The Mixed System: How did primaries change the presidential nomination process?
Methods of Nominating Presidential Candidates
“King Caucus”: 1800-1828

Convention System: 1832-1912

The Convention System
National party nominating convention selects presidential candidate
Strong parties
Patronage
High participation
Parties try to control presidents
Three changes at the turn of the 20th century

Civil Service

Rise In Civil Service Employment
Number of federal employees under merit system, 1816-1921
Three changes at the turn of the 20th century

Civil Service

Communications technology


Changes in technology
Railroads (1850s +)

Daily newspapers (1880s +)

Radio and TV (1930s +)
Number of daily and weekly newspapers
Number of Households with radio and TV (in millions)
Three changes at the turn of the 20th century

Civil Service

Communications technology

Primary elections
Number of States Holding Primary Elections
First Three Methods of Nominating Presidential Candidates
“King Caucus”: 1800-1828

Convention System: 1832-1912

Mixed System: 1912-1968

Mixed System
Real decision about nomination made at national convention

Candidates can choose to run in primaries
Percent of Party Convention Delegates Chosen by Primaries
Number of Convention Ballots to Select Presidential Nominee
Number of Convention Ballots to Select the Presidential Nominee
1952 Democratic Convention: Delegates pledged by primaries

Sen. Estes Kefauver (TN): 257.5 delegates
Gov. Adlai Stevenson (IL): 41.5 delegates
Uncommitted: 611.5 delegates

Others:
Sen. Richard Russell (GA): 161.5 delegates
Averell Harriman: 112.5 delegates
Sen. Bob Kerr (OK): 45.5 delegates

Review the three systems we’ve discussed.
Which do you think is most democratic?
Which has the best chance of producing good presidents?
The Primary System
Presidential Party Nomination Systems
“King Caucus”: 1800-1828

Convention System: 1832-1912

Mixed System: 1912-1968

Primary System: 1972-???

McGovern Fraser Commission: Changes to Democratic Party Rules
Anti-discrimination provisions
Explicit party rules and open party meetings
Bans the UNIT RULE
Unit rule: the practice of apportioning delegates in a winner-take-all fashion
Encourages broad and open participation in delegate selection process
Mandates that minorities’ opinions be fairly weighted in delegate selection process
Bans the automatic delegate-status of party officials and elected officeholders

Number of states holding primary elections
Percent of Party Convention Delegates Chosen by Primaries
Some delegates still chosen by other means
Caucus:
A Meeting where any affiliated voter can come and express their opinions
State convention:
Local party groups select delegates to state party convention. State convention delegates select delegates to national nominating convention.
Consequences of Party Reform
Increase in number of primaries
Increase in importance of media
(And hence the importance of early primaries!)

Consequences of Party Reform
Increase in number of primaries
Increase in importance of media
Increase in importance of early primaries (and momentum and expectations!)
A representative beginning?From the 2000 Census
Consequences of Party Reform
Increase in number of primaries
Increase in importance of media
Increase in importance of early primaries (and momentum and expectations!)
Decreases importance of national party conventions
Consequences of Party Reform
Increase in number of primaries
Increase in importance of media
Increase in importance of early primaries
Decreases importance of national party conventions
Decreases importance of state party leaders
Party activists give way to candidate activists

Changes After 1968
McGovern-Fraser reforms

FECA

Federal Election Campaign Act
Creates a voluntary subsidy for candidates who enter primary elections
All funds candidates raise in amounts of $250 or less (if they raise $5000 in 20 different states) are matched by the federal government on Jan 1 of election year

Bans large donations by individuals
Individuals can only give $2000 to a primary candidate
Consequences of Party Reform & FECA
Increase in number of primaries
Increase in importance of media
Increase in importance of early primaries
Decreases importance of national party conventions
Decreases importance of state party leaders
Harder to raise money (takes longer to raise big money in small contributions!)

A Couple of Problems?

Ideological primary voters?

Candidates mobilize factions?
Shimmer

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