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Key aspects that are under debate for reform:

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Key aspects that are under debate for reform:

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The Presidential candidate nominating system

The role of the electoral college

The role of campaign finance

The lack of congressional term limits

Gerrymandering

Low turnout and Participation

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The US electoral system reflects its federalist nature (power is held by both state and federal government)

Created in order to hold politicians to account. This is done by making federal elections both frequent and fixed (elections take place every 2 years- House of representatives)

In these  elections a simple majority is required by the first past the post system

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The house term is fixed at two years due to its exclusive power to initiate money bills (could be open to corruption if it were longer terms)

Chamber was created to be closely aligned with current public opinion

Smaller districts so theycanbe rightly scrutinised (held to account)

Redistricting (redrawing boy dies)takes place be the state legislature to account for population shifts

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Each state receives 2 senator regardless of size

Designed to uphold federalist principles

Protects interests of smaller states

Staggering elections are designed to cushion themfrom  varying public opinion

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Election was designed to be a compromise between the will of the people and federalism

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Process of securing the presidential nomination:

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Process of securing the presidential nomination:

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1. Invisible primary

2. Primaries and caucuses

3. National conventions

4. Presidential debate

5. Election Day

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Begins as soon as the last presidential election ends up until announcing candidacy before the formal primaries

A period of time were they;

- Gain media coverage
- Gather endorsements
- Secure funding

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Candidates look to achieve:

Widespread name recognition (attempt to gain media airtime and coverage in the printed press)

Endeavoured to present themselves as credible candidates

Cover any potential weaknesses

Example:
Mitt Romney withdrew as a 2008 candidate to position himself for the 2012 election. He spoke at Lincon day dinners, fundraising activities and established ‘free strong America PAC

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Look for support from key members in party

Candidates will look for endorsements from influential groups outside of their party

Endorsements will help ‘grassroot’ Campaign (mobilise campaign)

Example:
Mitt Romney spoke at the ‘faith and freedom conference’ in Washington

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Arguably the most important function of this phase

Money is important for the long upcoming presidential campaign

Candidates with more money gain more endorsements and therefore gain more funding (it’s a cycle)

Look to court key pressure groups and political action committees (PAC)

Also look to secure federal funding (money supplied by the public)

Example:
Buddy Roemer was forced to pull out of the presidential race due to lack of funding

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This is the first official stage (the nomination stage)

Usually takes place between January and June of election year

Primary elections is were party supporters in each stage vote for a candidate to go to the party convention (part convention formally selects the party candidate)

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Overview of the key primary and caucus events in the  nomination stage:

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Overview of the key primary and caucus events in the  nomination stage:

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overview of thekey primary and caucus events in the nomination stage.png

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Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the different systems in the nomination stage:

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Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the different systems in the nomination stage:

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Individual states decide the nature and can be put roughly into three categories.
Open primaries: Any registered voter can participate in either the republican or the democrat primary (but not both!)regardless of the voters party affiliation
Closed primaries: Only voters Who have a declared party affiliation may vote
Caucuses: A state based series of meetings between key party members and supporters in order to select the candidate e.g. Iowa causus

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Democratic:

The system is open to the public  which ecorages wider voter participation and therefore a more legitimate choice

It also allows little known outsider candidates e.g. Obama can secure an arty nomination

Electoral preparation:

The primaries are often used as a testing ground for new

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Polarisation: the process by which party ideologies and political opinions have become increasingly divided, whereby the views of moderates are overshadowed by the more extreme views and factions of the political party. thus the rise of fiscally conservative Tea Party Republicans has arguably shifted the Republican party further right on the political spectrum.

Umbrella parties: the idea that decentralised US politics has led to weak party structures in which both main parties encompass a broad range of ideologies and groups within them which loosely united under the same banner of one party.

Partisan: an adversarial political system, in which parties compete for power and hold sharply different ideologies. in this system politicians from one party wholeheartedly support their party's policies and are often reluctant to acknowledge the accuracy of their opponents' views.

Hyper-partisanship: The idea that the two main US political parties are deeply polarised and in continual conflict. it is seen in the intense disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, and the adversarial and combative language they use in the media

100-Hour plan: the commitment by Democrats to use the first 100 hours of legislative time in congress to pass a umber of liberal measures. these included the establishment of affordable healthcare and the raising of the minimum wage

Libertarian: The idea that individual liberty is the central factor which any government should look to uphold. it thus involves the belief that individuals should be given maximum personal and political liberty, while government should minimise its involvement in people's lives.

