Nomination of Candidates

1. Nomination of Candidates • U.S. Constitution Article I, Sect. 4 • The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof… • Article I, Section 5 • Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members…. • Article II, Section 1 • 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….

2. Nomination Process • Nomination Process • No mention of nomination process in Constitution because no parties in 1787-90 • But states responsible for elections • States determine the nomination process with most (37) now using only primary elections • But primaries were not introduced until 1903 with Progressive reforms and not widely used until after1968

3. Nominations continued • Competition for most offices has been handled through party caucuses • Grass roots effort (2166 caucuses in Iowa) • Some localities (e.g. CA) have nonpartisan elections at local level • State and local offices vary--97,504 government units in U.S.; >500,000 officials are elected! • Nomination of top State and Presidential candidates has proven more problematic

4. Early Nomination Solutions • Legislative caucus (State legislature and state members of U.S. House of Representatives) decided nominees for office • Violated separation of powers principle • Didn’t represent entire party, only those who had succeeded in most recent elections • Citizen activists lacked say in the process • 1824 election of John Quincy Adams over more popular Andrew Jackson struck death knell for legislative caucus

5. Early Nomination Solutions • Party Conventions • First used by anti-Masons in 1831 • Popularity spread quickly for statewide offices and Presidential hopefuls • Rival party factions objected but method widespread until 20th century--especially until1968

6. Nomination Process • Nomination Process • Types of primaries vary • closed: (40 states) registered party members only • open: voters on honor system; but must choose primary • blanket: voters free to vote in any; U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in 2000

7. Nominating Candidates for President • Presidential hopefuls begin to plan for next election as soon as newly elected President has been inaugurated • Contest requires lots of money, planning and stamina...and intense pressure during Spring of the election year

8. Nominating Candidates for President • Prior to 1968, candidate selection was: • bottom-up process orchestrated by political parties • caucuses tested candidates’ strengthwithin the party • primary elections tested candidates’ electability among the general population • Party conventions selected candidates

9. Nominating Candidates for President • After 1968: • DNC initiated democratic reforms to involve more people directly in the selection of party nominees • most states adopted primaries, allowing voters to “choose” party nominee(s) • convention delegates are often chosen after the primaries to reflect popular vote or in conjunction with vote for preferred candidate

10. Nominating Candidates for President • After 1968: • result of reforms--greater emphasis on early caucuses and primaries (e.g. Iowa and New Hampshire) • other states advanced date of primaries to have a say in the outcome (California moved from June to March; 8 other states moved to earlier date in March--Super Tuesday) • presidential marathon is time-consuming, expensive, exhausting

11. Nominating Candidates for President • Democratic Convention • 4337 delegates in 2000; 2169 to win • Formula for delegate count includes population and electoral college vote • Republican Convention • 2066 delegates; 1034 to win • Formula for delegate count includes population and partisan voting record

12. Nominating Candidates for President • Selection of Delegates • Party leaders • Party caucus (Iowa) • State presidential primary (41D, 44R) • Unintended Consequences • Amateur vs. professional priorities • Early calendar is decisive • Some proportional representation of delegates • More money needed in early stages

13. Political Campaigns continued • Good press relations help get news coverage of political events (free publicity) • Advertising costs average $400,000+ for first class commercial (Perot spent $50k) • Dole spent $45M of $62M on TV (72%) • need for name recognition • G.W. Bush spent $70M • Gore spent $40M • Forbes spent $37.5M in 96 and $20M in 2000

14. Federal Election Campaign Act • Passed in 1971 but Nixon spent $65M in 1972 to get re-elected; some went to jail • If raise $5K (<=$250 ea) in 20 states, then govt. matches up to 1/2 spending limit • Spending limit in 1996 • $30.9M + $6.2M = $37.1M in primary • $61.8M in main election (if Dem or Rep) • party can receive $12.4M for conventions • G.W. Bush raised almost $70M; took no public money

15. Federal Election Campaign Act • Contributions Limited for each election (primary and main) • Individuals may contribute $1,000 • Organizations may contribute $5,000 • no limit on expenses one may incur on behalf of candidates • loophole with unrestricted donations to national parties (soft money)

16. Congressional Elections • Influenced by Congressional district demographics • state legislatures determine districts • Supreme Court has changed position on “racial redistricting” • Also influenced by: • first-past-the-post process • voter preference for divided (weak) govt. • Favors pluralist model of democracy