Chapter 13- Learning Target 13.1

13.1 
Trace the roots of American elections, and distinguish among the four types of elections

United States elections are responsible for most of the political changes in the United States. One might ask why we vote? What is the purpose of citizens voting for senators, presidents, and congressmen? Elections confirm the idea of popular sovereignty, create government accountability, chooses issues and policy priorities, and winner gets mandate (a command indicated by an electorate's votes).  The electorate is any citizen eligible to vote in elections. The threat of elections keeps policy makers concerned with public opinion and keeps promoting ethical behavior which affects the choices and turnout of the electorate.

There are four types of elections:

1. Primary- voters decide candidates to represent a party
1. Closed Primary- only party's registered voters can cast a ballot
2. Open Primary- members, individuals, and members of other parties can participate
3. Crossover voting- participation in primary party of a party of which the voter is not affiliated
4. Runoff Primary- second primary election between two candidates receiving greatest number of votes in the first primary
2. General- voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices (held at many levels such as: municipal, county, state, and national)
3. Initiative and Referendum- used by state and local governments (not national)
1. Initiative- allows citizens to purpose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to the electorate for popular vote 
2. Referendum- state legislative submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval
4. Recall- (de-elections) allows voters to remove an incumbent from office prior to next elections

The most recent recall election was in 2003 when Governor Grey Davis, was replaced with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Recall elections are rare, but general elections and initiatives are held at state and local governments.