PS+110N Module 2 Lesson 3 PDF

LESSON 3 POLITICAL PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND ELECTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTORAL PROCESS The US Presidential Process typically takes place in a 2-year period, from the announcement of a candidate to participate in the primary process until the vote in the Electoral College CAU...

LESSON 3 POLITICAL PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND ELECTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTORAL PROCESS The US Presidential Process typically takes place in a 2-year period, from the announcement of a candidate to participate in the primary process until the vote in the Electoral College CAUCUS/ PRIMARY PROCESS  Primary election registered voters may participate in choosing the candidate for the party's nomination by voting through secret ballot, as in a general election. PRIMARY ELECTION  MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES CLOSED PRIMARY a registered voter may vote only in the election for the party with which that voter is affiliated. ⚬ For example a voter registered as Democratic can vote only in the Democratic primary and a Republican can vote only in the Republican primary. MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES  MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES OPEN PRIMARY on the other hand, a registered voter can vote in either primary regardless of party membership. The voter cannot, however, participate in more than one primary. MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES  MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES BLANKET PRIMARY A third less common type of primary allows registered voters to participate in all primaries MAIN TYPES OF PRIMARIES  The Caucus private meetings run by political parties. In most, participants divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support, with undecided voters forming into a group of their own. Each group then gives speeches supporting its candidate and tries to persuade others to join its group. THE CAUCUS  The Caucus At the end of the caucus, party organizers count the voters in each candidate's group and calculate how many delegates each candidate has won. THE CAUCUS  Voting for Delegates Voters do not directly elect their party’s candidate. They vote their opinion on which candidate their state’s delegates should vote for during the party’s national convention (where the final candidate is chosen). VOTING FOR DELEGATES  NATIONAL CONVENTIONS  National convention the time when the party will be choosing their standard bearer To become the presidential nominee, a candidate typically has to win a majority of delegates. This usually happens through the party's state primaries and caucuses. DELEGATES  National convention State delegates go to the national convention to vote to confirm their choice of candidates. ⚬ But if no candidate gets the majority of a party's delegates during the primaries and caucuses, convention delegates choose the nominee. ⚬ This happens through additional rounds of voting. At the convention, the presidential nominee officially announces who will run with them for vice president. DELEGATES  National convention State delegates go to the national convention to vote to confirm their choice of candidates. ⚬ But if no candidate gets the majority of a party's delegates during the primaries and caucuses, convention delegates choose the nominee. ⚬ This happens through additional rounds of voting. At the convention, the presidential nominee officially announces who will run with them for vice president. DELEGATES  Types of delegates at a national convention Pledged or bound delegates must support the candidate they were awarded through the primary or caucus process. Unpledged delegates or superdelegates can support any presidential candidate they choose. DELEGATES  BOUND Delegates Some states allot primary candidates delegate votes according to the percentage of votes each candidate received. In a state with 100 delegates, a candidate that got 70 percent of the vote would get 70 delegates, and the other 30 delegates would vote according to the minority percentages. Other states use an all-or-nothing system, where the overall winner in a state takes all that state’s delegates. BOUND DELEGATES  BOUND Delegates Each state gets a predetermined number of delegates who can vote at the national convention (which has been decided by the party). The actual delegates themselves are volunteers and active party members in each state, but they are told which candidate to vote for during the first vote by the results of each primary in their state. DELEGATES  Superdelegates The superdelegates are formally uncommitted to a candidate when entering the national convention, usually elected officials in that state in the party. They can vote for any candidate they choose, but often commit to a candidate ahead of time and maybe have even given an endorsement. SUPERDELEGATES  Superdelegates While superdelegates are