Slides

1. POL 205
Fall 2018

4.  State discretion over presidential selection
 Office designed with Washington in mind
 No real details included
 Office above partisan politics
 Leaders acting in national interest

6.  The House
 Allotted based on proportional representation
 Entire House up for election every two years
 The Senate
 Each state has two senators, regardless of size
 Seventeenth Amendment provided for direct
election of the Senate
 Terms are staggered

11. “Hard Money” – Regulated money given directly to candidates;
amounts limited by election laws
“Soft Money” – Unregulated money given by parties or individuals for
“electioneering activities,” that do not directly support candidates.

15.  Valence Issue: Issues most voters agree on
(e.g. honesty in govt., a strong economy)
 Position Issue: Issues on which most voters differ in
their perspectives (e.g. health care)
 Wedge Issue: Controversial issues candidates use to
drive “wedge” between other party
 Example: Republican trying get Democrats who are anti-
abortion to vote for him instead of opponent

17.  The Economy
 What is the condition of the economy?
 Presidential Popularity
 How popular is the sitting president?
 Incumbent Party’sTime in Office
 How long has the incumbent party controlled
theWhite House?

24. Ability of presidential candidates to lift up other
party members in lower-level races (e.g. Congress)