing of presidential elections limited presidential election campaign spending limited contributions required disclosure of contributions and expenditures
Regulating Campaign Finance (cont.) • Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972 – restricted mass media expenditures – limited contributions by candidate and family members – required disclosure of all contributions over $80 • Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 – created the Federal Election Commission – provided public financing of presidential elections’ – limited presidential election campaign spending – limited contributions – required disclosure of contributions and expenditures
Regulating Campaign Finance (cont) Buckley v. Valeo (1976) declared the 1972 limitation on what an individual could spend on his or her own election unconstitutional The Bi-partisan Campaign Finance Reform act of 2002- bans soft, limits interest group advertising, increases individual contribution limit to $2000
Regulating Campaign Finance (cont.) Buckley v. Valeo (1976) declared the 1972 limitation on what an individual could spend on his or her own election unconstitutional The Bi-partisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 – bans soft, limits interest group advertising, increases individual contribution limit to $2000
Running for president Types of Presidential Primaries closed primary -only voters who are declared party members can vote in that party's primary open primary -voters can vote in either party primary without disclosing their party affiliation blanket primary -voters can vote in primary elections for candidates of more than one party(a Democrat for the presidential nominee and a republican for the Senate nominee, for example) run-off primary if no candidate receives a majority in the first primary, some states require a second primary between the top two candidates
Running for President • Types of Presidential Primaries – closed primary – only voters who are declared party members can vote in that party’s primary – open primary – voters can vote in either party primary without disclosing their party affiliation – blanket primary – voters can vote in primary elections for candidates of more than one party (a Democrat for the presidential nominee and a Republican for the Senate nominee, for example) – run-off primary – if no candidate receives a majority in the first primary, some states require a second primary between the top two candidates
The Electoral College Electors in the Electoral College actually elect the president and vice president of the United States the numbers of electors in each state in equal to that state's number of representatives in both houses of congress electors typically cast their votes for the candidate that receives the plurality of votes in that state because of the winner take all system of the electoral college, it typically serves to exaggerate the popular margin of victor
The Electoral College • Electors in the Electoral College actually elect the president and vice president of the United States • the numbers of electors in each state in equal to that state’s number of representatives in both houses of Congress • electors typically cast their votes for the candidate that receives the plurality of votes in that state • because of the winner take all system of the electoral college, it typically serves to exaggerate the popular margin of victory
Electoral IF top Presidential President Election College presidential candidate receives (first Tuesday in (st Monday and vice- 26 votes or more November) after second president If no pres Candidate receives 26 votes by Jan Voters vote Wednesday in candidates 20, and v.p. has been for electors December) receive Representatives elected, v.p. becomes Electors vote fewer than vote for acting pres. until presIs for president 270 president by elected by the house and vice electoral state. Majority is If neither candidate is pI resident needed to win elected by Jan. 20 speaker of the House respectively votes decisions becomes acting pres Senate elected by Top presidential op vice are made in Senators vote for the House candidate presidential the House vice president If no v p candidate is receives 270 candidate receives and Senate (from top 2 elected by Jan. 20, and votes or more 270 votes or more Each state candidates) pres has been elected gets one Majority is a v p is appointed by the pres and approved vote in the needed to win Vice Congress President House. two elected president Vice votes in the Vice presidential elected Senate candidate receives president 51 votes or more elected
How Presidents and Vice Presidents are Chosen General Election (first Tuesday in November) Voters vote for electors Electoral College (1st Monday after second Wednesday in December) Electors vote for president and vice president respectively IF top presidential and vicepresidential candidates receive fewer than 270 electoral votes, decisions are made in the House and Senate. Each state gets one vote in the House, two votes in the Senate. House Representatives vote for president by state. Majority is needed to win. Senate Senators vote for vice president (from top 2 candidates). Majority is needed to win. Vice presidential candidate receives 51 votes or more. Presidential candidate receives 26 votes or more. Top presidential candidate receives 270 votes or more Top vicepresidential candidate receives 270 votes or more President elected Vice president elected President elected Vice president elected If no pres. Candidate receives 26 votes by Jan. 20, and v.p. has been elected, v.p. becomes acting pres. until pres. is elected by the House. If neither candidate is elected by Jan. 20, speaker of the House becomes acting pres. until pres. is elected by the House. If no v.p. candidate is elected by Jan. 20, and pres. has been elected, a v.p. is appointed by the pres. and approved by Congress