1. Road to the White House

2. Preview
Each event listed below is a step in the process of running for president. Based on what you know about elections, arrange the steps in the most logical order.

3. Form a campaign organization
Develop a campaign strategy
Run in primaries and caucuses
Build a coalition of supporters
Participate in televised debates
Hold popular election
Announce candidacy
Attend national convention
Raise funds

4. Once you put the steps in order:
Answer this question: Do you think this process helps or hinders us in electing the best individual as president?

5. Road to the White House Official Constitutional Requirements
Age: 35
Citizenship: Natural born citizen
Residency: Resident of US for last 14 years
Unofficial Requirements
White, Ancestry: European background (62% British)
Male and older (43-69)
WASP: Protestant and wealthy
Marital status: married
Political background: political or law background

6. Organize 1-2 yrs
Primaries/Caucuses Feb-June
National Conventions (Rep: 8/27-30 ; Dem: 9/3-6)
Campaign -- Sep-Nov
Vote -- November
Electoral College – Dec/Jan
Transition – Nov/Jan
Inauguration – Jan
TIMELINE-8 STEPS

7. Step One: Organize and Planning
Build a coalition of supporters
Exploratory committee
Raise funds
Form a campaign organization
Hire major staff
Develop a campaign strategy
State staff and organization

8. STEP 2: State Caucuses and Primaries
Purpose: Small meetings, where people come together to select delegates
First state: Iowa
Importance: as we have seen, Iowa can give a huge boost to a candidate (Santorum and Romney) or force people out of the race early (Bachmann, Perry and Huntsman)
Primaries
State elections with in a party to get delegates support at the national convention
3 kinds: open, closed and binding
First state: New Hampshire
Importance: weeds out candidates, proves who can win and where

9. STEP 3: Win Nomination at Convention
Purpose of convention: Choose party’s candidate
Where do we hold the convention: Big electoral state
Why: Get media exposure for party and candidate
What is the Platform Committee: Writes rules for convention and writes the party’s stance on current issues (that is voted on by delegates)
Significance of the Keynote address: kicks off convention, sets tone and exposes an “up and coming star” of the party
Selection of the Nominee: as many ballots as it takes to get the majority support of delegates
Acceptance speeches: Accepts Picks the VP running mate
Call for unity: get the party faithful fired up for the Fall election

10. STEP 4: Campaign against other Parties
Formal start of the campaign : Kick off is the Labor Day weekend: the beginning of September; 8 weeks to package the candidate
Time constraints: Campaign needs to decide its strategy for winning the elections; where to campaign, how to spend resources; swing states are states that can “swing” the election because they have more electoral votes or independent voters that can be swayed to vote for either party
Use of Media: Decide how and where to spend money; ads, radio, talk shows, TV
Debates: A candidate has to decide if (s )he will participate; if so when, where, the format. 10

11. STEP 5: General Election
Day America votes: Presidential elections are always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; every four years; always in even number years
Voting: goes on all day and polls close at 8:00pm
Exit Polls: gets info about how people voted as they exit the polling place
Media Coverage: As the east coast polls close, broadcasting the outcome can affect the west where the polls are still opened

12. STEP 6: Electoral College
Electoral System: the people who really elect the president
Number of electoral votes needed to win: 270
Electoral votes by state: number of representatives and+ 2 senators = electors
Vote: Each states sends electors from the winning party to the capitol to vote for president on the first Monday after the 2nd Wed. in December
Plurality vs. majority: Most popular vote vs 50% +1
Problems with the system: Popular vote doesn’t win; electors aren’t obligated to vote any one way; messy system if no one gets 270 electoral votes

13. STEP 7: Transition Period
Lameduck President: Outgoing president
President elect: Briefed by appropriate government agencies
Secret service protection: Full time police protection for president and family
Transition: Cabinet selected, inaugural address written; starts putting the staff in place. An office and staff is provided by the government

14. STEP 8: Inauguration When: January 20th
Oath of office: Sworn in by Supreme Court Justice; gives the inaugural speech to inspire the country, Parade, if weather permits, the president and family walks down Pennsylvania Ave., assumes the job
Inaugural Ball: There are many parties that take place that night; corporate sponsors; the president and VP and spouses go and make an appearance at all of them.

15. Assignment
You will be making a Road Map to the White House. It will include a “pit stop” for every one of the eight steps. You will include a paragraph the explains the step and include a visual that show what the step includes. It will be done a piece of construction paper given to you in class.