Nominations and Elections

caucus

a gathering of party leaders to talk over possible candidates

When did the convention method become the most common method of nominating candidates?

after 1835

In most states, an independent candidate may file a petition of nomination _____.

after the primary election

Which government is responsible for nominating public officers, except for the candidates for the presidency and vice presidency?

almost entirely to states

Which primary system do most states use?

closed

Which convention came into existence first?

county convention

Who's excluded in a closed primary?

independents

Today the caucus is widely used on the _____ level.

local

party-raiding

members of one party move into the primary of the other party to choose candidates

Who eventually dominated party conventions?

political bosses

How long did the conventional method remain popular, and which method replaced this method?

shortly after 1900 when the direct primary replaced it in many states

Why did all voters in Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin's elections cast their ballots?

they were required to vote and often forced to vote for the candidate chosen by the dictator

What are the two ways a candidate can get his/her name on a ballot?

with or without the support of a political party

Can nomination be more important than the election itself?

yes

Is the direct primary is a party election?

yes

How might the delegates in a party convention be elected?

-by the people in a district -or chosen by the party leaders themselves

What are some disadvantages of a wide-open primary?

-can lead to party-raiding

What are the 5 different nomination methods?

-caucus -convention -direct primary -petition -announcement

Five methods of nomination used today include: -convention -caucus -direct primary -inheritance -promotion -petition -announcement

-convention -caucus -direct primary -petition -announcement

Which types of conventions came into being after 1830? -Republican -Democrat -county -state

-county -state

What two types of conventions were used after 1830?

-county convention -state convention

What are some advantages of a wide-open primary?

-encourages party switching -emphasizes on "the best man for the job" rather than party loyalty

What can the party do at its party convention?

-find where it is weak and working to correct the weakness -judge the candidates from the standpoint of popularity in different sections of the state -can arouse party enthusiasm among the leaders, which can be carried to local level

Why is self-announcement used?

-for public service -for nonpaying positions

Which of the following are negative characteristics of political conventions? Select all that apply. -fraud -bribery -photojournalism -corruption

-fraud -bribery -corruption

How does internet impact the public's perspective and knowledge of a candidate?

-more access to a larger content of information about candidates -a more personal view of each candidate's lifestyle

What's generally required for the nomination of an independent candidate?

-more signatures than is required of those who wish their name placed on the primary ballot -required that the petition for nomination be filed after the primary election

What do states allow for prospective independent candidates?

-nominated by petition -to have their names placed on the ballot in the final election

What did the county convention do?

-nominated most county officers -elected the county chairman -later chose delegates to the state convention

Which of the following best characterize the county convention? Select all that apply. -nominated the vice president -nominated the governor -elected the county chairperson -nominated county officers -chose delegates to the state convention

-nominated the governor -elected the county chairperson -nominated county officers -chose delegates to the state convention

What did the state convention do?

-nominates all candidates for state offices and members of Congress -nominated the delegates to the national convention of the party

Which of the following are types of primaries that lend itself to "party raiding"? -open -closed -wide-open

-open -wide-open

Which of the following are methods for a candidate to be placed on their party's primary ballot? -self-announcement -petition -caucus

-petition

What do voters commonly see on the internet?

-political cartoons -videos -comments posted

Two convention delegates may be chosen by: -the people -the Senate -Circuit Court justices -party leaders

-the people -party leaders

What are the 3 ways a person who desires a political office can have his name put on the primary ballot of his party?

1) a simple declaration of candidacy 2) a declaration plus payment of a fee 3) the presentation of a nominating petition signed by a given number, or a certain per cent, of the voters in his party

About how many state officers (such as governors and legislators) are elected?

10,000

What percentage of voters access political news through national newspapers?

13%

What percentage of voters access political news through social media?

16%

What percentage of voters access political news through cell phones?

28%

When did the caucus method lose favor, and why?

After 1828 -Andrew Jackson's followers made a strong argument that it was being seriously abused -with the extension of suffrage, the caucus method began to disappear from the national scene

Where does the term caucus comes from?

Algonquin language: means "to talk"

What's the first step in the election selection process?

Candidates being nominated

Why did states abandon the convention method of nomination?

