1.) Examination of a Federal Election- This report will examine an election of a chief executive (President) at
the federal level. If a federal election is chosen, you MUST use the Federal Elections Commission’s website at
www.fec.gov as a source if possible (or email me why you cannot). If you are unsure about your topic, please
have it approved/reviewed beforehand. Finally, be sure to touch on the following points:
Historical Significance- What are the most significant facts about the election. What major event(s) did it cause
or have an effect on? Was there a power shift?
Candidates- Who were the major candidates? What did they do before? What did they do after (especially the
loser)?
Interesting Facts about Process- What led to the respective candidates running for office (primaries, runoffs,
etc.)? What were the finances involved? What roles did the parties play?
What about the media and interest groups? How was public opinion a factor? What were the campaign
strategies? Where did the candidates spend most of their time? What were the
respective platforms of the candidates? What were some important campaign strategies used? Outcome- Who
won? What were the final vote counts (include Electoral College results for federal elections)? Any interesting
trends among gender, regions, races, etc.?
Political Impacts/Conclusion- What were the effects of the election? How did it compare to what took place in
2016 or a previous election year? What was the historical impact of the election? Did the exit polls hold up?
Cite some examples of some class topics and how they pertain to this election. Be sure to then conclude your
thoughts in a logical and concise manner
Sample Solution
