DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2013

TOPIC: PRIMARIES AND CAUCUS SYSTEMS

AIM: HOW DO THE PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES FUNCTION?

DO NOW: HOW DOES THE WAR POWERS ACT CONFLICT WITH THE SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE?

What is the general election?

What is a primary election?

ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER – NOVEMBER 6, 2012.

PLAYOFFS?

PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSESTypes of Primariesa.) Open Primary – the voter

chooses for which party they would like to vote as they enter the polling place.

b.) Blanket Primary – each voter may vote for candidates from both parties.

c.) Closed Primary – voting is limited to already registered party members.

CAUCUSES A meeting or gathering

of members of a political party where members deliberate and choose from a list of candidates.

JIMMY CARTER IN IOWA IN 1976.

REPUBLICAN PARTY

2012: Republican Party rules have changed delegate allocation from winner take all to a proportionate system.

The winner take all system shortened the time for someone to win the nomination.

Winner take all also impacted campaign strategy.

Handout

Me!

DELEGATES AND SUPERDELEGATES

Delegates are chosen to the national conventions are chosen in a primary election.

Superdelegates are members of the party elite – mayors, state politicians etc.

Superdelegates attend automatically.

INDEX CARD TIME