The American Presidential Election Process

Using the reading and videos of lessons explain in the most detail possible, the American Election Process, starting at the
Primary and concluding at the vote of the Electoral College. You must use the terms provided to ensure you get all the
needed information.
Finished: 10/25/24 I tried…Hopefully I did this right.

y Presidential Primary (Caucuses)Election Process explained in detail. While doing this, explain what each term means
and/or why they are important:

Primaries:(Democrats vs. Democrats/Republicans vs. Republicans)

Primaries are when people within the same political group will compete with one another (called nominees) to be the
candidate that represents their political party in the general election, and the one to (potentially) become president. It's the
Nomination process within each political party.

It's important to have a nomination process because it singles out the best candidate out of each political party. If they didn’t
single out one candidate, there would be multiple candidates from each party in the general election, which isn’t effective
because it could put one party at an unfair (dis)advantage and too many options wouldn’t be good for the distribution of
votes.

Iowa/New Hampshire:

Iowa is the first state to vote, with New Hampshire being the second. Iowa holds the first Caucus (vote by discussion), New
Hampshire holds first primary election (Vote by ballot, both in January).

If candidates win the first electrons/conventions, they may seem more likely to win later on.

Delegates:

Delegates are people (chosen to represent others/party) who will attend the national conventions, and that pledge they will
vote for the candidate the state political party supports. (“state electoral college”). They will select the nominee.

National Convention:

It's the formal convention/process that will choose the nominee that will represent the party in the election.
Not listed in the constitution, the party creates the rules, and it doesn’t have to let people vote.

Vice Presidents (Nominee):

They are the “running mate” of the candidate. They are chosen by the selected candidates of the political parties with the
purpose of strengthening their chance of being elected to become president. Strengthen their chances through/by virtue
(their characteristics), and balance the ticket. Ultimately, opposite candidates extend their range/reach of voters.

If their candidate becomes president, their duties include: presiding over the senate, working in the place of the President if
something happens to hinder their work, and informing the cabinet once they get better or step down.
Presidential General Election (after nominees for each party are picked) Process explained in detail up through voting on
Election Day. While doing this, explain each term and/or why it is important:

Democrat vs. Republican:

During the presidential general election, both chosen candidates (from the primary elections) from these political parties will
have to debate/”fight” another one another to gain the support and votes of the American people to become president. This
is also called the presidential election. The last and most important election, and is also the election where the candidates
will fight over the undecided/Purple voters.

Debates:

This is the time in the general election where the candidates will be questioned/interviewed to debate about their policies
and plans they have on certain issues/topics and would put in place should they become president. Their answers will be
fact-checked and influence voters' decisions since it will be put on news and media 24 hours a day for them to watch. This is
the time they have to prove themselves to be a competent candidate to become president, and a time they use political
tactics/strategies. The candidate's answers and actions can be blown out of proportion, so they have to be very careful.

Examples:
Town hall - Americans in a audience ask questions
Traditional - Candidates stand and podium and are questioned by a moderator

Political tactics/strategies usually used:

Political Tactics:

During the Presidential election, both candidates will use political tactics, which are strategies they will use to enhance their
chance of being elected president by 1. Making their republican/democrat opponent look like the worse choice, 2. Uplifting
their own image, and 3. Overall making the American people appeal to them more than their opponent. There are plenty of
political tactics that they can use in multiple ways, and these tactics are like tactics of war. Some tactics may be dirty, but if
they can make the candidate win the election in the end, it may be a case of the ends justifying the means.

Examples:
Bandwagon -Making a show of having big crowds at your rally
Act Folksy - Act like someone Americans can relate to and show you understand and care about how the regular people live.
Attacking Your Opponents Strength - Attack other candidates' best quality to neutralize (or diminish) their quality.
Going on Offense - “Attacking” candidate about something (something new about them)
Spin - Turning something negative into a positive.
Fence Sitting - Taking both sides of an issue
Surregets/Endorsements - Using ethos/important people that people like to support them.
Emotional appeal - Using pathos (fear, love, joy)
Sound Bite - A statement that is repeatedly played in media

Media & Commercials:

During the General elections, the candidates will use Media/commercials for media coverage to showcase and endorse
themselves (or downgrade their opponent) to the population and potentially win their support/vote and make their
opponent lose supporters. The media coverage will spread their ideology/words and their influence across the nation.
They’re like commercials that a restaurant shows you to entice you to buy their food instead of other restaurants.

Undecided voters:

During the general election, it's Republican vs Democrat, and while there are voters who will vote simply by the party, there
are also voters who don’t have strong political affiliation/loyalty to either political party (at least for that election) and are
willing to vote for either or. They are voters who are unsure of who to vote for, either because they don’t like either
candidate, like both of them, or because they don’t know enough about either one of them.

Electoral College Process explained in detail. Explain each term and/or why it is important:

Electoral College:

A group of electors chosen by voters of a state to cast their ballots to elect the president and vice president (they represent
the state). They’re like delegates, but not for the primary party. They’re ultimately the ones who will vote for the states.

Red State:

A state that is dominantly made up of people who are republican (who will vote and support the republican candidate).

Blue State:

A state that is dominantly made up of people who are democratic (who will vote and support the democratic candidate).

Swing (Purple) States:

A state that isn’t dominated by either political affiliation/party and can be won over by either the republican or democratic
candidate. An undecided state. They are ultimately a battleground of political affiliations (amongst the people) and an
opportunity for both candidates. They are the tiebreaker in the electoral college votes.

270 & 538

270 = Candidate must have 270 or more votes (from electoral colleges) to win
538 = Total Electoral college voters