1. What is the invisible primary and how does it influence the presidential race before formal voting begins?

2. What are the two main competitions candidates must win to become president?

1. What is the incumbent advantage phenomenon and what specific tools allow incumbent presidents to secure nomination more easily?

2. What is the approximate reelection rate for incumbent presidents seeking a second term?

1. What is the purpose of state primary elections and caucuses in the presidential nomination process?

2. How do closed primaries, open primaries, and blanket primaries differ in terms of voter participation?

3. How do caucuses differ from primary elections in terms of format and voter participation?

1. Why do Iowa caucuses tend to produce more ideologically extreme candidates than standard primary elections?

2. What is the significance of Iowa's position as the first nominating contest?

1. How do candidates use their New Hampshire primary results to shape their public image and campaign narrative?

2. What is front-loading and why do states engage in this practice?

1. How do states differ in awarding delegates to the national convention, and what systems do they use?

2. What are superdelegates and how do Democrats and Republicans differ in assigning them?

3. Why have national party conventions become less suspenseful in modern times?

1. What are red states, blue states, and swing states, and how do candidates allocate campaign resources differently among them?

2. What activities and events characterize the general election campaign season?

1. How is the number of electoral votes allocated to each state and what is the total number of electoral votes?

2. What changes did the Twelfth Amendment make to the Electoral College system?

3. What happens if no presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?

1. What is the winner-take-all system and which states do not use this method for awarding electoral votes?

2. How many times has the popular vote winner lost the Electoral College, and what has this prompted?

3. What are the main benefits and drawbacks of the Electoral College system?

1. What are midterm elections and how does voter turnout in midterms compare to presidential elections?

2. What organizational components and resources are necessary for a modern congressional campaign?

1. What is the incumbency advantage in congressional elections and what percentage of House incumbents win reelection?

2. How do name recognition and financial advantages benefit congressional incumbents over challengers?

3. What role do Political Action Committees (PACs) play in funding incumbent versus challenger campaigns?

4. What services can incumbents provide to constituents and how does economic conditions affect incumbent reelection?

1. What is gerrymandering and how has it affected the number of competitive congressional districts?

2. How have safe districts shifted electoral competition and what effect does this have on candidate ideology?

1. What were the top campaign issues for Republican and Democratic candidates in 2024 primaries?

2. What were the most important issues for voters in the 2024 general election?

3. What were the outcomes of the 2024 House and Senate elections in terms of party control?

4. How much money was spent on congressional races in 2024 and which races were the most expensive?

1. What is the coattail effect and how does a presidential candidate's popularity influence congressional elections?