US Elections
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US Elections - Leaderboard
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41 questions
| 🇬🇧 | 🇬🇧 |
| What is stage one of the presidential election races? | Primaries and Caucuses |
| What are the weaknesses of the presidential election system? | Low quality of participation as primary voters no very little about candidates, widespread voter apathy and boredom, very expensive, can turn into a bitter personal battle |
| What happens in the primaries and caucuses? | Candidates for the same party compete against each other in a public vote. This decides who will represent as the presidential candidate |
| What are the weaknesses of the presidential election system? | Low quality of participation as primary voters no very little about candidates, widespread voter apathy and boredom, very expensive, can turn into a bitter personal battle |
| In 2016 who were the democratic party's presidential nominations? | Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley |
| What are the weaknesses of the presidential election system? | Low quality of participation as primary voters no very little about candidates, widespread voter apathy and boredom, very expensive, can turn into a bitter personal battle |
| In 2016 who were the republican party's presidential nominations? | Trump, Cruz, Bush, Rubio and Kasich |
| What is stage two of the presidential election race? | The presidential election |
| What is the presidential election? | One candidate from each party stands in order to get elected to the presidency. This process is known as the electoral college |
| Which two candidates we up against each other in 2016? | Clinton and Trump |
| What is a primary? | When candidates from the same party compete in a public vote |
| How are primaries seperated? | By having a contest in each state rather than nationally |
| What type of vote is a primary? | A public vote, but you can only vote in one party's primary |
| What do candidates compete to win? | Delegates |
| What are delegates? | Party activists who agree to go to a party convention to vote for a specific candidate |
| What is super Tuesday | A day were 14 states hold their primary in order to increase the power they have |
| What are the differences between primaries and caucuses? | Caucuses: voters attend long meetings, voters physically move to show their vote and change their vote, only open to party members, not a secret ballot whereas primaries: voters can cast a secret ballot, can be open or closed. most states use them |
| How are delegates chosen? | Democrat primaries award delegates to candidates in proportion to their vote totals in that state whereas republicans traditionally have used a 'winner takes all' system |
| Why are caucuses important? | They determine who will be the presidential candidate for each party and has the most importance |
| Why do incumbents have it harder when seeking a second term? | They have a four year legacy at which their opponent can pick apart in presidential debates |
| What are the strengths of the presidential election system? | The process opens up politics to outsiders who do not initially have a political reputation to make a serious challenge for nomination, its a gruelling race that tests whether candidates are capable, an increased level of participation by ordinary voters |
| What are the weaknesses of the presidential election system? | Low quality of participation as primary voters no very little about candidates, widespread voter apathy and boredom, very expensive, can turn into a bitter personal battle |
| What happened in the watergate scandal 1972? | Nixon paid people to spy/break in to the democratic offices and to cover it up. Nixon was removed from office for his actions but it uncovered the murky world of campaign finance |
| What did they learn about donations to the Nixon campaign | He had millions of secret donations not only from individuals but from corporations too such as the dairy companies to change the price of milk |
| How did Bill Clinton raise money for his re election campaign? | By having dinners and sleepovers at the white house with his trustees who donated a significant amount |
| What was the loophole in 1974 campaign finance law? | This is because although there were limits on donating to individuals there was none on donating to parties |
| How did McCain close the soft money loophole in 2002? | By not allowing unlimited contributions to parties |
| How did the SC undermine campaign finance reform in 2010? | By arguing corporations are individuals and the limits on campaign finances they violated freedom of speech |
| What argument is there for more money in campaigns? | The more money spent, the more informed voters are |
| Who could individuals and corporations now give unlimited money to? | Outside political groups such as 501 groups and super pacs |
| What is the difference between super pacs and 501 groups? | Super pacs have to declare their donors whereas 501's do not so they are known as dark money |
| What is the money from these groups spent on? | Ads, leaflets and campaigns |
| What is hard money? | Cash from political donations that are regulated by law |
| What are matching funds? | Federal money given by the FEC to certain presidential candidates who meet the criteria, but it comes with certain limitations |
| What are political action committees | A committee that raises a limited amount of funds and spends these contributions on electing or defeating candidates |
| What is hybrid PAC? | Can act as a super pac or a traditional pac with two separate bank accounts for both |
| What is the electoral college? | American presidents are elected not directly by the people, but by the people's electors. The Electoral College was created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. |
| What does the constitution specify? | 'electors will undermine the president and vice president' |
| How are the number of electors decided? | Every ten years a census is taken to determine the number of reps each state will have which determines the electors |
| How many electoral votes are awarded to some states? | California = 55, Florida = 29, New York = 29, Texas = 34 |
| Why can a candidate that won the popular vote still lose the election? | Because its based on electoral college votes not the popular vote |
| What are the positives about the electoral college? | Avoids the need for recounts, only twice in history has candidate who didn't win the popular vote been elected, the system is based on respect for the principle of federalism |