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'''Welcome to this course in American Government & Politics!'''  The full title is "Government" '''''and''''' "Politics" because it is impossible to understand one without the other.  Government policies are dictated by elected officials, and they care most about being reelected.  To understand why government acts in certain ways, it is necessary to understand elections first.

'''Welcome to this course in American Government & Politics!'''  The full title is "Government" '''''and''''' "Politics" because it is impossible to understand one without the other.  Government policies are dictated by elected officials, and they care most about being reelected.  To understand why government acts in certain ways, it is necessary to understand elections first.

Tonight, September 6, 2012, President Barack Obama will accept the nomination by the Democratic Party for his candidacy to be reelected as president of the United States.  As is customary, he will deliver an acceptance speech that tries to persuade millions of Americans to reelect him.  A week earlier, on August 30th, Mitt Romney accepted the nomination by the Republican Party to be elected to this same position.  In every year divisible by four, including this 2012, the United States elects (or reelects) a president.  At the same time, officially the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November ("Election Day"), American voters also elect the entire House of Representatives (435 officers) and one-third of the U.S. Senate.  (One third of the U.S. Senate is elected every two years, such that by every six years the entire Senate has been elected.)  Many state and local offices are also on the ballot on Election Day.

Tonight, September 6, 2012, President Barack Obama will accept the nomination by the Democratic Party for his candidacy to be reelected as president of the United States.  As is customary, he will deliver an acceptance speech that tries to persuade millions of Americans to reelect him.  A week earlier, on August 30, Mitt Romney accepted the nomination by the Republican Party to be elected to this same position.  In every year divisible by four, including this 2012, the United States elects (or reelects) a president.  At the same time, officially the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November ("Election Day"), American voters also elect the entire House of Representatives (435 officers) and one-third of the U.S. Senate.  (One third of the U.S. Senate is elected every two years, such that by every six years the entire Senate has been elected.)  Many state and local offices are also on the ballot on Election Day.

Unlike most nations, American government is run by persons who stand for election or reelection on fixed days determined by law, and every political leader focuses on that election the way that sports stars and fans focus on the Super Bowl, the World Series, or the Olympics.  Billions of dollars are spent in political advertisements on television, radio and the internet, and in mailings sent to households in attempts by political campaigns to win.  This is more exciting than sports contests, and the outcomes of political struggles make an enormous difference in which direction our Nation goes in the future.

Unlike most nations, American government is run by persons who stand for election or reelection on fixed days determined by law, and every political leader focuses on that election the way that sports stars and fans focus on the Super Bowl, the World Series, or the Olympics.  Billions of dollars are spent in political advertisements on television, radio and the internet, and in mailings sent to households in attempts by political campaigns to win.  This is more exciting than sports contests, and the outcomes of political struggles make an enormous difference in which direction our Nation goes in the future.

'''Swing states''' in a presidential election are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support prior to a Presidential election, and a victory by either candidate in these states could swing the overall result in his favor. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.  

'''Swing states''' in a presidential election are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support prior to a Presidential election, and a victory by either candidate in these states could swing the overall result in his favor. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.  

States that consistently express a preference for the Democratic presidential nominee are known as "blue states"; states that consistently vote for the Republican presidential candidate are referred to as [[red state|red states]].  Swing states are sometimes called "purple states" because either side might win in a given year.  Super PACs will likely spend millions of dollars in negative ads in these swing states.  (A "negative ad" is a television advertisement that criticizes your opponent rather than praising yourself; negative ads are usually more effective than positive ones.)

States that consistently express a preference for the Democratic presidential nominee are known as "blue states"; states that consistently vote for the Republican presidential candidate are referred to as [[red state]]s.  Swing states are sometimes called "purple states" because either side might win in a given year.  Super PACs will likely spend millions of dollars in negative ads in these swing states.  (A "negative ad" is a television advertisement that criticizes your opponent rather than praising yourself; negative ads are usually more effective than positive ones.)

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]]:  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.  Romney and Obama have very close poll numbers in these states.

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]]:  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.  Romney and Obama have very close poll numbers in these states.