POLSC 333
Assessment #1
“The Presidential Nominating System”
Summary
The Constitution does not describe how presidential candidates should be chosen. Instead, the
Framers designed the Electoral College system. When political parties arose and affected the
outcome of the election of 1800, however, that system changed forever. In recent decades, the
presidential candidates of the two major U.S. political parties generally have emerged during
state-by-state primary elections and caucuses that occur in the winter and spring before a general
election. The process for selecting the president is a complex one, bound by a byzantine system
of voting rules and procedures.
Related Readings
1.3.1 The Presidential Election
1.3.1.1 The Nominating System
Reading: Pearson Education: “Presidential Nominations”
1.3.1.2 Primaries and Caucuses
Web Media: YouTube: Fireside Production: Naomi Binkley: “Politics 101: Primaries &
Caucuses”
7.3.3 Campaign Reforms: Shorter Campaigns and Public Financing
WebMedia: iTunes: National Constitution Center: “We the People” Stories: “What’s
Your Primary Concern?”
Instructions
This assessment is divided into two parts. The first part is a matching exercise, where you will
match the term identified with the presidential nominating system with its correct description.
The second part consists of three short answer questions. Be sure to review the above course
content before answering the questions. You will find the iTunes podcast to be particularly
helpful in this regard.
“The Presidential Nominating System”
Matching Exercise
The Saylor Foundation 1
A) Nomination
__1. A voting representative to the party nominating convention
where the candidate for president is chosen; usually pledged to a
particular candidate.
__2. The official endorsement of a candidate by a party.
B) National party
convention
__3. A party leader, such as an elected official, who is given seats at a
nominating convention.
C) Open primary
D) Closed primary
__4. Held in the summer before the general election, where the
candidate is formally nominated and the party platform is adopted.
__5. When the greatest number of states hold primary elections.
E) Frontloading
__6. Open only to those registered as party members.
F) Super Tuesday
__7. A primary, whereby candidates are allocated the same proportion
of a state’s delegates as they received votes.
G) Delegate
__8. A meeting open to voters registered with each party where
candidates are discussed and delegates are selected.
H) Superdelegate
__9. A primary whereby the candidate receiving the most votes in a
state receives all of that state’s delegates.
I) Proportional
system
__10. The phenomenon of states moving their primary or caucus dates
forward to try to increase their influence in the nominating process.
J) Winner-take-all
System
__11. Open to all, regardless of party affiliation.
K) Caucus
“The Presidential Nominating System”
Short Answer Questions
1. Think about the process of nominating a party's candidate for president. How has this process
changed over the last 40 years? Why? What impact have these changes had on nominating
conventions? What do you think of these changes?
The Saylor Foundation 2
2. Explain the impact of frontloading. What special importance does the primary schedule give
to states with earlier primaries? To candidates who organize and fundraise early? What has
happened to the effective length of the primary season?
The Saylor Foundation 3