US Democracy and participation

Question 1

invisible primaries

Answer 1

period before primary voting in which candidates attempt to establish themselves as potential winners

by raising funds and securing public support

Question 2

two stages of election

Answer 2

primary election - inter party election

presidential election including electoral college

Question 3

key fatuers of primary

Answer 3

candidates compete within states not in a single national vote

different states vote on different dates

each state has a number of delegates

the more votes the more delegates

Question 4

criticisms of primaries

Answer 4

timing- each state tries to get thier election earlier because they want thier state to matter

open priamries allow for spoiling tactics

splits the party

Question 5

benefits of primaries

Answer 5

voter choice
allows voters to choose from several candidates

voter education
longer campaign period
proven party candidates

Question 6

party platform

Answer 6

the policies that a party intends to campaign for during the election the individual policies that make up the platform are known as planks

Question 7

national party convention

Answer 7

end of primary process

in theory select presidential candidate

Question 8

electoral college

Answer 8

formally elects president

• voting takes place within all states on same day
• each state is given a value
• candidate that recives most votes gets all delegates
• over 50% of votes

Question 9

positives of electoral college

Answer 9

prevents mob rule
protects power of smaller states
produces clear winner

Question 10

criticisms of electoral college

Answer 10

winner of popular vote can lose seen in 2016 with clinton getting 3 million more votes than trump

rougue delegates faitheless electors ignore public opinion in thier states

over representation of small states

focus on swing states