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Activities
PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,592188,00.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/election1/trail/index.asp?article=primary_timeline
http://www.fec.gov/pages/2004pdates.htm
www.infoplease.com/spot/campaign2004primaries1.html
http://boston.about.com/cs/politicselections/a/DNC1.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/sr_primary_overview.html
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php
http://www.drake.edu/journalism/CyberCaucus2000/defined.html
http://www.experiment34.com/president_files/past/election-process/Primary_Election.htm
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/reports/crspres.pdf
http://www.thisnation.com/question/021.html
http://usliberals.about.com/cs/campaign2004/i/iowacaucuses.htm
http://usliberals.about.com/cs/campaign2004/a/delegates.htm
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,592399,00.html
http://www3.niu.edu/newsplace/wh04.html#04a
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/
http://www.cincinnati.com/election2004/calendar.html
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/
Democratic Convention video clips located at:
http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Issue,PE;&ArchiveDays=100&Page=4*
Republican Convention video clips located
at: http://c-span.org*
*permission to stream edited
video clips of the convention proceedings pending with c-span.org
As a group, answer the
following questions using the websites provided.
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What are caucuses and primary
elections?
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What is the difference between a
caucus and a primary election?
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What’s the difference between open
and closed primaries?
-
Who can participate in caucuses and
primary elections?
-
Do you have to be a registered party
member to vote in a primary?
-
Which states have the first caucuses
and which have the first primaries?
-
What is the significance of those
races?
-
How many states have caucuses and how
many have primaries?
-
What is the reward for the winner of
a primary or caucus?
-
How is it determined how many
delegates each state gets?
-
How does a candidate become the
party’s nominee?
-
How many delegates are required to
obtain the nomination?
-
Are delegates bound to their
candidate?
-
What is accomplished at the National
Conventions?
-
Where does the National Convention
take place?
-
Is it the same place every election?
-
Who attends the National Convention?
Do Independent candidates attend National Conventions?
Task:
Using what you have
learned, complete the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel called
PrimariesandCaucuses.xls.
Work together with the roles described below.
Process:
Researchers:
For this activity, four of the interns will serve as
Researchers to begin with. One researcher should gather the data on all
50 states in the following categories: 1) Which states have primaries and
which have caucuses? 2) What was the date of the primary or caucus in
each state? 3) What were the results of the 2004 democratic primary or
caucus in each state? 4) What is the total number of delegates each state
awards?
Head Researcher:
Create a master Excel sheet that compiles the above data from all 50
states.
Head of Publicity:
Create a Microsoft Publisher brochure for each attendee of the Democratic
National Convention. It should have the definition of primary and caucus,
results of the primary season contests as well as the line-up of
speakers/activities for the Democratic National Convention. Make sure the
brochure has at least three graphics and has citations/URLs for all the
data that is presented.
Spokesperson: At
the next Election Committee meeting, provide each intern with a copy of
the brochure and Excel chart. As a group, discuss the primary/caucus
system. Use the list of questions above as a guide for your discussion.
Use the video footage of the conventions to illustrate what is
accomplished at a convention. On the Excel chart, have the interns sort
the data to answer the following questions: Which state has the first
primary? Which state has the first caucus? Which state has the most
delegates? After which state contest was the nomination “sewn up”?
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