Assess the advantages & disadvantages of primaries and caucuses. (30 marks)
- Created by: yazmintaylorx
- Created on: 03-05-18 12:26
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- adv. & disadv. of primaries & caucuses
- dominated by extreme voters
- voters in primaries usually old, white, affluent, educated & ideological
- centralist candidates under pressure to appeal to more extremist candidates
- dems. move to the left & repubs. move to the right during primary season
- undermines pluralist democracy & promotes elitism
- lead to candidate selected infringing on civil rights
- put off minority voters causing apathy & low turnout
- low turnout
- only 30% of electorate turned out to 2008 primaries
- record high
- 2016 was 28.5%
- 2008 Iowa had a record turnout of 16.3% (x8 the average)
- gives winner less of a mandate, legitimacy & authority
- undermines democracy
- only 30% of electorate turned out to 2008 primaries
- dominated by the wealthiest candidates
- large war chests needed fro momentum
- unfair on less wealthy candidates
- poor are less underrepresented
- may be seen as corrupt
- 2007 invisible primary H. Clinton raised $90m & Obama raised $70m
- too long due to front loading
- increasing number of states schedule their primaries earlier
- winner of primaries decided before certain states get to vote
- Feb 5th 2008, 55% delegates in Ds & Rs chosen
- leads to permanent campaigns
- low turnout as unfair on later states
- puts too much importance on early, unrepresentative states which is undemocratic
- leads to exhausted candidates
- highly democratic
- democratic compared to earlier selection process
- direct choice in candidate
- opens process to candidates who wouldn't have been chosen by party bosses
- Obama (2008), Clinton (1992) & Carter (1976)
- reduced chance of corruption and apathy
- upholds pluralist democracy
- bandwagon effect
- style over substance effect
- good at showing who the best candidates are
- weed out unsuitable candidates
- stamina
- fundraising
- oratorical skills
- more suitable nominee
- candidate likely to be a better president as a result
- wealthiest rather than best candidate often wins
- best in primaries may not be best president
- weed out unsuitable candidates
- dominated by extreme voters
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