The Election Campaign and Selecting the US President

The Election Campaign and Selecting the US President
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This chapter focuses on the election campaign process that candidates need to go through before the Presidential Election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. It highlights the importance of primary elections

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PowerPoint presentation about 'The Election Campaign and Selecting the US President'. This presentation describes the topic on This chapter focuses on the election campaign process that candidates need to go through before the Presidential Election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. It highlights the importance of primary elections. The key topics included in this slideshow are . Download this presentation absolutely free.

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Slide1Political Science Chapter 17

Slide2ELECTION CAMPAIGNSELECTING THE PRESIDENT Candidates begin organizing their campaigns many month before an election Primary elections in the Spring help narrow the field of candidates Presidential Election:  1 st  Tuesday after 1 st Monday in November

Slide3ELECTORAL VOTES AND THE STATESA candidate must win 270 of 538 electoral votes (total = Senators and Representatives from each state; plus 3 from Washington, DC) Particular attention is paid to states with large populations

Slide4CAMPAIGNINGCAMPAIGN STRATEGY Planning to capture key states Theme, slogan, issue, strategy CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION Strong organization essential – campaign manager head the organization ADVERTISING:  television, radio, internet

Slide5FINANCING CAMPAIGNSRunning for political office VERY EXPENSIVE! 2004 elections:  $3.9 billion spent on presidential and congressional campaigns Regulating Campaign Financing:  heavy regulations – FEC (Federal election Commission) Public Funding & Private Funding

Slide6EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTSVoting is not a privilege, it is a RIGHT, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution SUFFRAGE = “right to vote” Early limitations on voting:   Literacy test; poll tax Blacks:  15 th  Amendment Women:  19 th  Amendment 18 year olds:  26 th  Amendment

Slide7VOTER’S HANDBOOKNote pages 486-491, and consider these topics: Qualifications to Vote Registering to Vote Voting Procedures Special Circumstances

Slide8INFLUENCES ON VOTERSPERSONAL BACKGROUND OF VOTERS Age Other background influences:  education, religion, race or ethnic background Cross-pressured voter:  one caught between conflicting elements in his or her own life

Slide9LOYALTY TO POLITICAL PARTIESSTRONG vs. WEAK PARTY VOTERS split ticket straight-party ticket INDEPENDENT VOTERS this number has increased over the years

Slide10ISSUES IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNSMany voters are not well-informed – Still, today’s voters are better informed -Television -Better education -Issues have greater impact on personal lives Ex. Issues:  1980 election

Slide11CANDIDATE’S IMAGEImportant:  ways voters perceive issues Propaganda:  use of ideas, information, perceptions, even rumors to influence public opinion Note:  Propaganda Techniques (p. 496)

Slide12VOTERSREGULAR VOTERS regular voters have positive attitudes toward government and citizenship NON-VOTERS Some do not vote:  not meeting requirements