1. The Framers Plans
Chapter 13-Section 3

2. Key Terms
Presidential Elector
Electoral Vote
Electoral College

3. Original Provisions
The Framer’s gave more time to the matter of choosing a president then any other matter
Originally they couldn’t decide if Congress should choose or give the direct vote to the people
Congressional selection was eventually chosen

4. Original Provisions
Most Framers though a direct vote would lead to disorder
President and Vice president were to be chosen by a body of electors
Presidential electors were to be chosen by each individual states legislature.

5. Original Provisions
Each state would have as many electors as it would have senators and representatives in Congress
Each state would cast two electoral votes
Each for a different candidate

6. Original Provisions
The candidate with the most votes was named President and the next highest vote getter was Vice President
Framers intended the electors to be enlightened and respectable citizens

7. The Rise of Parties
Electoral college- The group of people (electors) chosen from each State and D.C. charged with formally selecting the President and the VP
Early on flaws started to develop

8. The Election of 1800 System broke down during the election of 1800
Two well defined parties emerged the Federalists and the Democratic- Republicans
Each party nominated a President and Vice President

9. The Election of 1800
Each party also nominated 73 people to serve as electors
There was a tie for the Presidency between Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson
Each elector had two votes and had to vote for two different people
They voted for candidates representing their party
It took 36 separate ballots but the House of Representatives finally chose Jefferson

10. The Election of 1800 Produced Three New Elements:
1.) Party nominations for President and Vice President
2.) Nomination for candidates for presidential electors in state’s who pledged their votes for their party
3.) Automatic casting of votes in line with the pledges

11. The 12th Amendment
The 12th Amendment was added to Constitution in 1804
It separated the presidential and vice presidential offices during elections
One set of ballots would be cast for President
One set of ballots was cast for Vice President
Same system that exists today

12. Presidential Nominations
Chapter 13 Section 4

13. Does the nominating system allow Americans to choose the best candidates for president?

14. Presidential Primaries
Presidential Primary
An election in which a party’s voters
Choose some or all of the State party organization’s delegates to their party’s national convention
Express a preference among various contenders for their party’s presidential nomination

15. Caucuses
A closed meeting of members of a political party who gather to select delegates to the national convention.
The Iowa caucuses generally get the most attention, largely because they are now the first delegate-selection event held in every presidential election season.
Iowa Caucus, 2008

16. National Conventions
Both the Republicans and Democrats use National Conventions as their parties nominating device
Both parties picked the time and the place to hold their convention
2012 Presidential Election
Republic National Convention–Tampa, Florida
Republican National Convention
Democrat National Convention–Charlotte, North Carolina Democratic National Convention
Each state is given a certain number of delegates to represent the state.

17. Securing the Nomination
The National Conventions Have Three Major Goals:
Naming the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates
Bringing the various factions and the leading personalities in the party together in one place for a common purpose
Adopting the party’s platform – it formal statement of basic principles, stands on major policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and beyond.

20. The Presidential election
Chapter 13 Section 5

21. Does the election process serve the goals of American democracy today?

22. The Presidential Campaign
The campaign itself it organized chaos
Candidates work to show their “best side” and take negative jabs to their opponents.
Television Campaign Ads
Both campaigns focus much of their efforts on swing voters – people who have not made up their mind on who to vote for.
Would-be-presidents also target the battleground states – those states in which the outcome is “too close to call” and either candidate can win.

23. The Presidential campaign-Debates
The candidates agree to hold debates
Both sides will present and argue over issues that are crucial to the United States.
Obama v. McCain debate
Kennedy v. Nixon Debate
1st televised Presidential debate

24. The Election
When people vote in the presidential election, they do not cast a vote directly for one of the candidates, instead, they vote for presidential electors.
The electoral college elects the President of the United States
The electors are chosen by popular vote in every State on the same day everywhere
The Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year.
2012 presidential election is set for November 6, 2012
2016 presidential election is set for November 15, 2016
2020 presidential election is set for November 3, 2020

25. Counting the Electoral Votes
270 Electoral Votes to Win
The electors meet in their respective State capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December.
Electors, then, cast their votes, sign their ballots and are sent to the President of the Senate.
Who wins the majority of the electoral votes becomes president.

26. What happens if no candidate wins the majority of electoral votes?
Candidates need 270 out of the 538 electoral votes to win
If this does not happen:
The House of Representatives chooses the president among the top three candidates voted on by the electoral college
The Senate will choose the vice-presidential candidate among the top two candidates

27. PRESIDENTIAL INNAUGURATION
After all of the votes have been counted, the President of the United States is sworn into office on January 20th on the steps of the Capitol.
Prior to the 20th Amendment, the President was sworn in on March 4th
The President of the United States is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oath of Office).
“I (name of president) do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Usually it is followed by “so help me god” and the playing of “Hail to the Chief”

28. PRESIDENTIAL INNAUGURATION
After the President is sworn into office, it is usually followed by a speech, a parade, and many celebrations throughout the day.

29. PRESIDENTIAL INNAUGURATION

30. Flaws in the Electoral College
The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency
Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote
Any election might have to be decided by the House of Representatives

31. Proposed Reforms District and Proportional Plans
Under the district plan, each state would choose its electors similar to how the choose members of Congress
Would be required to vote with the popular vote of the state.
Under the proportional plan each candidate would receive a share of each State’s electoral vote
For example, a candidate that won 62% of the vote cast in a State with 20 electors would receive 12.4 of that State’s electoral votes.

32. Direct Popular Election The National Popular Vote Plan
Proposed Reforms
Direct Popular Election
The National Popular Vote Plan
Abolishes the Electoral College
The people would elect the President and Vice-President
The candidate would be elected with the majority of votes
Same as direct popular election; however, no changes would be made to the Constitution.
All States would give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

33. Defending the Electoral College
Supporters of the Electoral College argue:
It is a known process
The present system identifies the President-to-be quickly and certainly
Helps promote the nation’s two-party system