much smaller in number than regular delegates, they can have a large influence on the outcome of a primary, especially in a close race. SUPERDELEGATES  Other Unaffiliated Delegates In some cases, a candidate will formally drop out of the primaries before the national convention. Any delegates they had previously won would be up for grabs by other candidates. In many cases, though, a candidate who drops out of the race will endorse another candidate. SUPERDELEGATES  Other Unaffiliated Delegates Usually, the delegates for the candidate no longer running will commit to whomever he or she endorsed. Formally, these delegates are uncommitted, just like superdelegates. SUPERDELEGATES GENERAL ELECTIONS AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE  PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Americans elect the President and Vice President through a method of indirect popular election. On the first Tuesday in November, voters cast their ballots for a presidential candidate. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OLD MAN VS CON MAN PROSECUTOR VS FELON  PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The central focus of a debate should be to provide voters with information they need to measure the suitability of the candidates for office. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES  PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The Commission on Presidential Debates was established in 1987 by the Democratic and Republican Parties and has sponsored all presidential and vice-presidential general election debates since 1988. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION  Electoral college These votes actually count towards a group of electors who pledge to vote for a specific candidate in the Electoral College. The "Electoral College" is the group of citizens selected by the people to cast votes for President and Vice President. ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE  STATE’S Electoral VOTE = 2 SENATORS = NUMBER OF US REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL COLLEGE District of Columbia receives three electoral votes (23RD AMENDMENT) ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CAMPAIGN FUNDING  Campaign Funding 1. DONATIONS DIRECTLY TO A CANDIDATE’S CAMPAIGN FUND 2. OUTSIDE SPENDING/INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES ⚬ money spent to influence elections that has no technical affiliation with candidates. ⚬ Groups in this category range from conventional party committees to the more controversial super PACs and 501(c) "dark money" organizations. ⚬ Outside spending groups can legally sums of money to influence the outcome of elections CAMPAIGN FUNDING  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) A POPULAR TERM FOR A POLITICAL COMMITTEE ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING AND SPENDING MONEY TO ELECT AND DEFEAT CANDIDATES. MOST PACS REPRESENT BUSINESS, LABOR OR IDEOLOGICAL INTERESTS. PACS CAN GIVE $5,000 TO A CANDIDATE COMMITTEE PER ELECTION (PRIMARY, GENERAL OR SPECIAL). POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) THEY CAN ALSO GIVE UP TO $15,000 ANNUALLY TO ANY NATIONAL PARTY COMMITTEE, AND $5,000 ANNUALLY TO ANY OTHER PAC. PACS MAY RECEIVE UP TO $5,000 FROM ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, PAC OR PARTY COMMITTEE PER CALENDAR YEAR. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) A PAC MUST REGISTER WITH THE FEC WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ITS FORMATION, PROVIDING NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PAC, ITS TREASURER AND ANY CONNECTED ORGANIZATIONS. AFFILIATED PACS ARE TREATED AS ONE DONOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTION LIMITS. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) PACS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1944, WHEN THE CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS (CIO) FORMED THE FIRST ONE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) THE PAC'S MONEY CAME FROM VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM UNION MEMBERS RATHER THAN UNION TREASURIES, SO IT DID NOT VIOLATE THE SMITH CONNALLY ACT OF 1943, WHICH FORBADE UNIONS FROM CONTRIBUTING TO FEDERAL CANDIDATES. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) ALTHOUGH COMMONLY CALLED PACS, FEDERAL ELECTION LAW REFERS TO THESE ACCOUNTS AS "SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUNDS" BECAUSE MONEY CONTRIBUTED TO A PAC IS KEPT IN A BANK ACCOUNT SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL CORPORATE OR UNION TREASURY. