This document provides information about political parties and elections in the United States. It discusses the roles and functions of political parties, the two-party system, and third parties. It also describes the different types of elections in the US including primaries, general elections, and initiatives and referendums. Presidential elections are summarized, outlining the nomination process, conventions, electoral college and terms limits. Congressional and other public office elections are also briefly covered.

1. PARTIES & ELECTIONS
Prepared by:
Patrycja Pociecha
&
Monika Polak

2. PARTIES

3. PoliticalParties - An organized group with shared goals
and ideals thatjoins togetherto run candidates for
office and exercise political and electoral power.

4. THE ROLE OFPOLITICAL PARTIES
• Selectcandidates
• Inform thepublic
• Coordinate policymaking
• Runcampaigns
• Raisemoney for candidates

5. AMERICA’S TWO PARTY SYSTEM

6. WHERE DID THE PARTY SYMBOLS ORIGINA
1874,Thomas Nast

7. DEMOCRATICLEADER
HarryMasonReid(born December2,1939)

8. REPUBLICAN LEADER
AddisonMitchell "Mitch"McConnell, Jr.
(bornFebruary20,1942)

10. THIRD PARTIES INA
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM (MINOR PARTIES)
• Usually form in opposition to one
orboth major parties
• Bring attention toimportant
public issues ignored by the major
parties

11. IMPORTANT NOTIONS
Mandate - A command, indicated by an electorate’s votes, for the elected officials to
carry out a party platform or policy agenda.
Electorate - citizens eligible to vote
Ballot- A system of voting secretly
Poll- The process of voting in an election/ places where votes are cast in an election
Incumbent - Currently holding a specified office

12. PURPOSESOFELECTIONS
- Elections confirm the concept of popular sovereignty, the idea that legitimate
political power derives from the consent of the governed, and they serve as the
bedrock for democratic governance.
- In addition, elections are the primary means to fill public offices and to organize
and staff the government.

13. TYPES OFELECTIONS
-PRIMARY ELECTIONS
-GENERAL ELECTIONS
-INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
-RECALL

14. PRIMARY ELECTIONS

15. closed primaries-A primary electionin which
only aparty’s registeredvotersare eligibleto
casta ballot.
open primaries-A primaryelectionin which
partymembers,independents,and sometimes
membersoftheother party are
allowedtoparticipate

16. crossover voting-Participationin theprimary election of a
party withwhich thevoter is notaffiliated

17. runoff primary-A second primary electionbetweenthe
two candidates receiving the greatestnumber of votes in
thefirst primary.

18. GENERAL ELECTIONS

19. Initiative - An election that allows
citizens to propose legislation or
state constitutional amendments by
submitting them to the electorate for
popular vote.
Referendum - An election whereby the
state legislature submits proposed
legislation or state constitutional
amendments to the voters for
approval.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

20. HOW AREBALLOTMEASURESUSED?
Citizens and state legislators useballot measuresto
makepublic policy on a wide range of controversial
issues. Here, a sign expresses opposition to
AmendmentOne, a 2012North Carolina ballot
measure that prohibited same-sex marriagein that
state.

21. RECALL
Recall - An election in which
voters can remove
an incumbent from office
prior to the
next scheduled election.

22. ELECTIONS ALLOW CITIZENSTOCHOOSE THEIR LEADERS in orderto be
elected to Congress, candidates mustconvince voters to turn outon
Election Day.

23. CONGRESIONAL ELECTIONS
TYPES OF ELECTION:
- Primary election
- General election
- Special election
ELIGIBILITY FOR CONGRESS
House of Representatives Senate
Minimum Age 25 30
Minimum Length of
Citizenship
7 years 9 years
State Residency Yes Yes

25. TO SUM UP …

26. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

27. HOW MANYPRESIDENTS OF U.S. CANYOU NAME?

29. WHO CAN BECOME THEPRESIDENT OF U.S.?

30. THEPRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS

31. - Winner-take-allprimary
- Proportional representation primary
- Caucus

32. WINNER-TAKE-ALLPRIMARY

33. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION PRIMARY

34. CAUCUS

35. CAUCUS VS PRIMARIES
CAUCUS PRIMARY
Voting method
Voting is conducted at local party
meetings and is done by raising hands
or breaking up into groups.
An election is held/ secret ballot
Who can vote
Only members registered with the
political party can participate (if closed
system)
Depends upon the state. Some
states allow only registered party
members to vote; some allow party
registrations on the same day; some
are completely open to all residents
of the state.
States
States that use the caucus system are
Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas,
Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North
Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa
All other states

36. NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
A party meeting held in the presidential election
year for the purposes of nominating a
presidential and vice presidential ticket and
adopting a platform.

37. GENERAL ELECTIONS

38. ELECTORAL COLLEGE

39. ELECTORAL COLLEGE
- 538 electoral votes
- The candidate with 270 or more votes become President
- When no candidate gets 270 votes, then the House of
Representatives votes for President

40. WHY DON’T AMERICANS TURN OUT?

41. HOW OFTEN ARE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS?
a) Every two years
c) Every six years
b) Every four years

42. IN WHAT TYPE OF ELECTION DO CANDIDATES
RUN AGAINST
MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN PARTY?
a. General
b. Initiative
c. Referendum
e. Mid-term
d. Primary

43. HOW OFTEN ARE ELECTIONS HELD FOR SEATS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?
b) Every four years
c) Every six years
a) Every two years

44. HOW LONG ARE THE TERMS SERVED BY U.S.
SENATORS?
a) Two years
b) Four years
c) Six years

45. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A
REQUIREMENT TO BECOME
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
b. No prior criminal record
c. Have a valid U. S. passport
d. Be a resident of the United States for at least thirty years
e. Have previous government experience
a. Be at least 35 years old

46. IN THE UNITED STATES, GENERAL ELECTIONS
FOR PRESIDENT ALWAYS TAKE PLACE DURING
WHAT MONTH?
a) January
b) July
c) NovemberNovember

47. HOW MANY TERMS CAN A PRESIDENT SERVE?
a) As many as he wants
b) Three terms
c) Two termsTwo terms

48. FULFIL THE GAP…
Presidental Elections are example of __________
Democracy.
________ - places where votes are cast in an election
________ - A system of voting secretly
Indirect
Polls
Ballot

49. EPIC RAP BATTLE OF HISTORY

50. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND… 