Steps to the Presidency

Summer 2003• Joe Smoe announces his

candidacy• Makes political speeches,

eventually announcing he is running

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004• Each state political party sets its

procedures for how delegates will be selected to attend its National Nominating Convention

• This is called the Primary Season

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004• They either choose …..

•Presidential preference primary(winner take all or % of vote)•Caucus (state party meeting)

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004• Each candidate campaigns in

each state trying to win that state's delegates

Late Summer 2004• Each party holds its National

Nominating Convention• Each candidate that has won

delegates throughout the primary season comes to this convention

Late Summer 2004• A roll call of states is held• During this first vote, delegates

must vote for the candidate they represent

• Most modern conventions have a majority vote on the first roll call

Late Summer 2004• If one candidate does not

receive a majority of the votes, additional roll call votes are held; this time delegates are free to vote for whoever they want

Late Summer 2004• Once Joe Smoe wins his party’s

nomination, he picks a vice-presidential running mate

• The convention approves of his running mate by voting

Late Summer 2004• Jane Doe is picked as a running

mate because she meets the legal qualifications to be president AND she can help him get more votes during the general election

Late Summer 2004• For instance…

• Joe is older, Jane is younger• Joe is moderate, Jane is more

conservative• Joe is from the Northeast, Jane

is from the West

Late Summer 2004• Both give acceptance speeches

and begin campaigning against the other party’s candidate

• This campaign uses TV/Radio/print adds, speeches and debates

November 2004• The general election is held the

first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

• Votes are cast for electors, not the actual candidate

November 2004• A vote for a Republican candidate

is actually for republican elector• # of electors per state is equal to

the # of Senators and the # of Representatives that state has in Congress

November 2004• The candidate who wins a

majority of a state’s popular vote wins all of that state’s electoral vote

December 2004• On the Monday after the second

Wednesday in December, the electoral college casts their votes

• Electors from each state generally meet at the state capital to do this

December 2004• A separate vote is cast for the

President and the Vice-President• The votes are sealed and sent to

the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate

January 6, 2005• Electoral votes are counted before

a joint session of Congress• If no presidential candidate wins

majority, House of Representatives picks from top 3 vote getters

January 6, 2005• If no vice-presidential candidate

wins majority, Senate picks from top 2 vote getters

• Many believe this form of indirect election for president should be changed

January 20, 2005• The President is sworn in at noon

on this day by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court