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What is a PAC? POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) MANY POLITICIANS ALSO FORM LEADERSHIP PACS AS A WAY OF RAISING MONEY TO HELP FUND OTHER CANDIDATES' CAMPAIGNS. SINCE JUNE 2008, LEADERSHIP PACS REPORTING ELECTRONICALLY MUST LIST THE CANDIDATE SPONSORING THE PAC, AS PER THE HONEST LEADERSHIP AND OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2007. LEADERSHIP PACS ARE OFTEN INDICATIVE OF A POLITICIAN'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE  What's a super PAC? SUPER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) A NEW TYPE OF PAC WAS CREATED AFTER THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS DECISION IN SPEECHNOW V. FEC IN 2010. THESE PACS MAKE NO CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES OR PARTIES. THEY DO, HOWEVER MAKE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES IN FEDERAL RACES - RUNNING ADS OR SENDING MAIL OR COMMUNICATING IN OTHER WAYS WITH MESSAGES THAT SPECIFICALLY ADVOCATE THE ELECTION OR DEFEAT OF A WHAT'S A SUPER PAC?  What's a super PAC? SUPER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) THERE ARE NO LIMITS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT MAY BE USED FOR THESE EXPENDITURES. THESE COMMITTEES FILE REGULAR FINANCIAL REPORTS WITH THE FEC WHICH INCLUDE THEIR DONORS ALONG WITH THEIR EXPENDITURES. VIEW THE CURRENT LIST OF SUPER PACS. WHAT'S A SUPER PAC?  Campaign Funding 3. LOBBYING the act of an individual or group attempting to influence politicians. The term “lobbyist” is most frequently associated with legal firms whose goal is to influence politicians on behalf of their clients, who are often times private corporations and unions. CAMPAIGN FUNDING  Campaign Funding 3. LOBBYING Although corporations and unions are banned from directly donating to political campaigns, their workers and CEOs can give money to a lobbyist, who then donates to a campaign. Lobbyists are also notorious for offering politicians high- paying careers with their firm once politicians leave office. CAMPAIGN FUNDING  Prohibited Contributions While most individuals are free to make political contributions, three categories of individuals are prohibited by law from making contributions: foreign nationals, federal government contractors and, in some instances, minors. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 1. FOREIGN NATIONALS Foreign nationals may not make contributions in connection with any election Federal, State or local. This prohibition does not apply to foreign citizens who are lawfully residing in the United States (those who have "green cards"). PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 2. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS MAY NOT MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO INFLUENCE FEDERAL ELECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A CONSULTANT UNDER CONTRACT TO A FEDERAL AGENCY, YOU MAY NOT CONTRIBUTE TO FEDERAL CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL COMMITTEES. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 2. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS OR, IF YOU ARE THE SOLE PROPRIETOR OF A BUSINESS WITH A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT, YOU MAY NOT MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PERSONAL OR BUSINESS FUNDS. BUT, IF YOU ARE MERELY EMPLOYED BY A COMPANY (OR PARTNERSHIP) WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, YOU ARE PERMITTED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR PERSONAL FUNDS. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 3. CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS THE LAW ALSO PROHIBITS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS AND LABOR UNIONS. THIS PROHIBITION APPLIES TO ANY INCORPORATED ORGANIZATION, PROFIT OR NONPROFIT. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 3. CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS FOR EXAMPLE, THE OWNER OF AN INCORPORATED "MOM AND POP" GROCERY STORE IS NOT PERMITTED TO USE A BUSINESS ACCOUNT TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS. INSTEAD, THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO USE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 3. CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS A CORPORATE EMPLOYEE MAY MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH A NONREPAYABLE CORPORATE DRAWING ACCOUNT, WHICH ALLOWS THE INDIVIDUAL TO DRAW PERSONAL FUNDS AGAINST SALARY, PROFITS OR OTHER COMPENSATION. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Prohibited Contributions 4. CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER CONTRIBUTIONS MADE IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER ARE PROHIBITED. FOR EXAMPLE, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ALREADY CONTRIBUTED UP TO THE LIMIT FOR A CANDIDATE'S ELECTION MAY NOT GIVE MONEY TO ANOTHER PERSON TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAME CANDIDATE. SIMILARLY, A CORPORATION IS PROHIBITED FROM USING BONUSES OR OTHER METHODS OF REIMBURSING EMPLOYEES PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS  Limits on Campaign Contributions 1. OUTSIDE SPENDING/INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES THE OUTSIDE SPENDING LANDSCAPE IS IN CONSTANT FLUX. IN 2002, CONGRESS PASSED THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS MCCAIN- FEINGOLD WHICH SET LIMITS ON "SOFT MONEY" CONTRIBUTIONS AND BANNED SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS FROM MAKING ISSUE ADS. