presidential election process and electoral college USP Flashcards
(25 cards)
what is the timeline for presidential elections
- invisible primaries
- primary elections and caucuses
- national conventions
- general election campaigning
- general election
- electoral college vote
- congressional confirmation
- inauguration
how does an invisible primary help the presidential candidate
- early opinion polling and TV debates
- fundraising
- securing endorsements
- establishing public profiles
- adjusting strategies
how much money did Ted Cruz have at the start of his campaign in 2016
$50 million raised by Super PACs only
how much money did Clinton have at the start of his campaign in 2016
raised around $47M by end second quarter in 2015
invisible primaries in 2024 for the republicans
- Trump did not show up once
- rise of Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis
- Media was crucial and those who did not benefit from it got kicked out early
who has the first primary
new hampshire
what are the advantages of primaries and caucuses
- democratic participation
- candidate testing
- policy discussion and testing
- voter choice between factions
what are the disadvantages of primaries and caucuses
- length and costly
- internal division shown
- disproportionate powers for states (earlier ones creates blueprint of who should stay and who should go)
- scandals (Iowa caucus had issue with tallying due to mobile app)
factors taking into choice of running mate
- balance (in terms ideological, physically etc.)
- party unity
- competence and compatibility
- electoral appeal
what are the key purposes of a national convention
- official nomination of candidates
- delivering planks
- unifying party
- can showcase key figures
what are the key aspects of the general election campaign
- the media
- town halls and rallies
- presidential debates
example of swing states
- georgia
- florida
- pennslyvania
how many states have a winner-takes-all electoral system
48/50
what’s an example of a winner-takes-all situation
- 2016 and 2020
- Trump won all 29 electoral votes but winning Flordia’s popular vote
what are faithless electors and how many were there in 2016
- those who vote contrary to whom they would pledged support to
why was 2000 such a controversial election
- Al Gore won popular vote
- did not win presidency
- had to recount in florida
- supreme court said recount was going against 14th amendment
advantages of the electoral college
- balances interests of smaller states
- promotes two party system and clear winner
- candidates must appeal to whole country
disadvantages of the electoral college
- disproportionate focus on swing states
- popular vote not same as normal vote
- risk of faithless electors
- undermines principle of equal representatiom
how could the electoral college be reformed
winner of popular vote becomes president
why is reforms to the electoral college highly unlikely
- benefits republicna party so farr (2000 and 2016)
- require constitutional amendment which is difficult enough
- threatening federalism???
what were the two presidential debates like in 2024
- biden vs trump was horrendous, biden resigned straight away
- THEY’RE EATIN THE DAWGS, THEY’RE EATIN THE CAWTS
how many swing states did trump2 get
all of them
how many VOTES did each candidate win in 2024
- HARRIS = 75M
- TRUMP = 77M
how many STATES did each candidate win in 2024
- HARRIS = 19/50
- TRUMP = 31/50
