Unit IV Lesson 8

Presidential Elections Part I

Essential Question:

• How are rules or laws that

govern the election process

beneficial to the citizens of

America?

• What are the most important

factors in determining the

outcome of an election?

A U.S. Resident for At

Least 14 Years

Unit IV“Informal”

1

2

3 4

Lessons 8,9,10

Declare Your Candidacy

72012

“Primary

Election”

“I’m _____ and I’m Running for President!”

“Primary

Election”

“Primary

Debates”

What’s the MOST

important thing a

candidate needs

to be doing at this

point?

Raising Money

“Special

Interest

Groups”

Most of the money raised by presidential candidates during the primary

phase comes from Political Action Committees: Organizations

created by “Special-Interest Groups” to elect candidates they agree with

Special Interest Groups

“Lobbyists”

“Bribery”

“Special

Interest

Groups”

Unit V

“Special

Interest

Groups”“PACs”

“PACs”

Step 1 in the Presidential Election Cycle:

*Primary Elections and Caucuses

“Caucus”

“Primary

Election”

“General Election”

Presidential primaries take place on a state-by-state basis

and last from January to June in presidential election years

“General Election” “Primary Elections”

2012

“Iowa Caucuses” Caucus

Caucus

“General

Election”

“Caucus” vs.

“Primary”

“Caucus”

“Nominee”

1/50

Primary

Primary

“General

Election”

“Primary” “Nominee”

2/50

“Primary

Election”

“Primary”

“Nominee”

2

Political Action Committees or “PACs” were formed to allow unions, corporations, and

other organizations to:

A. Run their own members for political office

B. Contribute money to the candidate or candidates of their choice

C. Coordinate local get-out-the vote campaigns

D. Organize protests, demonstrations, and other acts of civil disobedience