| What is stage one of the presidential election races? | Primaries and Caucuses |
| What happens in the primaries and caucuses? | Candidates for the same party compete against each other in a public vote. This decides who will represent as the presidential candidate |
| In 2016 who were the democratic party's presidential nominations? | Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley |
| In 2016 who were the republican party's presidential nominations? | Trump, Cruz, Bush, Rubio and Kasich |
| What is stage two of the presidential election race? | The presidential election |
| What is the presidential election? | One candidate from each party stands in order to get elected to the presidency. This process is known as the electoral college |
| Which two candidates we up against each other in 2016? | Clinton and Trump |
| What is a primary? | When candidates from the same party compete in a public vote |
| How are primaries seperated? | By having a contest in each state rather than nationally |
| What type of vote is a primary? | A public vote, but you can only vote in one party's primary |
| What do candidates compete to win? | Delegates |
| What are delegates? | party activists who agree to go to a party convention to vote for a specific candidate |
| What is super Tuesday | A day were 14 states hold their primary in order to increase the power they have |
| What are the differences between primaries and caucuses? | caucuses: voters attend long meetings, voters physically move to show their vote and change their vote, only open to party members, not a secret ballot whereas primaries: voters can cast a secret ballot, can be open or closed. most states use them |
| How are delegates chosen? | democrat primaries award delegates to candidates in proportion to their vote totals in that state whereas republicans traditionally have used a 'winner takes all' system |
| Why are caucuses important? | They determine who will be the presidential candidate for each party and has the most importance |
| Why do incumbents have it harder when seeking a second term? | They have a four year legacy at which their opponent can pick apart in presidential debates |
| What are the strengths of the presidential election system? | the process opens up politics to outsiders who do not initially have a political reputation to make a serious challenge for nomination, its a gruelling race that tests whether candidates are capable, an increased level of participation by ordinary voters |
| What are the weaknesses of the presidential election system? | Low quality of participation as primary voters no very little about candidates, widespread voter apathy and boredom, very expensive, can turn into a bitter personal battle |
