starter activity

Spot the odd man out. Clue, they nearly all have one thing in common connected with the Whitehouse

Jefferson Roosevelt Coolidge Truman

DoleFordNixonJohnson

Who can be a US Who can be a US president?president?

To find out requirements for a US To find out requirements for a US presidential candidatepresidential candidate

To take part in a balloon debate of To take part in a balloon debate of presidential hopefulspresidential hopefuls

Aims

Your taskYour task Read Bennett p.28 and note why presidential Read Bennett p.28 and note why presidential

elections are the focus of so much media elections are the focus of so much media attention. Make your own copy of the 4 attention. Make your own copy of the 4 stages of presidential elections (p.29).stages of presidential elections (p.29).

Explore the 2008 Presidential election Explore the 2008 Presidential election results on the BBC News website, note results on the BBC News website, note down:down:

How many electoral college votes each of the How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates wonmain candidates won

Obama’s share of the popular voteObama’s share of the popular vote Areas of USA in which his support was Areas of USA in which his support was

strongeststrongest Voter turnout outVoter turnout out

Your taskYour task Explore the 2008 Presidential election Explore the 2008 Presidential election

results on the BBC News website, note results on the BBC News website, note down:down:

How many electoral college votes each of How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates won (the main candidates won (356 Obama v. 356 Obama v. 173 McCain173 McCain))

Obama’s share of the popular vote (Obama’s share of the popular vote (52.3%52.3%)) Areas of USA in which his support was Areas of USA in which his support was

strongest (strongest (N.E. & West CoastN.E. & West Coast)) Voter turnout out (Voter turnout out (62.8%)62.8%)

Your taskYour task

Create a spider diagram listing the Create a spider diagram listing the requirements of a US president (p.29-requirements of a US president (p.29-32). Include the following headings: 32). Include the following headings: constitutional requirements, political constitutional requirements, political experience, major party endorsement, experience, major party endorsement, personal characteristics, ability to raise personal characteristics, ability to raise large sums of money, effective large sums of money, effective organisation, oratorical skills and organisation, oratorical skills and being ‘telegenic’, sound & relevant being ‘telegenic’, sound & relevant policies’. policies’.

Constitutional Constitutional requirementsrequirements

Natural-born US citizenNatural-born US citizen Minimum 35 yearsMinimum 35 years Resident in USA for at least 14 yearsResident in USA for at least 14 years 2 terms of office2 terms of office

Theodore Roosevelt, 42 when became president after death

of McKinley (1901)

Kennedy, youngest elected president, 43

(1960)

Political experiencePolitical experience

Typical presidential candidates: vice-Typical presidential candidates: vice-presidents (e.g. George Bush Snr), presidents (e.g. George Bush Snr), state governors, (e.g. Ronald state governors, (e.g. Ronald Reagan) Senators (e.g. Barack Reagan) Senators (e.g. Barack Obama)Obama)

Occasionally military leaders, e.g. Occasionally military leaders, e.g. EisenhowerEisenhower

President Reagan & Vice President Bush

Party endorsementParty endorsement

Endorsement by Republican or Endorsement by Republican or Democrat party necessaryDemocrat party necessary

Recent independent candidates, Recent independent candidates, include Ross Perot (1992 & 6) & Pat include Ross Perot (1992 & 6) & Pat Buchanan (2000)Buchanan (2000)

Not everyone agreed with Pat Buchanan’s conservative

ideas!

Personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics Predominantly, white male -43 out of Predominantly, white male -43 out of

44 US presidents white, all male44 US presidents white, all male 2004, 14 women out of 100 members 2004, 14 women out of 100 members

of Senateof Senate Married – no bachelor president since Married – no bachelor president since

C19thC19th Free from personal scandal, e.g. Free from personal scandal, e.g.

Chappaquiddick affair (1969) ended Chappaquiddick affair (1969) ended Edward Kennedy’s bid for presidencyEdward Kennedy’s bid for presidency

Mary Jo Kopechne

Fund-raising abilityFund-raising ability

Ross Perot (1996 & 6) Texan oil Ross Perot (1996 & 6) Texan oil billionairebillionaire

2008, Obama spent c. $650m dollars 2008, Obama spent c. $650m dollars (privately-funded) / McCain $84 (privately-funded) / McCain $84 (publicly funded)(publicly funded)

Organisational skillsOrganisational skills

Major parties cannot endorse Major parties cannot endorse candidates during selection processcandidates during selection process

Candidates such as Michael Dukakis Candidates such as Michael Dukakis (1988) & Bob Dole (1996) suffered (1988) & Bob Dole (1996) suffered from poorly organised campaignsfrom poorly organised campaigns

Michael Dukakis

Oratorical skills & Oratorical skills & telegenictelegenic

FDR tried hard to conceal effects of FDR tried hard to conceal effects of polio which left him wheelchair polio which left him wheelchair boundbound

Walter Mondale, ‘I’m no good at Walter Mondale, ‘I’m no good at television’ (1984) – opponent, television’ (1984) – opponent, Reagan, former Hollywood movie Reagan, former Hollywood movie starstar

Senator Phil Gramm, ‘I’m too ugly to Senator Phil Gramm, ‘I’m too ugly to be president’be president’

Phil Gramm

George Bush also struggled to convince

younger voters he was the best-looking candidate for the job!

Sound & relevant Sound & relevant policiespolicies

Issue saliency increasingly Issue saliency increasingly importantimportant

Candidates need clear policies on Candidates need clear policies on issues of day, different from their issues of day, different from their rivalsrivals

Bill Clinton, main policy issue was Bill Clinton, main policy issue was ‘the economy stupid’ (1992)‘the economy stupid’ (1992)

Obama, anti-Bush campaignObama, anti-Bush campaign

Your taskYour task

Imagine all the top US presidents are in a Imagine all the top US presidents are in a balloon. It is slowly sinking. Who do you balloon. It is slowly sinking. Who do you keep and who do you throw out to save as keep and who do you throw out to save as many as you can. You will take on the part many as you can. You will take on the part of a US president. You must argue on the of a US president. You must argue on the basis of the skills outlined above who basis of the skills outlined above who must stay in the balloon and who must go.must stay in the balloon and who must go.

PlenaryPlenary

What are the key constitutional What are the key constitutional requirements to becoming a US requirements to becoming a US presidentpresident

Name 5 important extra-Name 5 important extra-constitutional requirementsconstitutional requirements

ExtensionExtension

Produce a promotional advert for Produce a promotional advert for your president’s election campaign your president’s election campaign using MovieMaker or PhotoStory.using MovieMaker or PhotoStory.