1. ELECTING A PRESIDENT

2. PRESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
Must be born in the United States
or born to U.S. citizen anywhere in world
35 YEARS OF AGE
14 YEAR RESIDENCY
Must be living in the United States for 14 years

3. ELECTION PROCESS GET NOMINATED
Presidential candidate is nominated by a Nominating Convention
Convention three months before election
Delegates nominate a President/Vice President ticket
Delegates decide party platform
The issues the president will represent in the election

4. ELECTION PROCESS GO TO THE PEOPLE
The candidates make speeches, appear at rallies, and present the party platform and their views on current issues
On the first Tuesday in November the voters vote for electors
The electors then vote for the candidates

5. ELECTION PROCESS GATHER ELECTORAL VOTES
The group of electors vote for the President
Each elector has one electoral vote
Each state # of electors = Senators + Representatives
Known as Electoral College

6. ELECTORAL COLLEGE A system established by the U.S. Constitution
The popular vote (votes by the citizens) is cast in November
In each state, except Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who receives the most popular votes wins all of the state’s electoral votes
Rule is called “Winner-take-all”
Electors cast their votes in December

7. ELECTORAL COLLEGE
A candidate can win the nation’s popular vote but still lose the Electoral College!
In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, but lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush
The candidate that wins at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes is declared President

9. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
one of the most powerful democratically elected officials in the world
His powers are stated in the Constitution and through the use of “checks and balances” his actions are always controlled and checked by the Legislative and/or Judicial branches.

10. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
may not violate laws while he is in office.
If he does the House of Representatives may bring impeachment charges against him.
then tried in the Senate
two-thirds of Senators vote to convict, removed from office.

11. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
CHIEF EXECUTOR
enforces the Constitution and laws passed by Congress
issue executive orders
Appoints all government officials, including Cabinet officers, Supreme Court Justices, and others although his orders can be declared unconstitutional in the courts and his appointments must be approved by the Senate

12. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
CHIEF LEGISLATOR
recall Congress into a special session
may veto the bills passed by Congress or use his influence to get a bill passed or proposed
Congress can override the president’s veto by a two-thirds majority

13. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
JUDICIAL POWERS
grant pardons to most
indirect control of courts
appoints all federal judges
All appointments approved by the Senate

14. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
CHIEF AMBASSADOR
determines foreign policy of the nation, directs and negotiates treaties, and appoints other ambassadors and diplomats
These appointments must also be cleared by Congress
Treaties must be ratified by the Senate

15. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
civilian control over the military
appoints top military commanders, gives them military advice, can discharge officers
He can order the armed forces into action
He cannot commit U.S. troops to international conflicts for more than 90 days without a formal declaration of war, a power reserved for Congress

16. BACKUP PLAN THE CONSTITUTION
In case of death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Constitution states that he would be succeeded by the Vice President
If there is a vacancy in the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, Speaker of the House of Representatives, then the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then the Cabinet members starting with the Secretary of State fills those positions

17. 25th AMENDMENT amendment was passed in 1967
in cases of Presidential disability, the Vice President would take office until the disability was resolved
If the Vice President becomes President, he appoints new VP, subject to approval by the Congress