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Elections

Elections. “If voting could change anything, they’d make it illegal” -Emma Goldman, anarchist. How do we choose our representatives? How has this changed? House Senate President (and Vice-President). Electoral College. Hamilton (Federalist 68):

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Elections

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  1. Elections “If voting could change anything, they’d make it illegal” -Emma Goldman, anarchist

  2. How do we choose our representatives? How has this changed? • House • Senate • President (and Vice-President)

  3. Electoral College • Hamilton (Federalist 68): • "by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice."

  4. Four “Winners” Who Lost 1824: Adams over Jackson Jackson: 41.3 (102) Adams: 30.9 (82) Clay 13.0 (37) Crawford: 11.2 (40)

  5. Four “Winners” Who Lost 1876: Hayes over Tilden Hayes 48% (185) Tilden 51% (184)

  6. Four “Winners” Who Lost 1888: Harrison over Cleveland Harrison: 47.8% (233) Cleveland: 48.6% (168)

  7. Pathways Past and Present:Four “Winners” Who Lost 2000: Bush over Gore Bush: 47.9% (271) Gore: 48.4% (266) Bush v. Gore (2000)

  8. Voting and Legislative Acts Property-ownership Poll Tax Literacy tests “Grandfather clause” “White” primary

  9. Other Barriers • Voter registration • Polls open during the workday

  10. Historical Changes • 15th Amendment (1870) • 19th Amendment (1920) • 24th Amendment (1964) • 26thAmendment (1971)

  11. Other Measures • Smith v. Allwright (1944) • Civil Rights Act • Residency and Registration laws • Motor-Voter Law (1993) • Help America Vote Act (2002)

  12. Alternatives • Referendum • Recall

  13. Who votes (or doesn’t)

  14. $$$ • For the Individual: • Decline of the Party • More voters to be reached • Television • Campaign Consultants • For the Country • Polling stations, equipment, election officials, observers, attorneys/judges with expertise in election law, etc.

  15. Campaign Finance • FECA (1971) • Buckley v. Valeo • Cannot cap spending • Voluntary public funding OK • Party activities cannot be limited • Limits can be placed on individual donors

  16. Citizens United v. FEC (2010) • BCRA: no group-sponsored ads within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election

  17. Citizens United v. FEC (2010) • “Electioneering communications” were illegal • Corporations/organizations could not criticize within 60 days of a regular election

  18. Citizens United v. FEC (2010) • 5-4 decision, Supreme Court rules that such communications are protected as 1st Amendment freedom of speech

  19. 527 Organizations • “Issue Advocates,” not “Candidate Advocates” • $500m + spent in 2004

  20. 527 Organizations • Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 527: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phqOuEhg9yE • Politicians: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTBnsqxZ3k&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_i9Bq2tntY&feature=related

  21. Turnout Good or Bad?

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