U.S. Political System

Nuances of Party Politics and the Electoral College

The Parties

• 1800’s – political parties developed• The two major parties of today are the

Republican Party and the Democratic Party• Third parties exists, but they do not play

important roles in elections

Democratic Party• Emerged in the 1830’s from factions of other

parties• Rallied around Andrew Jackson ending what he

termed a "monopoly" of government by elites• Expand suffrage to all white males, favored

political participation• Protect his coalition – spoils system and

electioneering• The new Democratic Party became a coalition of

farmers, city-dwelling laborers, and Irish Catholics

Republican Party• It emerged in 1854 to combat the Kansas Nebraska Act • Elects Abraham Lincoln in 1860• Success in guiding the Union to victory and abolishing

slavery • Dominated the national political scene until 1932 • The Republican Party was based on northern white

Protestants, businessmen, small business owners, professionals, factory workers, farmers, and African-Americans

• Pro-business, supporting banks, the gold standard, railroads, and tariffs to protect industrial workers and industry

Historical Context

• Voting was for White male property owners – Jacksonian expansion of voting– Factors leading to universal suffrage in 1920

• Since 1852, every president has been either a Republican or Democrat

Rivas for Congress

• I’ve decided to run for Congress– When someone says “congress” we usually

mean the House of Representatives• What are the requirements for me to run?

Rivas for Congress

• Let’s assume I’m 25 years old and can run for Congress

• What is my first step to get on the ballot?

Political Affiliation

• Am I going to run as a “tax-and-spend” Democrat, a “slash-and-cut” Republican, or an Independent?

• What does it mean to be Independent?

Independent Voters• Voters want to be “independent” of political parties• Yet, these voters still have leanings towards a

party• During primaries, voters have to choose a party or

vote as independents (disqualifying them from primary elections)

• Increasingly elections depend on “undecided” independent voters. These are people who in one primary election choose the Democratic Party whereas in others they choose the Republican Party

Requirements for Primaries

• Let’s say I want to run as a Democrat• I need to get on the ballot for the PRIMARY

election – so that I am the nominee from my party for the GENERAL election

• How do I get on the ballot?

Requirements for Primaries cont.

• Established Party: Petition with at least 600 qualified primary electors of the candidate’s party in the congressional district

• Independents: Petition with at least 5,000 qualified voters of the congressional district.

• Does this seem fair to you?

I Won the Primary!

• Let’s assume I won the primary, and I am now on the ballot representing my party in the November General Election

• Who’s name goes first on the ballot? – 4th Congressional District (Choose One)– Carlos Rivas (D)– Ricardo Ramirez (R) – Sandra Bayona (I)

How do I finance my campaign?

• Paying for elections is a big deal in the U.S.• Parties have funds, politicians are constantly

fundraising, and then you have PACs and Super PACs

• Campaign finance regulations require disclosure of donations over $250 USD for individual donations

• We’ll discuss campaign finance at a later date

Galvanizing Volunteers

• Getting people to work for you is the best way to finance your campaign

• People give you donations – that are not tax-deductible

I’ve been in Congress too long!

• Now I want to run for President– We know the process to get on the ballot– But now, I have to win primaries not just in my

Congressional district, but in all 50 states– I don’t need to win each state, but enough of

them for others to drop out– Once I’m the only one left, the PARTY

chooses me as their candidate

General Election

• Now I need to win the General Election• To do so I need to get people to vote for me –

enough to win their state• Get the vote of the electoral college

Electoral College

• How many members of the Senate?

• How many members of the House of Representatives?

• How many electors does the District of Columbia receive?

Constitutional Underpinnings

• “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.”

• Article II – Section 1, Clause 2

District of Columbia

• Confuses us all – it is not a State! • The 23rd Amendment gave D.C. the right to vote

for president• Before this, its residents were barred from voting

in the election! • It gets as many electors as the LEAST populous

state

Electoral College cont.

• 100 S + 435 R + 3 DC = 538

• 538 / 2 = 269

• To win you need 269 + 1 = 270 electoral votes

States vs. Electors

States vs. Electors

Electors

• Who are electors of the College of Electors?

• Electors are pledged to particular presidential and vice presidential candidates

• Electors are elected on a "winner-take-all" basis. That is, all electors pledged to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in a state become electors for that state

I am on the ballot as an elector

• Carlos Rivas ELECTOR for Mitt Romney

• Ricardo voted for me as an Elector, and Voted for Mitt Romney

• Mitt Romney lost the State of Illinois

• I then have NOT been elected as an elector

Q & A