Presidential election process

Unit 7

• What are the qualifications of a president?What are the qualifications of a president?• How is a campaign run?How is a campaign run?• What is the purpose and role of a V.P.?What is the purpose and role of a V.P.?• What is the purpose and role of a What is the purpose and role of a

Convention?Convention?• What impact do debates and the media What impact do debates and the media

have elections?have elections?• What is the structure of the Presidential What is the structure of the Presidential

election process?election process?

Creating the campaignCreating the campaignThe candidateThe candidate

http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

Creating the campaignCreating the campaignThe candidateThe candidate

• What do people look for in a What do people look for in a candidate for president?candidate for president?

Creating the campaignCreating the campaignThe staffThe staff

• Campaign managersCampaign managers• Finance DirectorsFinance Directors• Communication DirectorsCommunication Directors

– Sec. of the PressSec. of the Press

• PollstersPollsters• Internet teamsInternet teams• AdvisorsAdvisors• Volunteers…Volunteers…main force behind the GOTV main force behind the GOTV

campaignscampaigns

Creating the campaignCreating the campaignThe moneyThe money

2000: $1.7 billion raised by two major 2000: $1.7 billion raised by two major partiesparties

2004: $880 million2004: $880 million

2008: FEC reports…2008: FEC reports…

Finance rules:Finance rules:

IndividualsIndividuals

PACsPACs

PartiesParties

The election process The election process The CaucusThe Caucus

• Citizens of an area meet at a given Citizens of an area meet at a given location to select the candidate they location to select the candidate they will support in the general electionwill support in the general election

• Used by 12 statesUsed by 12 states

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fobO82jbNRgv=fobO82jbNRg

The election process The election process The PrimaryThe Primary

• Primary:Primary: A pre-election event regulated by the A pre-election event regulated by the states to narrow the field for the general electionstates to narrow the field for the general election

• Winner-take-all vs. proportional primariesWinner-take-all vs. proportional primariesgrants delegates to anyone grants delegates to anyone

withwithmore than 15% of the vote in amore than 15% of the vote in adistrictdistrict

• The closed primary:The closed primary: only a party’s registered voters can vote only a party’s registered voters can vote

• The open primary:The open primary:all registered voters may vote regardless of all registered voters may vote regardless of

affiliationaffiliation

Choosing a V.P.Choosing a V.P.

• Amendment 25 of U.S. Amendment 25 of U.S. Constitution… Constitution… – In case of the removal of the President In case of the removal of the President

from office…the Vice President shall from office…the Vice President shall become Presidentbecome President

• Role of VP?Role of VP?• Factors in choosing VPFactors in choosing VP

GeographyGeography

Electoral votesElectoral votes

AgeAgeGenderGenderExperienceExperience

The ConventionThe Convention

• Purpose…Purpose…– Establish a Establish a PlatformPlatform– Nominate CandidatesNominate Candidates– Showcase the party and future leaders of the partyShowcase the party and future leaders of the party

• DelegatesDelegates– State party members selected by voters to nominate State party members selected by voters to nominate

candidates at the national conventioncandidates at the national convention• Republicans=winner take allRepublicans=winner take all• Democrats=proportional representationDemocrats=proportional representation

• SuperdelegatesSuperdelegates– special unelected party leaders that are free to special unelected party leaders that are free to

nominate whomever they wish nominate whomever they wish

The DebatesThe Debates

• First televised debate: 1960First televised debate: 1960• No telepromptersNo teleprompters• Puts candidates “on the spot”Puts candidates “on the spot”• Provides advantage for challenger to Provides advantage for challenger to

incumbentincumbent• Allows media to heavily influence Allows media to heavily influence

voters voters • Debate ReviewDebate Review

Election comparisonElection comparison

With the 2000, 2004 & 2008 elections With the 2000, 2004 & 2008 elections compare and contrast the results of the compare and contrast the results of the following:following:

• Voter interestVoter interest• Government involvementGovernment involvement• Military experienceMilitary experience• Political experiencePolitical experience• Economy and other issuesEconomy and other issues• Importance of issuesImportance of issues

What trends or conclusions can be drawn?What trends or conclusions can be drawn?

The 2000 electionThe 2000 electionIssues:Issues:• Economic Economic

prosperityprosperity• Peace abroadPeace abroad• Clinton’s Clinton’s

credibilitycredibility

Popular vote…Popular vote…• Gore: 50,996,116Gore: 50,996,116• Bush: 50,456,169Bush: 50,456,169

FloridaFlorida• The butterfly ballot The butterfly ballot

& the chad caused & the chad caused a recounta recount

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court• Gore v Bush…Gore v Bush…

– Florida recount Florida recount violated Bush’s 14violated Bush’s 14thth amendment rightsamendment rights

– Stopped recountStopped recount

• Bush gets FloridaBush gets Florida

The butterfly ballot & the The butterfly ballot & the chadchad

The 2004 electionThe 2004 election

Issues:• 9/11 and terrorismDemocrats’ focus:• “Respected abroad, stronger at

home”Republicans’ focus:• War on terrorResult…

The 2008 electionThe 2008 election

Top Issues:• Economy• Deficit• Terrorism• Iraq• Healthcar

e

Candidates:• Obama• McCain• Result

Election comparisonElection comparison

With the 2000, 2004 & 2008 elections With the 2000, 2004 & 2008 elections compare and contrast the results of the compare and contrast the results of the following:following:

• Voter interestVoter interest• Government involvementGovernment involvement• Military experienceMilitary experience• Political experiencePolitical experience• Economy and other issuesEconomy and other issues• Importance of issuesImportance of issues

What trends or conclusions can be drawn?What trends or conclusions can be drawn?

Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Parties need to avoid extremismParties need to avoid extremism• Parties must be unitedParties must be united• Debates do matterDebates do matter• Candidates need to stay on messageCandidates need to stay on message• Every vote countsEvery vote counts

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral CollegeWhat?• Group of people from each state chosen

to select the President and Vice President

• 538 members from the 50 states and D.C.

• Each state has the same number of electors as they do members of Congress

• Whoever gets a majority of electoral votes (270) wins

• If no one wins a majority it is given to the House to decide

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral CollegeWhy?• Established by James Wilson as a

compromise• Established to protect the people

from themselves

The Electoral College in The Electoral College in historyhistory• 1800

– Burr lost to Jefferson in the House

• 1824 – Jackson lost to Adams in the House

• 1876– Hayes loses the popular vote but wins the electoral

vote

• 1888– Harrison loses the popular vote but wins the

electoral vote

• 2000– Bush loses the popular vote but wins the electoral

vote

• 2008

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

Other factors to consider…• Reapportionment• The Congressional district plan…

– Candidate receives one electoral vote for each congressional district they win

– Candidate receives two extra electoral votes for each state they win

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

Should it be abolished???