Section 1: Election Campaigns

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Understanding Elections

• Section 1 Election Campaigns
• Section 2 Campaign Funding and Political Action
  Committees
• Section 3 Election Day and the Voters

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Election Campaigns
The purpose of election campaigns is to help the
public learn about the candidates, so that voters
can make an informed decision on election day.
Candidates today take advantage of media exposure
and polling in order to influence the voters and
get elected to public office.
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Campaign Planning
A campaign informs the public about the candidate
and the partys platform, their stand on
important topics.
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Conducting a Campaign

• On the Campaign Trail
• Candidates spend most of campaign time on swing
  states where support for candidates is about
  equal, or in states where their support is
  greatest
• Tackling the Issues
• Candidates use stump speeches, or standard
  speeches usually less than 20 minutes long,
  express candidates beliefs On key issues.
• Many candidates use slogans
• Negative Campaigning
• Candidates may use negative campaigning, attacks
  on opposing candidates weaknesses

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Conducting a Campaign

• Campaigns and the Media
• Campaigns media coordinator uses voters ages
  to determine which type of media to use to reach
  them.
• Broadcast Media
• Television, photos, radio
• Media often use sound bites of candidates
  speeches
• Print Media
• Newspapers, magazines, especially ads
• Often more detailed than broadcast editorials
  influential
• The Internet
• Blogs, online editions of print media, TV news
• Polls and Polling
• Polls can show where support is weakest show
  which demographic may support the candidate
  influence voters

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Campaign Funding and Political Action Committees
Money plays a major role in election campaigns.
Candidates and their staff must carefully decide
where the campaign will get money and how it will
use this money.
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Funding Election Campaigns
Election campaigns can be very expensive.
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Campaign Finance Laws

• Early Campaign Finance Reform
• 1907 Congress first restricts campaign funds
  expanded restrictions in 1940s
• 1971 Congress passed FECA, requires candidates,
  PACs, political parties to report contributions
  received above certain amount
• FECA reports must identify contributors
• FECA Amendments
• 1974 FEC (Federal Election Commission) created
• 1979 allowances made for unlimited spending on
  party-building activities
• Soft Money
• No restrictions placed on donations not given
  directly to candidates
• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
• 2002 banned soft money raised for issue ads

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Interest Groups and Election Campaigns
Political Action Committees Many interest groups
have a PAC. How PACs Function Collects funds
distribute to political parties or
candidates Leadership PACs Not official campaign
organizations can raise unlimited
funds Influence of PACs Allow interest groups
greater voice in government critics say too
powerful
Elections and 527 Groups Tax-exempt organizations
that have no limit on political
donations Controversies over 527 Groups First
came to forefront in 2004 election (e.g.,
MoveOn.org) Impact of 527 Groups Critics blame
for increase in negative campaigning
Campaign Reform and the Media BCRA requires ads
to identify who is paying for them supporters
hope this reduces negative campaigning
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Interest Groups and Election Campaigns

• Political Action Committees
• Many interest groups have a PAC.

• How PACs Function
• Collect funds
• Distribute to political parties or candidates

• Leadership PACs
• Not official campaign organizations
• Can raise unlimited funds

• Influence of PACs
• Allow interest groups greater voice in government
• Critics say too powerful

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Interest Groups and Election Campaigns

• Elections and 527 Groups
• Tax-exempt organizations that have no limit on
  political donations

• Controversies over 527 Groups
• First came to forefront in 2004 election (e.g.,
  MoveOn.org)

• Impact of 527 Groups
• Critics blame for increase in negative campaigning

• Campaign Reform and the Media
• BCRA requires ads to identify who is paying for
  them
• Supporters hope this reduces negative campaigning

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Election Day and the Voters
Voting is one of the main responsibilities of
U.S. citizenship. Being a part of the voting
process and taking an active role in electing
public officials helps give all Americans a voice
in their government.
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Election 2000
A Historic Election Night The results hinged on
which candidate won Florida and its 25 electoral
votes. After announcing different winners several
times, the media could not declare a winner. It
took more than a month before the outcome in
Florida was decided.
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Political Participation
The United States is a democratic republic. In
order to function well, its citizens must
participate in politics.
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The Voting Process

• Steps to Voting
• Registering to Vote Americans must take
  initiative to register
• Casting a Ballot Done either by casting paper
  ballot or by using mechanical voting machine
• One Person, One Vote
• Reapportionment Redistribution of congressional
  seats due to population changes
• Redistricting Drawing new boundaries for
  legislative districts
• Campaigns on Election Day
• Election Day Activities Level of activity in an
  area depends on candidates or opponents level
  of support
• Getting Out the Vote Volunteers phone supporters
  to remind them to vote

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