1. Chapter 10 Choosing the President

2. How to become President of the United States
The road to the white house

3. What are five things you would look for in a president?
Education?
Character?
Military experience?
Previous government experience?
Age?
Personality?
Gender?
Marital Status?
Religion?
Criminal history?
What else would be important to you?

4. What does the Constitution say about who can be president?
The President must be:
Do you agree with the Constitutional qualifications?

5. Informal Qualifications for the Presidency
Presidential Backgrounds
Personal Qualities
Must win support, votes of American public
Must have appealing personal qualities; be likeable
Qualities of leadership
Persuasive, perhaps inspiring
Confident, dignified, poised, charismatic
Must work well with friends, foes
Must be effective manager
Present clear vision
Remain calm and controlled under constant scrutiny, pressure
Many common features among former presidents:
Well-educated white men from middle- to upper-class families
Religious background in some Christian denomination
Three-fourths had military background
Only Clinton never served in Armed Forces

6. TERMS. SALARY, AND BENEFITS

7. How Long Can you be president?
You can be President for eight years
(that’s two four-year terms)
Trivia: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only person to be President for more than two terms. He was elected four times. ti
Trtwo terms. He waselected four

8. Presidential PAY Congress determines the President’s salary.
In 1789, he received $25,000 a year
Today it is $400,000 a year with a $50,000 expense allowance.

9. Presidential Benefits
The President lives in a 132 room mansion called the White House.
24hr staff members to assist him/her.

10. Presidential Benefits
A fleet of automobiles and motorcades
Air Force One
Marine one
Camp David resort hideaway
The finest health care available.

11. The Vice President

12. The Vice President
Most important duty: to take over presidency if needed
25th amendment allows choice of new VP
Traditionally not advisory
Used for political chores
Also President of Senate
Chosen to balance ticket in some way

13. PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
The Vice President
The Speaker of the House
The President pro tempore of the Senate
Members of the president’s cabinet in the order in which their departments were created

14. Departments in Succession Order
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security +

15. Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses

16. How to become President of the United States
People with similar ideas group together and form political parties…
There are many people who have their own ideas about how government should work.
STEP 1
Primaries and Caucuses
What are the two main political parties in the United States today?

17. STEP 1 How to become President of the United States
Candidates from each party campaign to gain leadership within their own party.
STEP 1
Primaries and Caucuses
Multiple people from each party may decide they want to be the candidate.
This is where primaries and caucuses come in.

18. How to become President of the United States Primaries and Caucuses
Most states hold a primary, in which voters cast secret ballots for the best candidate that will represent the party in the general election.
STEP 1
Primaries and Caucuses
Open and closed primaries
This is where voters can cast their vote to determine who will represent each party.

19. STEP 1 How to become President of the United States
In some states, a caucus is held to select the best candidate from each party through discussions and open votes.
STEP 1
Primaries and Caucuses
Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa
Which states hold caucuses?
Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa

20. Step 2: National Conventions
Now it’s time to officially decide who will be the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate for each party.

21. How to become President of the United States
Each party holds a national convention to select a final presidential nominee.
STEP 2
National Conventions
Photo from:
Photo from:

22. How to become President of the United States
At the convention, the Presidential candidate announces a running mate (Vice Presidential Candidate).
STEP 2
National Conventions
Photo from:
Photo from:
What do you think a Presidential candidate is looking for in a Vice President?

23. Step 3: Campaigns

24. STEP 3 How to become President of the United States
The Presidential candidates campaign throughout the country to win the support of the general population.
STEP 3
Campaigning
What do you think about the campaign ads you have seen?

25. Step 4: General Election

26. What kind of president do Americans want?
A charismatic leader and man of conviction?
A passionate leader who
tells it like it is?
A well-meaning,
ordinary guy?
A man who can kick butt
when he needs to?

27. STEP 4 What is the Electoral College? Who are electors?
How to become President of the United States
People in every state across the country vote for a President and Vice President.
When people cast their vote, they are actually voting for a group of people known as electors who are part of the process called the Electoral College .
STEP 4
General Election
What is the Electoral College?
Who are electors?

28. Step 5: Electoral College

29. How to become President of the United States
In the Electoral College system, each state gets a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress.
STEP 5
Electoral College

30. The Electoral College Why 538? Why 29? 435* + 100 + 3 = 538
In Florida, electors are nominated by their political party and approved by the Governor. Because Florida has 29 electoral votes, each party (Democrat and Republican) is allowed to appoint 29 electors.
The Electoral College is a system where 538 electors cast votes to decide who will be the President and Vice President.
Why 538?
Why 29?
This is the total of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives,
the U.S. Senate,
and three votes for the District of Columbia.
Florida has 27 Congressional Districts (FL gained two districts due to a population increase) and 2 Senators….for a total of 29.
Public Law 62-5 says that 435 will be the number in the House of Representatives. This number does not change, rather other states lose seats as states gain seats in the House. See number 7 on the Office of the Clerk FAQ page (linked above).
435* = 538
Public Law 62-5 says that 435 will be the number in the House of Representatives. This number does not change, rather other states lose seats as states gain seats in the House.

31. For example, in Florida: Candidate A loses the race for that state.
The Electoral College
Whichever candidate receives the popular (majority) vote in a state (>50%), wins the electoral votes.
For example, in Florida:
Candidate A
Candidate B
48 of the 50 states use this “winner take all system”. Maine and Nebraska use what is called the District system in which one electoral vote is awarded to each candidate winning the popular vote in each congressional district and the two remaining votes are awarded to the candidates with the most votes statewide.
29 Electors
29 Electors
If candidate B wins more than 50% of the popular vote, their 29 electors get to cast their votes for that Candidate.
Candidate A loses the race for that state.

32. STEP 5 How to become President of the United States
Each elector casts one vote following the general election, and the candidate who gets more than half (270 of 538) wins.
STEP 5
Electoral College
Florida has 29 electoral votes.

33. The “What Ifs” of the Electoral College
What if no one gets 270?
Election goes to the House of Representatives (1800 & 1824)
Each State gets one vote – 26 to win it
What if the House vote has not been decided by Jan 20th?
Vice President will preside until the President is determined
What if no one received 270 for Vice Presidency?
Senate will determine the VP and then they will preside until the President is determined

34. The newly elected President and Vice President are inaugurated (sworn into office) in January.
And the winner is…
Note: Inauguration Day by law is January 20th. However, since the 20th is a Sunday, a private ceremony will be held on January 20th, with a public inauguration taking place on January 21st,

35. Comparing Electoral College models: Which is better?
What Do you Think?
Comparing Electoral College models: Which is better?

36. Which Model is better? Winner Take All The District system
More than 50% of the popular vote wins ALL of the elector votes
48 of the states use this system
One electoral vote is awarded to each candidate winning the popular vote in each congressional district *
The two remaining votes are awarded to the candidates with the most votes statewide
Maine and Nebraska use this system
*Remember, the number of electors are based on the number of members in the United States House of Representatives (who represent congressional districts within a state)…
… and two U.S. Senators.