1. The President III 9/28/2011

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form 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.

3. Office Hours and Readings Readings- Chapter 9 on the President, pp. 211- 218 Office Hours – Tomorrow 8-12 – Monday 8-10:30

4. THE WAY TO BECOME PRESIDENT Winning the Electoral College

5. The Electoral College What doesn’t matter – Nationwide popular vote – Number of states won – Number of Congressional districts won You need a majority of the Electoral Votes to Win

6. Why the Electoral College? Logistics Federalism and Compromise Fear of Mob Rule Do these still apply?

7. The Electoral College 538 votes Texas has 38 270 to win

8. What if No one wins?

9. Other Quirks Minority (vote) Presidents Faithless electors?

10. Who the Electoral College Helps Big States Small States Swing States

11. It helps the president

12. Who Does it Hurt Third Parties Remote States Partisan States

13. WINNING THE ELECTION It is not rocket science!

14. Electoral College Do’s and Don’ts DO Treat the Race as 51 separate elections Win Your Home State Win your V-P’s State Don’t Spend time where you can’t win Spend time where you will win Spend time in remote areas

15. Ignore Popular Votes and Focus on the Map

16. Focus on the Swing States These are the states that matter The Electoral College is Winner take all Obama wins 10 of 11 swing states in 2008

17. Spend!

18. Avoid The October Surprise

19. RUNNING THE NUMBERS IN 2012 The Electoral College Still Favors the Democrats

21. President Obama Will be Tough To beat The Last incumbents who lost were – 1992 – 1980 – 1976 President Obama is facing no primary challenger The President plans to spend 1 billion dollars

22. A Republican Win: Step 1

23. A Republican Win Step 2

24. A Republican Win Step 3

25. A Republican Win Step 4

26. REFORMING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Not Bloody Likely

27. A National Popular Vote How it Would Work Advantages

28. A National Popular Vote Disadvantages Unanticipated Consequences

29. THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER Not that Great

30. The Founders Vision There needs to be an executive The balance between impotence and tyranny The office has outstripped this vision

31. The Formal Powers Serve as administrative head Lead the armed forces Appointment, pardons and treaties Give a speech Call emergency

32. The Modern Responsibilities are Not The President is now the dominant branch It performs many new functions We expect the president to solve the world’s problems!