Chapter 13: Voting and Elections (pg 459-507)
Purposes of Elections
The Electorate
A “mandate”
Retrospective Judgments
Prospective Judgments
Elections since 1960
1960 JFK vs. RMN
1964 LBJ VS. BG
1968 RMN VS HHH
1972 RMN VS McGovern
1974 Watergate election
1976 JRF vs JEC
1980 RR vs. JEC
1984 RR vs. Mondale
1988 GHB vs. Dukakis
1992 GHB vs. WJC
1994 Hillarycare
1996 WJC vs. Dole
1998 Impeachment
2000 GWB vs AG
2002 9/11
2004 GWB vs. Kerry
2006?
Types of Elections for Office
Primaries
Open Primaries
Closed Primaries
Caucuses
“Beauty Contests”
Runoff Primary
General Elections
Benefits of Primaries vs. Caucuses
Other Elections
Initiatives
Referendum
Recall
Presidential Primaries
Winner Take all
Proportional Representation
Proportional Representation with Bonus Delegates
Beauty contests; and Super-Delegates
Timing; Iowa, New Hampshire, S. Carolina, Minnesota
The Role of Primaries
Vetting
Advertising
Winnowing
Strengthening
Question: Long vs. Short primaries
The Party Convention
Delegates
Super Delegates
The Selection Process
Other Roles of the Convention
The Party Platform
News Media
The rank and file
Electoral College
Original Purpose
Compromise between direct and legislative
Modern effects
The Electors….
The practical effects
Reforming the System
Abolishing it
Convert from state to congressional District
Abolish Electors
Important Elections
Party Realignments
1860
1896
1932
Congressional Elections
National vs. Local Elections
Incumbency
Coattails
Redistricting and Gerrymandering
Scandals
Turnout
Presidential/Midterm/Off-year Elections
Voting Behavior
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