Presidential Nomination Process (Primaries and Electoral College)

There used to be a congressional caucus meeting where congress would sit down and decide who they wanted to represent their party.

This is an intraparty (within) election, this will determine the candidate for each side (Republican and Democrat). In these elections, people are voting only on Republican/Democratic candidates (Republican v. Republican and Democrat v. Democrat)

When you register to vote, you will state if you are Republican or Democratic. In states with closed primaries, you must vote in the primary that you said you were (Democrats in the Democratic Primary and vice versa)

When you register to vote, you will state if you are Republican or Democratic. In states with an open primary you can vote in whichever primary you want to (must decide upon arrival) (Democrats CAN vote in Republican and vice versa)

This can only happen in open primaries, this is when a Republican will vote in the Democratic primary. In this primary, they will vote for the least likely candidate. People will do this trying to get them delegates. Doesn't play a huge role, millions of people would have to do it to make difference.

This is an intraparty (within) election, it is kind of like musical chairs. Caucuses happen at a set time and place. Here people may come supporting one candidate but through the caucus, they may change their opinion/view and then support another candidate. This is for the more hard-core people.

When you vote for a candidate in the primaries, you are also voting for their delegates. Normal people can sign up to be a delegate, and if chosen, they will represent their candidate in the National Convention. Each state has a certain amount of delegates. You will sign up and then you will have to pay to be a delegate if chosen.

Only in the democratic party, these are former or current important politicians, these people will have an automatic spot (automatic delegate) They are unpledged/unbound so they can vote/represent whoever they want to in the National Convention.

This is a day usually in March where a large number of the states have their primaries and caucuses.

This is usually the first primary, New Hampshire wants their primary to be first so their votes will have a larger impact on the election, and so their votes can be more important than they would be otherwise. Many candidates will drop out after this primary because it sets the tone for the rest of the election. Donors will see the results and if the person they are representing doesn't receive many votes then they will pull out and stop funding their campaign. Running for President is extremely expensive.

Same as New Hampshire just a Caucus. This is usually the first caucus, Iowa wants their primary to be first so their votes will have a larger impact on the election, and so their votes can be more important than they would be otherwise. Many candidates will drop out after this primary because it sets the tone for the rest of the election. Donors will see the results and if the person they are representing doesn't receive many votes then they will pull out and stop funding their campaign. Running for President is extremely expensive.

Some primaries are winner take all and some are proportional representation. In a state that is winner take all, the candidate who receives the most votes in the popular vote will receive ALL of that state's delegates. In a state with proportional representation, the candidates will receive the same percentage of delegates as percentage they win in the popular vote. (If they win 60% of popular vote they win 60% of delegates)

First, the candidate will announce that he or she is running after the candidate will need to make some public appearances and speeches here they will put out some of their views. After this the candidates will focus on the primaries and caucuses, they will need to win a majority of their parties delegates to win the primaries for their party. If they don't win then they will not have a chance at the Presidency.

More and more states are trying to move the dates of their primary/caucus up (earlier in year) States are looking to go earlier because they will have more significance in the election, and the state will receive more publicity. This request must be passed or agreed on by the parties, if the state moves the date without approval then the party may not accept their votes.

This happens after the primary, and again this is intraparty (within) Here the delegates vote on behalf of their candidate. This is where the two final candidates (one from each side) are selected.

Find/select a candidate, here they will also release their platform. The platform is what states their goal if they become President. each party also wants to unify their party and get them all behind their candidate for the fall campaigning.

1. Delegates cast their votes, candidate must have majority, they can do as many ballots as they need until they find a winner. 2. By the end they select their candidate President and Vice President (only for their side) 3. Each side writes their platform 4. Bring party together

This is a convention where neither of the candidates have a majority of the delegates. If this happens the delegates have all the power.

1. More democratic than before; people actually vote instead of just congress 2. Perfect way to test the candidate and see if he/she is ready for the job. This is a long and grueling process that tests the candidates very well.

1. Superdelegates are unfair 2. Small states like Iowa and New Hampshire get too much attention. 3. Too expensive, traveling and campaigning to most of the states. 4. Decisive process separates the party from each other.

The electoral college votes are based off congress. Each state has 2 senators, and a certain number of representatives based on population (appox. 1 Representative per 700,000ppl)

There are 538 electoral college votes because there are 435 people in the House of Representatives, 100 Senators, and Washington D.C is granted 3, which is the same as the least populous state.

270 (50.18%) this is majority, once you get 270 votes you automatically win.

3, each state has at least one Representative, and every state has 2 senators.

This is an elector that said they would vote for a certain candidate, but then come time to vote they vote for someone else, usually this is done to prove a point. Electors votes are public, so this doesn't happen much.

This can happen when there is a third party receiving votes if this happens the election would go to the House of Representatives.

Because the Electoral College system is winner take all, someone could win a state by one vote and receive 55 electors, but lose another state by thousands and their opponent only receives 3 electors. This happened in Bush v. Gore in 2000.

1. Both represent a candidate 2. Both could be faithless 3. Both "check" the presidency, say people made mistake

Delegates Based solely on population, select a candidate for their party only, vote at National Conventions, they can be proportional or winner take all, and there are thousands of delegates. Electors Based on population and Senate (congress), actually vote on President (not intraparty), vote in state capital, winner take all, and there are only 538 electors.

Count of US population, taken every 10 years.

If a state were to lose or gain a substantial amount of population from one census to the next, the state could gain or lose electors. 435 is a fixed number, so no matter what the change is we will always have 435 members of congress.

Climate, people moving to warmer places. Immigration, states closer to Latin America have seen recent population growth. Jobs, some states have better job opportunities Taxes, some state have fewer or no taxes Education, in states with many colleges they gain population from those students Cost of Living, cost of living may be lower in certain states/cities than where they are living now.

1. Protects Minority Interests, allows everyone to get a vote, people in rural areas still vote. 2. Two Party System, having EC automatically creates a race between Republicans and Democrats (very hard for 3rd party to win) 3. Big States Little States, both big and little states are happy. Little states like the Senate (everyone gets 2), and big states like the House (based on population. 4. Power to States, allows states and their government to have a larger say. 5. Known Process, there are minor problems, but no major flaws that could be hidden in the proposed alternate plans. Simple if you win the state you automatically get X amount of electors. 6. Quick, the President is known relatively quickly, country doesn't have to wait.

1. Majority Favor May not Win, a candidate could win the popular vote, but lose the election because they didn't receive as many EC votes. 2. Winner Take All, discourages third party, and certain states are going to be Republican and certain will be Democratic so the minority may not vote. 3. Small States Power, small states have much more power. One electoral college vote doesn't equate (equal) the same number of people their state has. 4. Faithless Electors, there is a possibility of a faithless elector. 5. Election to the House, in the end, the people may not have any real say. Extremely rare has happened 3 times, and it hasn't happened sine 1824.

1. District Plan 2. Proportional Plan 3. Direct Popular Election

Two electors from the entire state would still place their "electoral vote" (Senators) this vote would be based on the state's popular vote. But then each Representative would vote based on who their region voted for. Problem - Gives a lot of power to the people drawing the District Lines (more Gerrymandering)

Similar to proportional representation in the Primaries. Each candidate would receive electors based on the percentage of the popular vote they received. If you win 60% you would get 60% of that state's electors. Problem - It would take much longer to get to 270 electors, and it would also allow third party to play a role.

This would completely get rid of the Electoral College system. In this system each vote would weigh exactly the same amount. Every person's vote would be equal.