| |
| |
| Consulates In India CHENNAI • MUMBAI • CALCUTTA | Contact Us • Privacy Notice |
What's New U.S. National Conventions 2004 Resources Press Releases Newsletter Reports More Reports Links More Links |
|
USG Reports - Elections 2004  Publication: U.S. Elections 2004.Source: U.S. Dept of State, International Information Programs. This publication provides an introductory overview of the American electoral process for people who are not familiar with U.S. election practices and traditions. « « Elections Reform: Overview and Issues. Source: CRS Report for Congress. Updated January 30, 2003. The remarkable circumstances of the 2000 Presidential election are quite unlikely to be repeated, but Florida’s role in determining the outcome may be remembered as a turning point with respect to the nation’s election system. Previously obscure details of voting and vote counting became the focus of public attention, and various state and national commissions issued reports or recommendations on changing the voting process. Some states made plans or began to replace voting equipment and adopt other improvements before the 2002 election cycle. Both sessions of the 107th Congress considered and debated federal election reform legislation, and the Help America Vote Act (P.L. 107-252) was enacted in October 2002. The Act creates a new federal agency with election administration responsibilities, sets requirements for voting and voter registration systems and certain other aspects of election administration, and provides federal funding, but does not supplant state and local control over election administration. Issues for the 108th Congress may include funding, establishment of the new agency, and implementation by and impacts on the states. « « Campaign Financing. Source: CRS Report for Congress, Joseph E. Cantor, Government and Finance Division, Updated 12/15/03 Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, long centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. Rising election costs had long fostered a sense in some quarters that spending was out of control, with too much time spent raising funds and elections “bought and sold.” Debate had also focused on the role of interest groups in campaign funding, especially through political action committees (PACs). Differences in perceptions of the campaign finance system were compounded by the major parties’ different reform approaches. Democrats tended to favor more regulation, with spending limits and some public funding or benefits a part of their past proposals. Republicans generally opposed such limits and public funding. « « Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money. Source: CRS Report for Congress, Updated 10/30/03 « « The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections. Source: CRS Report for Congress, Updated 09/08/03 « « Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer. Source: CRS Report for Congress. April 17, 2000. This report describes the four stages of the presidential election process: the pre-nomination primaries and caucuses for selecting delegates to the national conventions; the national nominating conventions; the general election; and voting by members of the electoral college to choose the President and Vice President. The report will be updated again for the 2004 presidential election. « « Election of the President and Vice President by Congress: Contingent Election. Source: CRS Report for Congress. Updated January 17, 2001 The 12th Amendment to the Constitution requires that candidates for President and Vice President receive a majority of electoral votes (currently 270 or more of a total of 538) to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority, the President is elected by the House of Representatives, and the Vice President is elected by the Senate. This process is referred to as contingent election. |