Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
7-1 Summary: Fill in the missing words
____________________-the selecting of candidates for office- is a critical step in the American
democratic system. It precedes the ________________, when voters select the officeholders. In the
United States, nominations are made in five ways. By self-announcement, a person who wants to run
for office simply announces the fact. Nominations may also in a _________________, or a group of likeminded people. Another option is nominated at a convention, or a meeting of the party’s members.
Most States now nominate candidates through a __________________- an election held within a party
to pick its candidates-of which there are multiple kinds. In _________________, generally only
registered party members may vote. In ___________________, any voter may vote in one party’s
primary. Until 2000 when it was ruled unconstitutional, three States used a __________________, in
which voters could choose among all contenders, regardless of party. In some States a candidate must
get more than half votes to win a primary. If no candidate does, the two top vote-getters hold a
_____________________ to determine the winner. In most States, nearly all elected school and
municipal offices are filled through _______________________, in which candidates are not identified
by party. Also common is nomination by petition, by which a candidate gets a certain number of
qualified voters to sign a petition.
Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
Candidates in most States are now nominated in direct primaries. FOR EACH NOMINATING METHOD,
WRITE WHEN IT CAME INTO USE AND THE PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATING CANDIDATES
Nominating Method
How it Works
Self-Announcement
Caucus
Convention
Direct Primary
Closed Primary
Open Primary
Petition
1. Why is the nominating process particularly important in a two-party system? _______________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some popular criticisms of the primary process? _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
7-2 Summary: Fill in the missing words
While the election process is largely governed by State law, federal law regulates the dates and some
other aspects of both presidential and congressional elections. Most States hold elections for State
offices on the same day Congress has set for national elections: the Tuesday after even-numbered years.
_____________________, or voting by those unable to get to their regular polling places, is usually
allowed. Some States allow early voting-casting ballots over a period of days before an election.
A __________________ is a place where voters actually vote, is located somewhere in or near a
precinct. A ________________ is the device by which voters register their choices in an election. States
require that ballots be secret-that no one may see them but the voter. Most States use a form called
the _________________________. It is printed at public expense; lists the names of all candidates in an
election; is given out only at the polls, one to each voter; and is marked in secret. An _______________
ballot lists candidates in a group by office, while the _________________________ ballot lists them by
party. The ___________________ occurs when a strong candidate running for an office at the top of a
ballot attracts voters to other candidates on the party’s ticket.
Election procedures are clearly established by State law and, in some regards, federal law as well.
FROM THE ABOVE READING, PLEASE LIST THE BASICS OF THE ELECTION PROCEDURE
The Basics of Election Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
Complete the chart below by writing for method the major features and any advantages or
disadvantages.
Method of Voting
Voice Voting
Early Paper Ballots
Australian Ballot
Office-Group Ballot
Party-Column Ballot
Vote by Mail
Online Voting
Features
Advantages/Disadvantages
Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
7-3 Summary: Fill in the missing words
Money plays a key role in politics, but it presents serious problems to democratic governments. The
amount of money spent in races varies, but presidential campaigns collect and spend the most. Parties
and their candidates draw their money from two basic sources. Most campaign money comes from
____________________, including individuals, families, candidates themselves, and
_____________________________. PACs are the political arms of special-interest groups. Presidential
candidates receive public ___________________, which are grants of money from federal and/or State
treasuries.
Federal campaign laws are administered by the ____________________________. These laws apply
only to __________________________ and _________________________ elections. They require
timely disclosure of campaign finance data and limit campaign contributions. Loopholes in campaign
finance laws allow candidates to avoid some rules. For instance, federal law neither limits not requires
the reporting of ______________________, or money given to State and local party organizations for
such “__________________________________” as voter registration or party mailings and
advertisements. Money that is subject to reporting requirements and amount limits is called
________________________.
Campaign money comes from both public and private sources and is regulated by the Federal Election
Commission. FROM THE ABOVE READING, PLEASE FILL IN THE MISSING PARTS TO WHERE POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN MONEY COMES FROM.
Subsidies
1.
2.
Political Campaign Money
Contributions
Regulates federal elections
8.
9.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Chapter 7: The Electoral Process
Fill in the spaces below to organize information about money and the election process. Under each
main idea, write three supporting details.
Main Idea A: Candidates spend a great deal of money on political campaigns.
1.____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea B: Private donors come in many different shapes and sizes
4. ____________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea C: Laws that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces cover four
areas
9. ____________________________________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________________________________
11. ___________________________________________________________________________
12. ___________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea D: There are three major loopholes in campaign finance laws
13. ___________________________________________________________________________
14. ___________________________________________________________________________
15. ___________________________________________________________________________