electing a president 2004 presented by ms. reynolds

ELECTING A PRESIDENT

2004Presented by Ms. Reynolds

PRESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

NATURAL BORN CITIZEN• Must be born in the United States or born to a

U.S. citizen anywhere in the world 35 YEARS OF AGE 14 YEAR RESIDENCY

• Must be living in the United States for 14 years

ELECTION PROCESS

GET NOMINATED• Presidential candidate is nominated by a

Nominating Convention• Convention meets about three months before

the election• Delegates from all the states assemble and

nominate a President/Vice President ticket• Delegates decide on a party platform

• The issues the president will represent in the election

ELECTION PROCESS

GO TO THE PEOPLE• The candidates make speeches, appear at

rallies, and present the party platform and their views on current issues

• On the first Tuesday in November the voters go to the polls to vote for electors

• The electors then vote for the candidates

ELECTION PROCESS

GATHER ELECTORAL VOTES• The group of electors vote for the

President• Each elector has one electoral vote• Each state has a number of electors equal

to the number of their Senators and Representatives

• Known as the Electoral College

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

A system established by the U.S. Constitution• The popular vote (votes by the citizens) is

cast in November• In each state, except Maine and Nebraska,

the candidate who receives the most popular votes wins all of the state’s electoral votes

• Rule is called “Winner-take-all”• Electors cast their votes in December

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

A candidate can win the nation’s popular vote but still lose the Electoral College!

In most states, if one candidate gets more popular votes than the other candidates, he or she gets all of that state’s electoral votes

In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, but lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush

The candidate that wins at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes is declared President

MAJORITY? PLURALITY

A candidate must receive a majority of votes (over 50%) to become President

If no one has a majority, the person with the most votes has a plurality, but is not President

The constitution includes a clause that guides the selection process in the event of a plurality.

MAJORITY? PLURALITY

If the Electoral College does not give any candidate the necessary majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President from among the top three candidates in electoral votes. Each state gets one vote and the President must be chosen by a majority of the states

MAJORITY? PLURALITY

This constitutional clause has been used only twice

In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied with 69 electoral votes each and Jefferson became president

In 1824, Andrew Jackson led in electoral votes, but did not have a majority so the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as President after Henry Clay gave him his support

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS

The President of the United States is one of the most powerful democratically elected officials in the world

His powers are stated in the Constitution and through the use of “checks and balances” his actions are always controlled and checked by the Legislative and/or Judicial branches.


The President may not violate laws while he is in office. If he does the House of Representatives may bring impeachment charges against him. He would then be tried in the Senate and if two-thirds of the Senators vote to convict him he would be removed from office.


CHIEF EXECUTOR He enforces the Constitution and laws

passed by Congress Can issue executive orders Appoints all government officials, including

Cabinet officers, Supreme Court Justices, and others although his orders can be declared unconstitutional in the courts and his appointments must be approved by the Senate


CHIEF LEGISLATOR He can recall Congress into a special

session He may veto the bills passed by Congress

or use his influence to get a bill passed or proposed

Congress can override the president’s veto by a two-thirds majority


JUDICIAL POWERS The president may grant pardons to most

individuals He has indirect control of the courts He appoints all federal judges All of his appointments must be approved

by the Senate


CHIEF AMBASSADOR He determines the foreign policy of the

nation, directs and negotiates treaties, and appoints other ambassadors and diplomats

These appointments must also be cleared by Congress

Treaties must be ratified by the Senate


COMMANDER IN CHIEF He maintains civilian control over the military He appoints top military commanders, gives them

military advice, and has the power to discharge officers

He can order the armed forces into action He cannot commit U.S. troops to international

conflicts for more than 90 days without a formal declaration of war, a power reserved for Congress

BACKUP PLAN

THE CONSTITUTIONIn case of death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Constitution states that he would be succeeded by the Vice PresidentIf there is a vacancy in the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, Speaker of the House of Representatives, then the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then the Cabinet members starting with the Secretary of State fills those positions

25th AMENDMENT

This amendment was passed in 1967 and stated that in cases of Presidential disability, the Vice President would take office until the disability was resolved

If the Vice President becomes President, he could appoint a new Vice President, subject to approval by the Congress

WHO WILL BE ELECTED IN 2004?

electing a president 2004 presented by ms. reynolds

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