GUIDE TO ELECTION 2000   

In today's wired world, anyone interested in the U.S. presidential election can probably obtain basic news and information as the campaign moves forward. "But the television screens and the newspaper headlines give us the short view," as President John F. Kennedy once said.

Too often, the coverage of the election lacks depth and background, especially for foreign audiences who may not be as familiar as the domestic audience with American political history, or as knowledgeable about the evolution of the process.

For example, how does the Electoral College function? How are campaigns financed? What is the role of the modern media and campaign advertisements? What is the legal and constitutional framework within which elections are fought? It is the purpose of this guide to answer these and other complex questions that the worldwide daily coverage too often ignores.

The first section of the guide comprises a detailed interview with Thomas Mann, a leading authority on the U.S. election process. Mann, who is interviewed by Contributing Editor Paul Malamud, discusses the stakes in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections and gives his views about the key issues in the campaign. In particular, Mann speaks about the foreign policy platform of each major candidate, a topic of prime concern to overseas audiences.

In the second section of the guide, we answer "frequently asked questions" (FAQs) that readers abroad often have about U.S. elections such as: why so few Americans vote; the difference between the popular vote and the Electoral College vote; and, why federal elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The section also includes an analysis of the key congressional races around the country: all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are at stake, plus one-third of the Senate. The section concludes with a number of easy-to-read graphics highlighting the key House of Representatives and Senate races, and important election trends.

The third section of the guide includes a number of articles authored by Contributing Editor Stuart Gorin, detailing the key events of the campaign to date including stories on the acceptance of the presidential nominations by the leading contenders, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.

In the fourth section of the guide, we present a series of articles that provide context for the elections. Mostly authored by Contributing Editor David Pitts, they cover such topics as the role of television in the campaign, both regular coverage and paid advertisements, the historical contribution of third parties and third party candidates, the importance of the ethnic vote and the significance of presidential oratory.