AQA Government and Politics Chapter 18 : Electoral Process and Democracy (Revision Notes)
Updated 2023/2024
This Resource includes my revision notes for the ‘Electoral Process and Democracy’ topic.
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Electoral Process & direct
democracy
US electoral system
Main elections:
- Presidential – indirectly via Electoral College every 4 years
- Congressional – directly elect members both houses
- Primaries (& caucuses) – select candidates for each party for pres, cong, & state
elections
- Direct democracy – ballot initiatives, referendums & recall elections
Primaries = formal secret ballot elections that select delegates for parties’ pres nomination
conventions. Also choose party candidates for state & cong elections. Most states have
primaries not caucuses.
Timings of elections
Set out in Constitution (cant call ‘snap election’ like in UK)
- Pres every 4 yrs on Nov, if pres dies v.p. steps up eg Nixon 1974
- Congressional every 2 years – whole HoR & 1/3 Senate. Those between pres
elections = midterms
- Timings for primaries decided by states, often once or twice a year eg 2020
Wisconsin went to polls for primaries & local elections inc position on state SC
(removed independence of jud) in April & pres & Congress in Nov.
Therefore most voters in USA have plenty opportunities to vote.
Role of states
- Federal rules in place concerning polling stations accessible to those with disabilities
& that race/gender not a bar to voting. Beyond that states have lots of control in
running elections
- Can lead to gerrymandering (deliberate manipulation of electoral districts for party
advantage at HoR elections)
- Indiv states have lots control in areas like voter ID laws & organising primaries
- Control over voter registration requirements eg North Dakota doesn’t have any
- Control over ballot access laws eg 2020 Green party candidate Howie Hawkins didn’t
formally appear on ballots in 21 states bc regulations, write-in in 17
National nominating convention = the occasion when successful candidate is formally
endorsed as their party’s candidate for forthcoming pres election
The electoral system
- Nearly all elections have majoritarian electoral system, true for cong elections
- However exceptions because elections are state based & there are no federal
requirements for electoral systems* eg Maine since 2018 has used ranked-choice
voting system – 2018 midterms saw one House district not being won by candidate
who secured most first preference votes
, - * Except Electoral College – formally elects president, state based & doesn’t directly
reflect overall popular vote across country
Presidential elections:
- Indirect method
- Each state & DC receives allocation of Electoral College votes (ECVs) equivalent to size
of congressional delegation. Therefore each state has minimum 3 ECVs, eg California
has 55. Allocation recalculated every 10 years after national census so seats adjust to
pop changes
How effective is the US electoral system?
Strengths
- Lots elections = lots opportunities for political participation
- Majoritarian results in clear results & single party control
- Electoral system reflects federal nature w states having much control but broad
national framework to avoid discrimination
- Primaries & caucuses allow ordinary voters to play key role in selecting candidates for
political parties
- EC reinforces federal nature & ensures small states not overlooked/people
represented fairly
Weaknesses
- ‘voter fatigue’ – leads to apathy
- Leads to 2 party dominant system
- 2 parties often control one chamber each leading to gridlock
- Plenty of scopes for electoral manipulation eg gerrymandering & ID laws
- Primaries & caucuses encourage divisions within parties
- Electoral distortion via EC – can exaggerate power smaller states
Main characteristics of American election campaigns
Frequency
Constant campaigning esp HoR reps & president after midterms – after midterms is when
‘invisible primaries’ start & pres has strong eye on impact of their policies on re-election
prospects eg some argue Trump’s hesitance to promote national lockdown over fears of
economic impact – economic situation seen as crucial to re-election chances
Individuality
- Campaigns focus on indivs not party bc indivs don’t apply to party & get selected,
they create campaign team & get themselves on ballot by raising funds & getting
enough nomination signatures
- State & national parties can have important role in channelling finance & donors
- Trump’s 2016 victory shows with enough money, public profile & campaigning skill
can become president, despite him never having been elected to office & initially
opposing much Rep political establishment – his slogans were personal eg ‘Build that
wall’ & ‘Make America Great Again’
Getting the ‘right’ people to turn out to vote
- Ensuring core supporters turn out to vote
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