The President I 2/9/2012

Clearly Stated Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: – understand and interpret the United States Constitution and apply it to the present (the sections on the presidency and Electoral College). – assess the 2008 & 2012 Presidential Elections without resorting to partisan bickering. – identify and explain the role of formal and informal institutions and their effect on policy.

Office Hours and Readings Readings- Chapter 9 on the President Office Hours – Today 12-2 – Wednesday 10-2

WHO ARE OUR PRESIDENTS?

Simple Requirements (Article II) Natural Born Citizen 35 Years Old 14 years a resident

Our Presidents Historically Most are in their 50’s at time of election Most are Lawyers Most are of English Ancestry All but one has been Protestant

THE DEBATE ON THE EXECUTIVE How many and how much power?

On an executive The Articles Lacked one We feared monarchy We Feared Tyranny The Country Needed one

What the Debate centered on How Many – A Singular executive vs. a plural executive How Much Power – Tyranny vs impotence – What is the safe and effective combination?

Option I: A Monarch Advantages Disadvantages

Option II: A Plural executive Advantages Disadvantages

Option III: A Weak Executive Advantages Disadvantages

Option IV: A Strong Executive Advantages Disadvantages

Balancing it out

CHOOSING A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE The history of nominations

Congressional Caucus Method ( ) Parties in Congress picked the Nominees Problems What ends it

The Party Convention System Lasts until the 1970’s Party leaders picked nominees at national conventions

The End of the Party System Problems with it A Focusing Event Who Loses

The Current system Voter-centered, rather than party centered Binding Primaries and Caucuses A Race for Delegates

In 2008 (The Democrats)

The Republicans in 2008

The Impact of The Current System Advantages Disadvantages

GETTING THE NOMINATION So You want to be president?

Step 1 Don’t Sit back at wait You have to participate in the invisible primary If you wait, your window might close

When You can Run? Never Take a candidate on their wordword You can run whenever, but things can make it difficult You have to Wait for your Window – GOP (as early as 2016, as late as 2024) – Democrats (as early as 2016, as late as 2028)

Step 2: Have a “Presidential Job”

The Current GOP Field Presidential Jobs Governors – Perry – Romney – Huntsman Senators – Santorum Non-Presidential Jobs House Members – Gingrich – Bachmann – Paul Other – Herman Cain

Step 3: Be Prepared to Spend Money Money Buys Organization Money Buys Name Recognition Money Converts itself

Federal Money vs. Self-financing

The Effect of Money on Campaigns How it has changed the primary campaign How important is it? Where We stand

Step 4:Getting Delegates Primaries Caucuses Which helped Obama?

Delegate Apportionment The Democrats More Delegates Proportional Representation Super Delegates The Republicans Fewer Delegates More winner-take-all states

Front-loading of Delegates

Frontloading and 2012 The GOP is making more states use proportional representation They do not want an early nominee. Pro’s and Cons of a longer primary?

Delegates Matter

Step 5: Momentum Looking like a winner and Actually winning Media coverage goes to those who can win. Be the last person standing (winnowing)

The First Four Iowa New Hampshire South Carolina Florida

The Clinton Strategy: 2008 Deliver the Knock-out blow on super-tuesday Reload Watch the GOP fight it out all spring

How Mc Cain Wins Early: 2008 Winner-take-all states Romney and Huckabee go after each other The Early win is A blessing and a curse for McCain