Unit
6: The Election Process
According
to the United States Constitution, a presidential election is to be held
once every fourth year. The process of electing a President and
Vice-President begins long before Election Day. Candidates from both major
and minor political parties and independent candidates begin to raise
money and campaign at least one year in advance of the general
presidential election. In order to officially represent a political party,
a candidate must be nominated by that party.
This primary nomination process is a contest that often produces
factions within political parties. These divisions impact the policy
stances and agendas of the candidates running for nomination as they
attempt to garner the support of party leaders and activists. The
nominating process officially begins with the first state primaries and
caucuses, which usually occur in the month of February of the election
year. It is at these local events that voters are given their first chance
to participate in electing the nation’s next President.
There are
many factors that influence who will ultimately become the candidate for a
party. The public’s perception of the candidates is influenced by such
things as media reports, public opinion polls, candidate preference
surveys, and advertising. These factors will help determine the perceived
strengths and weaknesses of the candidates in the months leading up to the
caucuses and primaries.
The spring of an election year is characterized by vigorous
campaigning for primaries and caucuses all over the nation. This process
reaches its crescendo at the national conventions of the political
parties. Once at the national party conventions, the delegates from the
states cast votes for the person who will represent the political party in
the November general election. In order to secure a party’s nomination,
a candidate must receive a majority of the votes from the delegates. It is
not unusual for delegates to vote several times before one candidate
secures the majority of the votes and officially becomes that party’s
candidate for the election to determine the next President of the United
States. The candidate for President then must choose a vice-presidential
candidate. Generally,
a running mate is chosen that will in some way balance the party’s
ticket for the general election. This balance may be geographic (choosing
a running mate that is very popular in one region where the Presidential
candidate is not) or ideological (choosing a running mate with a different
ideological framework than the presidential candidate), and the balance is
intended to make the overall general election ticket of a political party
acceptable to as wide a range of voters as possible.
 If a
President is running for re-election, this nomination process must be
completed. Even if the President does not face any opposition from within
his own political party, the national convention will still occur. The
conventions are extravaganzas, full of pageantry and showmanship. They
serve to help jump start the general election campaign for the
presidential candidates.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/primary.html
DIRECTORY
OF U.S.
POLITICAL PARTIES
THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES: (Click on for more details)
 Democratic
Party (DNC) -.The official DNC web site offers party news, hearing information,
platform positions, links and more. Other official, affiliated national
Democratic sites include:
Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), DemocraticAction.com
(DCCC #2), The Stakeholder (DCCC Blog) and the House
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's Office.
Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), From
the Roots (DSCC Blog) and Senate
Minority Leader Harry Reid's Office.
Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
Democratic
Legislative Campaign Committee.
Young
Democrats of America (YDs).
College
Democrats of America ("College Dems").
 Republican
Party (RNC) The well-designed RNC net site offers news, party positions,
educational tools, gifts, chat, links and more. Other official, affiliated
national GOP sites include:
National
Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Speaker
of the House Denny Hastert and House
Republican Conference.
National
Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist's Office.
Republican
Governors Association (RGA).
National
Federation of Republican Women (NFRW).
Young
Republican National Federation (YRs).
College
Republican National Committee (CRNC).
National
Teen Age Republicans (TARs).
THE
THIRD PARTIES:
(Listed
in Alphabetical Order Note: "One-State-Only" parties are listed
on ONLY on the STATE
pages)
ASSIGNMENT
1. Describe
the process for electing the President of the United States.
Include the role of the political parties in the process.
2. Define
the philosophy of the Republican & Democratic Parties.
3. Summarize
the views of three third parties? Why
do they exist?
4. How
can you become involved in the political process?
5. Why
is it important to become involved in the political process?
Is it your duty or responsibility? Can you make a difference-in
policy-in the outcome of an election?
6. Who
can vote? What are the qualifications?
7. Are
you registered to vote? Why/why not?
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