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Limits on Campaign Contributions 1. OUTSIDE SPENDING/INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES BUT IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS, INCLUDING CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC AND SPEECHNOW.ORG V. FEC HAVE DISMANTLED OR ERODED PARTS OF THE LAW, GIVING RISE TO SUPER PACS AND "DARK MONEY" ORGANIZATIONS POLITICALLY ACTIVE NONPROFITS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE THEIR DONORS. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Limits on Campaign Contributions 1. OUTSIDE SPENDING/INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES THESE ORGANIZATIONS ALONE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RECENT ELECTIONS AND ALMOST NEVER REVEALED WHERE THEIR MONEY WAS COMING FROM. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Notable Supreme Court Cases A. CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC RESULTED IN UNIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND ASSOCIATIONS BEING ABLE TO SPEND UNLIMITED SUMS OF MONEY DIRECTLY FROM THEIR TREASURIES ON “ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS”. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Notable Supreme Court Cases A. CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS ARE DEFINED BY THE FEC AS “ BROADCAST ADS (TELEVISION, RADIO, CABLE, SATELLITE), MADE BY PEOPLE OR GROUPS WHO DO NOT FILE REGULAR REPORTS WITH THE FEC, THAT REFER TO A FEDERAL CANDIDATE, ARE TARGETED TO VOTERS AND APPEAR WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A PRIMARY OR 60 DAYS OF A GENERAL ELECTION.” LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Notable Supreme Court Cases B. SPEECHNOW V. FEC: RESULTED IN 527 GROUPS ,WHICH ARE DEFINED AS “A PARTY, COMMITTEE OR ASSOCIATION THAT IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED PRIMARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFLUENCING THE SELECTION, NOMINATION OR APPOINTMENT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL TO ANY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICE, OR OFFICE IN A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION,” BEING ABLE TO RAISE UNLIMITED SUMS OF MONEY. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Notable Supreme Court Cases TOGETHER, SPEECHNOW V. FEC AND CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC ALLOWED FOR THE CREATION OF ORGANIZATIONS COMMONLY KNOWN AS SUPER PACS. TECHNICALLY KNOWN AS INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE-- ONLY COMMITTEES, SUPER PACS MAY RAISE UNLIMITED SUMS OF MONEY FROM CORPORATIONS, UNIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, THEN SPEND UNLIMITED SUMS TO OVERTLY ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST POLITICAL CANDIDATES. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Limits on Campaign Contributions 2. LOBBYING: THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH LOBBYING RELATES TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE, THE MOST NOTABLE OF THEM BEING “BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS” AND “THE REVOLVING DOOR.” LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Lobbying A. BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS ALTHOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL FOR CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, IT IS COMPLETELY LEGAL FOR THEM TO HIRE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS KNOWN AS LOBBYISTS TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS TO POLITICIANS HOLDING OR RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Lobbying A. BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS LOBBYISTS MAY ALSO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SEVERAL OF THEIR CLIENTS, BUNDLE THEM TOGETHER, AND THEN DONATE TO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS “BUNDLING CONTRIBUTIONS.” LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Lobbying B. THE REVOLVING DOOR RECEIVING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY THAT POLITICIANS BENEFIT FROM WORKING WITH LOBBYISTS. THEY ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO WALK THROUGH WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE “REVOLVING DOOR.” LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Lobbying B. THE REVOLVING DOOR IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR POLITICIANS AND FEDERAL WORKERS TO FIND CAREERS WITH LOBBYING FIRMS ONCE THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT POSITIONS, AND VICE VERSA. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR.  Lobbying B. THE REVOLVING DOOR THE FIRMS WHO HIRE POLITICIANS ARE OFTEN THE SAME FIRMS WHO LOBBIED THEM WHILE IN OFFICE, AND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OFFER MUCH HIGHER SALARIES THAN THE GOVERNMENT DOES. LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTR. END OF LESSON 3