6 for the '06 agenda: the liberal platform, agreed by Democratic members of congress, mayors and governors- 2006 mid terms where fought under the banner 'A new direction for America' They committed to providing better jobs, real security, affordable healthcare and retirement security

Executive order: A legally binding directive given to the federal bureaucracy by the US president. These orders state how obsessionally established laws should be interpreted

Two-party system: A system in which two major parties secure the vote during public elections and thus dominate nearly every elected post. (thus control the legislature between them)

Co-optation: The process by which major parties adopt the successful policies of minor parties in order to neutralise their opposition.

Bureaucracy:
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

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For most of Americas history the main parties were little more than loose coalitions between individuals serving the interests of a range of groups in society.
A few key events have helped shape the current positions of both the Democratic and Republican party.

New Deal Coalition:

Prior to the great depression the majority of the Democratic party support was in the 'solid south' (white supports who rejected the Republican party due to their role in the civil war and support for the abolition of slavery)

The establishment of the New Deal by President Roosevelt in 1930 widened the party support base to blue collar workers due to the government funded programs and protections it gave to trade unions.

Poorer racial and ethnic minorities benefited from the increasing benefits and jobs created by the program

Breaking the solid south:

The democrats support for the civil rights movement (1950s-1960s)

This was exploited by the Republicans (Richard Nixon actively targeted conservative states of the south) as they were previously pro-segregationists

Recent ideological partisanship:

Democrats seem to have become the party of the liberal left and Republicans have become more clearly that of the conservative right

parties are becoming more partisan

example:
- Mitt Romney had to more increasingly more right to secure to republican parties nomination (distancing himself from his 'romneycare')
- 2012 election saw the number of conservative democrats reduced to just 14 members

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There are three main fractions within the Republican Party:

Fiscal conservatives:
They advocate:

free market economics

a minimalist governmental approach to the economy

a balanced federal budget

promote the reduction of business and personal taxation

cutting government expenditure

Leading members:

Paul Ryan speaker of the house of representatives

example:
architect of the path to prosperity budget plan (aims to cut spending and balance federal budget in ten years)

Social conservatives:
-also known as the 'religious right'
They advocate:

Deeply conservative social policies

opposition to abortion

opposition to same-sex marriage

opposition to steam cell research

Leading members:

Rick Santorum (former senator 1995-2007)and ran as a Republican candidate for the presidential election in 2012

Example:
Stated his support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and favours a complete ban on abortions even in the case of rape

Moderates:
-Also known as the 'main street partnership'
Adopt a less conservative views of both fiscal and social policy

a decreasing group in recent years

evidence for this is in the past presidential candidates in the last 10 years

McCain (2008) stronger position on immigration and Sandra Palin as his choice of vice president

Mitt Romney (2012) forced to abandon 'RomneyCare' and 'preserve and protect women's right to choose' in order to get party nomination

Leading members:

Charlie Dent (house representative)

Example:
Co-chair of the republican Tuesday group, moderates who meet to discuss policy priorities. 45 republican moderates members (113th congress) and 50 (114th congress)

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Party factions and bipartisanship continued:

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Party factions and bipartisanship continued:

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Three main factions in the Democratic Party:

Liberal activists:
Committed to a more progressive agenda and advocate:

wider healthcare

upholding gay right

upholding rights of females

upholding rights of ethnic minorities

Biggest faction in the Democrat party at 71 members- influence can be seen in the liberal 100-hour plan and the 6 for the 06' agenda
Leading Members:

Barack Obama

example:
clear support for gay marriage and attempts to introduce immigration reform e.g. DACA and the dreamers as well as Obama care

Moderates:
Attempted to win the white house back under Bill Clinton and the establishment of centrist Democratic Leadership Council Used to be the most influential group with 51 members in the 113th congress but loss influence after AL Gores lose in 2000.
leading members:

Hillary Clinton

Jared Polis-leading member of the New Democration Coalition  (and a openly gay member of congress)

Example:
Advocates a moderate position in fiscal policies and reducing the deficit through increased taxes

Conservatives:
Also known as the 'Blue Dog Coalition'
In favour of:

Reducing taxes

adopting a conservative approach to social policies (which respect christian values)

Obama introduced executive order to ban federal funding for abortions in return for their support

Leading members: