1. Election Process Of The U.S. President

2. How do we select our President? Caucus -Caucus: Meetings of party leaders. Used to select delegates. -Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention. -Not used by many states. -Iowa’s is considered the most important.

3. Caucus

4. How do we select our President? Primary System -Primary: More like a traditional election. Elections in which voters choose the nominee or delegates pledged to the nominee. -Most states use one of the forms of a primary. -Many primaries are early with New Hampshire being the first.

5. Primaries

6. How do we select our President? The Party Convention/National Convention -Still important to the party to get organized and motivated. -Party platform: Statement of its goals and policies and general beliefs. -Official nominations and candidate speeches.

7. National Convention

10. Electoral College Constitutional Convention considers many different proposals for choosing the President. PROPOSAL #1: Election by Congress? Make president dependent on Congress “Work of intrigue, of cabal, and of faction”

11. Electoral College StrengthsWeaknesses Works well for electing governor Establish independence of president Most democratic “Ignorance of the people” Country too large; voters will be uninformed about candidate PROPOSAL #2: Direct Election by the People?

12. Electoral College PROPOSAL #3: Electoral College Could not dominate president’s agenda or influence him Would be highly competent citizens A. Hamilton: “possess the information and discernment” to make the right choice Who are these “competent” citizens?

13. How Does The Electoral College Work? Number of Electors Selecting Electors Winner-take-all (except ME & NE) 270 to win Electors cast two ballots (Pres. and VP)

14. What if No One Receives a Majority? Electing the President Electing the VP House of Reps One vote per state Senate One vote per Senator 12 th Amendment

15. Notable Election John Q. Adams Andrew JacksonWilliam H. CrawfordHenry Clay 1824 Presidential Election

16. Notable Election 2000 Presidential Election George W. Bush (R): 47.9% popular vote (271 EV) Al Gore (D): 48.4% popular vote (266 EV)

17. 2000 Election

19. Review Electors of the Electoral College are usually selected by the political parties # of electors depends on # of HoR & Senators Citizens Vote Electors cast their votes according to popular vote of State (usually winner takes all) 270 electoral votes first wins the Presidency