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The Mixed System: How did primaries change the presidential nomination process?

The Mixed System: How did primaries change the presidential nomination process?. Methods of Nominating Presidential Candidates. “King Caucus”: 1800-1828 Convention System: 1832-1912. The Convention System. National party nominating convention selects presidential candidate Strong parties

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The Mixed System: How did primaries change the presidential nomination process?

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  1. The Mixed System: How did primaries change the presidential nomination process?

  2. Methods of Nominating Presidential Candidates “King Caucus”: 1800-1828 Convention System: 1832-1912

  3. The Convention System • National party nominating convention selects presidential candidate • Strong parties • Patronage • High participation • Parties try to control presidents

  4. Three changes at the turn of the 20th century • Civil Service

  5. Rise In Civil Service Employment

  6. Number of federal employees under merit system,1816-1921

  7. Three changes at the turn of the 20th century • Civil Service • Communications technology

  8. Changes in technology • Railroads (1850s +) • Daily newspapers (1880s +) • Radio and TV (1930s +)

  9. Number of daily and weekly newspapers

  10. Number of Households with radio and TV (in millions)

  11. Three changes at the turn of the 20th century • Civil Service • Communications technology • Primary elections

  12. Number of States Holding Primary Elections

  13. First Three Methods of Nominating Presidential Candidates “King Caucus”: 1800-1828 Convention System: 1832-1912 Mixed System: 1912-1968

  14. Mixed System • Real decision about nomination made at national convention • Candidates can choose to run in primaries

  15. Percent of Party Convention Delegates Chosen by Primaries

  16. Number of Convention Ballots to Select Presidential Nominee

  17. Number of Convention Ballots to Select the Presidential Nominee

  18. 1952 Democratic Convention: Delegates pledged by primaries • Sen. Estes Kefauver (TN): 257.5 delegates • Gov. Adlai Stevenson (IL): 41.5 delegates • Uncommitted: 611.5 delegates • Others: • Sen. Richard Russell (GA): 161.5 delegates • Averell Harriman: 112.5 delegates • Sen. Bob Kerr (OK): 45.5 delegates

  19. Review the three systems we’ve discussed. Which do you think is most democratic? Which has the best chance of producing good presidents?

  20. 1968 Democratic Convention

  21. The Primary System

  22. Presidential Party Nomination Systems “King Caucus”: 1800-1828 Convention System: 1832-1912 Mixed System: 1912-1968 Primary System: 1972-???

  23. McGovern Fraser Commission: Changes to Democratic Party Rules • Anti-discrimination provisions • Explicit party rules and open party meetings • Bans the UNIT RULE • Unit rule: the practice of apportioning delegates in a winner-take-all fashion • Encourages broad and open participation in delegate selection process • Mandates that minorities’ opinions be fairly weighted in delegate selection process • Bans the automatic delegate-status of party officials and elected officeholders

  24. Number of states holding primary elections

  25. Percent of Party Convention Delegates Chosen by Primaries

  26. Some delegates still chosen by other means • Caucus: • A Meeting where any affiliated voter can come and express their opinions • State convention: • Local party groups select delegates to state party convention. State convention delegates select delegates to national nominating convention.

  27. Consequences of Party Reform • Increase in number of primaries • Increase in importance of media • (And hence the importance of early primaries!)

  28. Consequences of Party Reform • Increase in number of primaries • Increase in importance of media • Increase in importance of early primaries (and momentum and expectations!)

  29. A representative beginning?From the 2000 Census

  30. Consequences of Party Reform • Increase in number of primaries • Increase in importance of media • Increase in importance of early primaries (and momentum and expectations!) • Decreases importance of national party conventions

  31. Consequences of Party Reform • Increase in number of primaries • Increase in importance of media • Increase in importance of early primaries • Decreases importance of national party conventions • Decreases importance of state party leaders • Party activists give way to candidate activists

  32. Changes After 1968 • McGovern-Fraser reforms • FECA

  33. Federal Election Campaign Act • Creates a voluntary subsidy for candidates who enter primary elections • All funds candidates raise in amounts of $250 or less (if they raise $5000 in 20 different states) are matched by the federal government on Jan 1 of election year • Bans large donations by individuals • Individuals can only give $2000 to a primary candidate

  34. Consequences of Party Reform & FECA • Increase in number of primaries • Increase in importance of media • Increase in importance of early primaries • Decreases importance of national party conventions • Decreases importance of state party leaders • Harder to raise money (takes longer to raise big money in small contributions!)

  35. A Couple of Problems? • Ideological primary voters? • Candidates mobilize factions?

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