Unit IV Lesson 6

Intro to Elections

Essential Question:• Why do Americans believe what they do about

politics and what role do families, schools and media play in the changing or perpetuating of these political beliefs?

• In what ways do Americans participate in their political system?

• How does participation vary among various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the nation?

• How have political parties developed, how are they organized, and what effect do they have on the political process?

Unit III Unit IV

In order to be elected to an office a “candidate” (person running for office) must win two different types of elections:

1) A Primary Election and 2) A General Election

General Election

Primary Election

1

2

“Candidate”

“Candidate”

“Candidate”

Election 1: “Primary Election” - Contest between candidates from the same political party to decide

who receives the party’s “nomination” (ex. Republican vs. Republican or Democrat vs. Democrat vs. Democrat)

1

“Primary Election”

2012

RepublicanDoug Collins

RepublicanMartha Zoller

“Primary Election”

“Primary”

“Nomination”

Doug Collins

“Primary”

What’s that make him

“Nominee”- The candidate who has won his party’s “nomination” (The party’s official endorsement or

permission to run for office)

Doug Collins

“Nominee”“Primary Election”

“Primary”

435

Doug Collins

Jody Cooley

General Election

“Nominee”

Election 2: “General Election” - Contest between “nominees” from opposing political parties to decide who will hold an

elected office (ex. Republican vs. Democrat or Republican vs. Democrat vs. Green Party)

General Election

Primary Election

1

2

“Nominee”

2

$100

Jody Cooley Democrat

Primary Election

“Unopposed”

“General Election”

“Nominee” “Nominee”

Primary Election

General Election

General Election

Primary Election

1

2

General Election

Primary Election

1

2

General Election

Primary Election

“Primary”

1

2

*

In all federal elections candidates for office are chosen by:

A.Primary Elections and General Elections

B.Party Conventions and Nominating Conventions

C.Party Leaders and State Legislatures

D.Referendums and Recalls

A party’s endorsement to officially run for office as the candidate of that party is called:

A. A ticket

B. A nomination

C. A confirmation

D. An appointment