Understanding the Process

Explains how U.S. presidential candidates are selected through political parties, primaries, caucuses, and conventions. Highlights the role of Democratic and Republican parties in shaping elections and influencing government policies.

Daniel Miller
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Parties, Primaries, Caucuses & ConventionsNameKeysKsvnChambersIt's almost election time and candidates are throwing their hatsin the ring left and right, beginning campaigns to be the nextpresident of the United States. It's a tough job to step into., andmany feel they ve got what it takes to do it the best. So howdo we go from a pool of potentials to two main candidates—anominee for each major party—whose names make it to thefinal ballot? The answer is in everything that happens before theactual election. Enter theprimary,thecaucus,and theconvention.I t s Party TimeTheUnited States has aparty systemwhere the two major politicalparties—DemocraticandRepublican—campaign for and hold themajority of elected offices acrossthecountry. Apolitical partyis anorganized group of people who share similar political views about howgovernment should run and how societal problems should he solved.They workto influence the government in support of those views.People join political parties as a way to move the government towardsfollowing their political views. Why? Because more people meansmore strength. Political parties gain power whentheircandidates areelected to public office. The more officials they have voting in favor ofand working towards similar outcomesrthe more likely the country isto be shaped according to their views.The More the MerrierThe Democratic and Republican parties aren t the onlyparties in the United States. There are manyminor parties(orthird parties),such as the Libertarian Party, GreenParty, Reform Party, and Constitution Party, that sponsorpresidential candidates, too.Even though third partieshaven'tproducedapresidentialelection win, they have influenced the outcome ofpresidential elections on many occasions. For example,when Teddy Roosevelt created the Progressive Partyin 1912, he took enough votes away from Republicancandidate William Howard Taft that the Democraticcandidate Woodrow Wilson won the election. (Rooseveltcame i n second place!)Third parties often bring attention to issues that the major partiesignore. I n the past, these were issues like the abolition of slavery, childlabor, and the 4D-hour workweek. Today, it's issues like climate changeandlimitations on the governments influence on people's lives. Butthirdpartiesarekept offthe"main stage" due to rules that favor theDemocratic and Republican parties only. These rules include the 'winner-take-all" nature of the Electoral College and the complicated staterequirements to get on the presidential ballot. To top it all off, manypeople are told they are "throwing away’ their vote if they choose a thirdparty candidate who doesn't have a chance to win.One o f themajor third parties inthe U S is the libertarian Party,whose mascot is a porcupine.iiviesC 202D IQvfcs, Ire.Reading - Side A

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