The Election!

I) Nominating the President A) Primaries are held in ¾ of states so that party voters can show their preference and /or select delegates to represent them at the national convention 1) most primaries are now only a preference selection, delegates are selected at state conventions

I) Nominating the President A) Primaries are held in ¾ of states so that party voters can show their preference and /or select delegates to represent them at the national convention 1) most primaries are now only a preference selection, delegates are selected at state conventions B) Some states will hold caucuses to elect delegates who will select the presidential candidate

I) Nominating the President A) Primaries are held in ¾ of states so that party voters can show their preference and /or select delegates to represent them at the national convention 1) most primaries are now only a preference selection, delegates are selected at state conventions B) Some states will hold caucuses to elect delegates who will select the presidential candidate C) Primaries are very important because: 1) test would- be nominees 2) Show support for new candidates

I) Nominating the President D) Problems of Convention/Primary process: 1. Increased amount of money spent 2. Too confusing, not democratic enough (closed primary)

II) The National Convention A) Three main functions of convention: 1) adopt the party’s platform

II) The National Convention A) Three main function of convention: 1) adopt the party’s platform 2) formally nominate candidates

Republican Candidates ‘08 Rudy Giuliani Senator John McCain Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts Fred Thompson former Senator of Tennessee

Democratic Candidates ‘08 Senator Hillary Clinton Former Senator John Edwards Senator Barack Obama Governor Bill Richardson Senator Joe Biden Representative Dennis Kucinich

II) The National Convention A) Three main functions of convention: 1) adopt the party’s platform 2) formally nominate candidates 3) unify party behind candidates

II) The National Convention B) There are several sessions to a convention which will usually last 4 days 1) organize convention, deliver key-note address

II) The National Convention B) There are several sessions to a convention which will usually last 4 days 1) organize convention, deliver key-note address 2) next 2 or 3 sessions are spent creating platform and giving speeches

II) The National Convention B) There are several sessions to a convention which will usually last 4 days 1) organize convention, deliver key-note address 2) next 2 or 3 sessions are spent creating platform and giving speeches 3) unify party behind candidates

III) The Election A) The Electoral College (a confusing process) –1) Voters are not actually selecting the president when they vote

III) The Election A) The Electoral College (a confusing process) –1) Voters are not actually selecting the president when they vote –2) they are actually selecting the electors that are going to cast their vote for whoever they see fit

III) The Election A) The Electoral College (a confusing process) –1) Voters are not actually selecting the president when they vote –2) they are actually selecting the electors that are going to cast their vote for whoever they see fit a) in some states, the names of the electors are listed under the candidates they will cast their vote for

III) The Election A) The Electoral College (a confusing process) –1) Voters are not actually selecting the president when they vote –2) they are actually selecting the electors that are going to cast their vote for whoever they see fit a) in some states, the names of the electors are listed under the candidates they will cast their vote for b) most states just list the candidates names (meaning that the electors who will support that candidate will be selected)

B) Problems with Electoral College 1) winner of popular vote may not win electoral college (happened 3x, Quincy Adams over A. Jackson, Hayes over Tilden, B. Harrison over Cleveland) a) may win state by 1 vote, but receive all the electoral votes ( winner-take-all)

B) Problems with Electoral College 1) winner of popular vote may not win electoral college (happened 3x) a) may when state by 1 vote, but receive all the electoral votes ( winner-take-all) 2) Electors not required to vote for popular winner in their state (9x)

B) Problems with Electoral College 1) winner of popular vote may not win electoral college (happened 3x) a) may when state by 1 vote, but receive all the electoral votes ( winner-take-all) 2) Electors not required to vote for popular winner in their state (9x) 3) With rise of 3 rd parties, possibility of not receiving majority of vote

C) Several plans have been suggested but all have problems 1) direct popular vote-winner of popular vote wins

C) Several plans have been suggested but all have problems 1) direct popular vote-winner of popular vote wins 2) National Bonus Plan-winner of popular vote receives 102 electoral votes, plus wins the states votes under the old electoral college system

C) Several plans have been suggested but all have problems 1) direct popular vote-winner of popular vote wins 2) National Bonus Plan-winner of popular vote receives 102 electoral votes, plus wins the states votes under the old electoral college system a) receive 321 and win b) if not, run-off between top two candidates

D) Who usually wins? 1) “the person who has the best chance to win”

D) Who usually wins? 1) “the person who has the best chance to win” 2) governors of large states tend to be nominated

D) Who usually wins? 1) “the person who has the best chance to win” 2) governors of large states tend to be nominated 3) Protestant

D) Who usually wins? 1) “the person who has the best chance to win” 2) governors of large states tend to be nominated 3) Protestant 4) reside in large state

D) Who usually wins? 1) “the person who has the best chance to win” 2) governors of large states tend to be nominated 3) Protestant 4) reside in large state 5) pleasant appearance, white, male, married

SMILE ! Be Safe! Have a Great Day