Fraud, bribery, and corruption were all common in the conventions

When were caucuses used for elections of presidents and vice presidents, and why?

In 1800 as political parties were established

Where is the blanket ballot system used?

Washington

What's the nomination process in American politics?

a very careful agreement of many thousands of people who try to select the person who most nearly represents their goals and political desires; lots of strategy occurs

During the early 1800s, candidates for the positions of president and vice president were chosen by _____.

caucus

A person can get his name put on the primary ballot of his party by ________.

declaration and payment

state convention

delegates nominate candidates for offices and Congress, and delegates to the national convention

county convention

delegates nominate most county officers and chose delegates to the state convention

T/F: It's necessary for a candidate to be supported by a political party or to be nominated at the party primary.

false

T/F: Nominations can only happen in free societies.

false; dictators recognize importance of nominations, but they are often advantage of the process, making it a mockery

T/F: Caucus is an unused method of nomination in the US.

false; it is still used in many local elections today

T/F: All states hold both a convention and a direct primary.

false; only some states

What's the general reason party leaders prefer the convention system?

gives them opportunity to take care of the other party business besides nominating candidates

What is a political convention's agenda?

hopefully lead to a successful run into the White House

Why do party leaders prefer the convention system?

it gives them opportunity to take care of the other party business besides nominating candidates

What's the weakness of an open primary?

it lends itself to party-raiding

What was the earliest device for nominating candidates for state offices and for seats in Congress?

legislative caucus

Can someone use self-announcement to place his/her name on a ballot without paying a filing fee?

no

By using the caucus, the people took no part in the ______ process.

nomination

What nomination system was used in the US's first three presidential elections?

none; no caucus desired, members of the electoral college simply agreed twice on George Washington and once on John Adams

How is the conventional method still used today?

on the national level

A(n) ________ primary is one in which voters may vote for the candidates of the party they desire.

open

What are the 2 most common types of primaries in the US?

open and closed

How many nominations are there?

over a million

declaration of candidacy

person wishes to be a candidate for the party, so he makes an announcement of intention

open primary

qualified voters vote for the candidates without revealing their party membership

How are many nonpartisan officers (such as members of the board of education) nominated?

self-announcement

Where do candidates for office use the nomination method of self-announcement?

small areas: most towns and villages

Who provides for primaries?

states

How do most people of voting age gain knowledge of political news?

technology

During the first three presidential elections the president and the vice president were elected by _____.

the electoral college

announcement

the individual fills out documentation and pays a filing fee to announce that he seeks a political office

direct primary

the members vote, by secret ballot, to choose their candidate for the general election

plurality

the most votes cast, but not necessarily a majority

What does a wide-open primary ballot have on it?

the names of the candidates for each office in each party

closed primary

the voter declares his party allegiance and votes for the ballot of his own party

What's a vote based on for a wide-open primary?

the voter makes her/his choice regardless of the party label of the candidate for whom he votes

T/F: A blanket ballot system is also known as a wide-open primary.

true

T/F: Fraud, bribery, and corruption were all common in the conventions.

true

T/F: Most states prohibit candidates who were defeated in the primary from filing as independent candidates after the primary election.

true

T/F: Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin all held elections.

true

T/F: Nearly all the states now use the direct primary or a combination of convention and primary.

true

T/F: The selecting process in American politics is highly competitive.

true

A(n) _________ primary is one in which the voter is given one ballot that has the names of the candidates for each office in each party.

wide-open

Which 6 states have open primaries?

-Wisconsin -Michigan -Idaho -Minnesota -Montana -North Dakota

The state convention nominates which of the following groups? Select all that apply. -all candidates for state offices -candidates for Congressional office -the delegates to the national convention of the party -presidential candidates -press committee chairperson

-all candidates for state offices -candidates for Congressional office -the delegates to the national convention of the party

What internet platforms do candidates often have?

-an official web site -Tumblr page -Twitter -Facebook -YouTube -Google -Pinteres -Instagram -Spotify playlists -a mobile app

What are some advantages of a closed primary?

-building up the party strength and unity -helps make both the party and the candidates mutually responsible for its program

About how many local officials are elected?

500,000